First Bacon in awhile.

[bill ace 350]

The Commissary at Fort Drum regularly sells whole pork bellies as well as pork belly pieces.

Didn't see a whole one I liked, they were kind of thin.

Looked and some of the pieces and picked 4 beautiful looking pieces at 2+ pounds each.

Will cure in Pop's Brine, the cold smoke in multiple sessions with a fridge rest in between, then dry them in the fridge for a few days before slicing.

Heavy coat of black pepper after pellicle forms.

Trashcan smoker, Amazon tray with hickory and apple mix.

Will post pics.

 

[bill ace 350]

Total of 11.69 pounds.

Used my spreadsheet to calculate percentage/weight of cure, salt and sugar.

4 pieces total, I forgot to snap a Pic of one piece....

Wait 12 - 14 days, then cold smoke.

 

[DRKsmoking]

Always up for a bacon run, post.

David

 

[Fueling Around]

mmm bacon. Nice looking belly.
BTW can you pass PT these days. Friend of mine retired from the AF and promptly put on more than 20#. Oddly he can still pass PT

 

[bill ace 350]

mmm bacon. Nice looking belly.
BTW can you pass PT these days. Friend of mine retired from the AF and promptly put on more than 20#. Oddly he can still pass PT

Absolutely not! I retired 20 years ago!
Too many fat pills since then....

 

[bill ace 350]

Cured for 14 days.

Ready for the trashcan cold smoker.

Misplaced my bacon hooks, will smoke on a wire rack.

Could only fit 3 of 4 on the rack, will dry that one further in the fridge, smoke later.

Only 1 slab with pepper, 2 naked.

Apple pellets.

 

[jcam222]

In for the finish

 

[bill ace 350]

32f right now, high of 38.

Perfect for the cold smoking I like.

Smoke until full tray is done, leave outside, repeat tomorrow morning.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Looking good...

It's not gonna freeze overnight, is it ??

 

[bill ace 350]

Looking good...

It's not gonna freeze overnight, is it ??

Nope.

 

[bill ace 350]

First round of smoke and rest done.

I did have three drops of condensation hit the meat. Blotted it off, no big deal.

This round they are meat side down.

 

[Fueling Around]

Outstanding bacon. How many rounds of sold smoke is your goal?

 

[bill ace 350]

Outstanding bacon. How many rounds of sold smoke is your goal?

Thank you. I was going for 3 rounds, but weather not cooperating. It got 2 rounds though. In the fridge to air dry a couple of days.

 

[bill ace 350]

A sample of some sliced, ready to vac seal.

Was very tasty!

 

[Gonna Smoke]

We love bacon...

 

[Fueling Around]

Nice fat to lean ratio.

I've got a little over a pound piece of belly in the cure right now. I bough some precut belly at Costco and after I vac packed in meal sized it was left over so decided to make bacon chunks for mac-n-cheese