First attempt at cold smoke and bacon.

[3054tony]

Tomorrow I will be picking up around 10 pounds of fresh side and going to attempt to make bacon. I have decided to use a brine to cure it for 14 dayso and will be using apple sawdust for smoke. Question is skin on or off? From what I have read it is 50/50 but mostly that was from hot smoking. Since I will be cold smoking would it be better with skin of?

 

[SmokinAl]

I always skin them before curing.

Al

 

[3054tony]

Thanks for the reply. That's the way i was leaning as well

 

[Bearcarver]

I agree with Mister Al !!

Why cure it & smoke it if you aren't going to eat it. IMO

Bear

 

[3054tony]

Very true, i read somewhere that its easier to remove after smoking but then again that was for hot smoke. I just picked it up before work so its going in the brine tonight

http://s48.photobucket.com/user/bad... Uploads/20160915_092404_zps2ukgowtw.jpg.html

 

[bena]

I concur with the skin removal but would recommend smoking the skin for dog treats!

I just finished another 30 pounds... its an addiction.

 

[SmokinAl]

Here's a great video on skinning a belly.

 

[3054tony]

Thanks for the video. I will be doing that tonight after work. Al.
Ben, i didn't think about dog treats with the skin. I will probably do that too

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Here's a great video on skinning a belly.

Much less painful way to skin a Belly than a Head First slide into home plate!!! 

And That's a Fact !!

Bear

 

[3054tony]

Update, after the long wait for the brining i just took it out of the smoker after about 10 hours. Its in the fridge now resting until tomorrow when i will slice it up but quick question. I have never used a brine to cure before but the belly was not firm at all. When using a dry cure on other meats it will become firm but with this it was just like the day i got it if not maybe a little softer. Is that normal? It doesn't look half as good as the pictures i have seen on here but as long as it tastes good i will be happy

 

[akdutchguy]

I'm in the process of doing about 25 pounds of bacon. I have 2 bellies in pops brine and 1 in a sugar cure recommended by mr T. The dry cure mr T uses has resulted in firm bellies. The ones in the brine are not as firm. Both have been curing for the same ammount of time. You should be fine. I will post my comparison when I get it finished. I pull them on Monday.
Jason

 

[wade]

I have used both dry cure and immersion brining and I find that the dry cure gives me the texture that i prefer. When immersion brining pork the belly pork will pick up between 10-15% water during the cure. This always seems to defeat the object as you then have to spend longer resting it and smoking it to get rid of. You may find this thread of interest

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/181560/immersion-bacon-curing-lab-test-results

Below is a table from the results

Experimental results

Brine	Meat	Days	Brine Volume	In Date	In Weight g	Out Date	Weight Resting g	Weight % Increase	Test Sample weight (g)
#1	Loin	7	5 Litres	02/02/2015	977	09/02/2015	1045	6.96	206
#1	Loin	14	5 Litres	02/02/2015	1096	16/02/2015	1187	8.30	194
#1	Belly	7	5 Litres	02/02/2015	1061	09/02/2015	1178	11.03	238
#1	Belly	14	5 Litres	02/02/2015	997	16/02/2015	1150	15.35	219
#2	Loin	7	5 Litres	02/02/2015	896	09/02/2015	956	6.70	227
#2	Loin	14	5 Litres	02/02/2015	930	16/02/2015	1000	7.53	224
#2	Belly	7	5 Litres	02/02/2015	1086	09/02/2015	1217	12.06	226
#2	Belly	14	5 Litres	02/02/2015	1026	16/02/2015	1159	12.96	226

The amount of water left in the bacon at the end of the cure significantly affects the subsequent storage time. The FSIS maximum storage limits for immersion brined bacon is only 7 days at <40 F (4 C) whereas it is up to 42 days for dry cure bacon.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal...at-preparation/bacon-and-food-safety/ct_index

I only use dry cure now.

 

[3054tony]

Thanks for the information, very helpful. Next time I will be trying a dry cure. I will post back with pictures once i slice it up

 

[Bearcarver]

Thanks for the information, very helpful. Next time I will be trying a dry cure. I will post back with pictures once i slice it up

You can always try the easy way, without the Mathematics course included:

Bacon (Extra Smoky)

Bear

 

[3054tony]

20161002_152556.jpg

• 3054tony
• Oct 2, 2016

Got half sliced up. I'm happythe way out turned out for being my first try at bacon

 

[Bearcarver]

Got half sliced up. I'm happythe way out turned out for being my first try at bacon

Looks Real Nice, Tony!!

----

Now you're Hooked!

Enjoy!!

Bear

 

[3054tony]

I am hooked, i will never buy store bought bacon ever again. Brought some over to my dad and he said that he wants me to do one for him so might as well go ahead and pick up a couple more bellies. It is all sliced and vacuum packed but honestly i didn't need to vacuum pack it because i don't think it will last long

 

[3054tony]

Also thanks again everyone for the tips and help to my questions

 

[wade]

That is good looking bacon Tony. Looking forward to seeing your next batch 

 

[pilch]

This guy makes it look so easy.