Freeze after curing/before smoking?

[Nate52]

So pork butt is on sale for $.99/lb and I'd like to give buckboard bacon a try. Right now, my calendar is free and clear. I should be able to time things to make everything work.

But between 3 young kids, a wife, work, and parents that just don't understand I need to plan ahead for everything, there's really just no way to really expect my calendar to be free.

So let's say I buy a butt, prep it, and start a cure. And then the very likely scenario happens where I can't smoke it on schedule.

Can I freeze it between the cure and the smoke?
I'm sure it will be safe if safe if done properly, but how about quality?
Rinse and re-vacuum seal? Or straight into the freezer?
Dry and then freeze? Or dry after thawing?

Starting to get a good handle on the actual process. My main question is just whether or not I can interrupt the process and freeze for a later date.

 

[indaswamp]

Cold smoke at night.....
Not demanding.
frees up your time
Don't have to watch it.
Usually colder at night.
Better at night anyways because humidity is higher....

In the morning, put back in fridge either hang or on grates for airflow around the buckboard bacon. Smoke to desired smokiness...I go 4 nights. Do try to keep the smoke chamber temp. below 71*F.

 

[SmokinEdge]

So pork butt is on sale for $.99/lb and I'd like to give buckboard bacon a try. Right now, my calendar is free and clear. I should be able to time things to make everything work.

But between 3 young kids, a wife, work, and parents that just don't understand I need to plan ahead for everything, there's really just no way to really expect my calendar to be free.

So let's say I buy a butt, prep it, and start a cure. And then the very likely scenario happens where I can't smoke it on schedule.

Can I freeze it between the cure and the smoke?
I'm sure it will be safe if safe if done properly, but how about quality?
Rinse and re-vacuum seal? Or straight into the freezer?
Dry and then freeze? Or dry after thawing?

Starting to get a good handle on the actual process. My main question is just whether or not I can interrupt the process and freeze for a later date.

Just freeze it and do it later.
you can freeze hams, corned beef etc… it’s fine.

 

[Cody_Mack]

Bumping this thread cause I have a similar scenario. Four pork tenderloins in a dry cure, all in the same gallon zip-lock bag. Life gets in the way so fridge cure extended to 14 days. Then life got in the way again and I didn't see a smoking window anytime soon, so the whole bag went from the fridge to the freezer.

What are y'all's opinions on going forward with thaw, rinse, dry, and smoke as normal? Safety, quality?

 

[Fueling Around]

As long as you are using an equilibrium cure all is good to freeze and smoke later

 

[Cody_Mack]

As long as you are using an equilibrium cure all is good to freeze and smoke later

Yessir, thank you!

 

[Cody_Mack]

Any other way y’all like to cook these other than smoking? The Cure inserts flavor and texture and color, so smoking seems the logical method, but what are some other ways they can be enjoyed?

I cannot get my wife warmed up to any of my craft meats; I guess she don’t trust me or the method.

 

[Fueling Around]

Any other way y’all like to cook these other than smoking?

Peameal bacon
Not my cup of tea but some people like it

…
I cannot get my wife warmed up to any of my craft meats; I guess she don’t trust me or the method.

My wife was rather lukewarm with my cured meats until I tried a Black Forest rub posted by Eric SmokinEdge
I’m on my phone and bouncing in a tractor so cannot find the link

 

[SmokinEdge]

Peameal bacon
Not my cup of tea but some people like it

My wife was rather lukewarm with my cured meats until I tried a Black Forest rub posted by Eric SmokinEdge
I’m on my phone and bouncing in a tractor so cannot find the link

https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/holiday-loins.318833/

Here you go.

 

[DougE]

No real need to freeze as long as you get it done within a 30 day window with cure#1. Well not really 30 days, counting cure time, but if you cure 14 days, you still have about a 2 week window. I have a slab smoking now that went 24 days because I did not have time to smoke it before now. I did let it cold smoke a few hours yesterday and am finishing it today.

 

[DougE]

No real need to freeze as long as you get it done within a 30 day window with cure#1. Well not really 30 days, counting cure time, but if you cure 14 days, you still have about a 2 week window. I have a slab smoking now that went 24 days because I did not have time to smoke it before now. I did let it cold smoke a few hours yesterday and am finishing it today.

Not my best effort, but the belly wasn't the greatest either.