Hocks ~ Foamheart!

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foamheart

Gone but not forgotten. RIP
Original poster
OTBS Member
Thats right its hocks smoking day! Two weeks in the brine cure. Remember I showed you a couple Monday, I really really really needed a couple for a pot of pinto beans so I used 'em cured but not smoked.

Are those not pretty?

IMG_9999.JPG

Well I bought a 1/2 case and had them cut to 1" thickness. This is the first half of them.

So today I dried them a bit this morning and then smoked them this afternoon.

IMG_0023.JPG

I really do get some nice hocks, even better than good hock, I get them my way!

IMG_0024.JPG
IMG_0025.JPG

Takes both the above to get 'em all in the picture.

IMG_0029.JPG

Into the smoke which has been heated, decided to use the A-MAZE-N tube first while getting my chamber heat on track.

IMG_0026.JPG

Taking a little apple color from the tube.

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Its just too easy not to use. Its a small amount of smoke, had I wanted to do it all fast I would have grabbed the Adjustable Oval Tube. But Ya know I have free pecan shells, so why not use them in the Masterbuilt cold smoker?

IMG_0034.JPG

See the pecan taking hold here? Those hocks have still not cooked. If you cook the hocks they are hard and take forever to cook down in a pot of whatever.

IMG_0038.JPG

I don't want the smoke to be overwhelming so I pulled 'em here. I


IMG_0041.JPG

They are now in the reefer cooling down, my hands smell fabulous! Tomorrow I will cryp seal them.

FYI this is only 1/4 case. I bought a half and I onlt cured half of what I got. Why? Well this way they all fit easily in the curing bucket and the smoker without needing to bunch 'em up. But mostly so I can do it again later......LOL

Seriously, friends don't let friends buy those "smoked" hocks in the Piggly Wiggly, there is no comparison. You know what is totally awesome? Use smoked cured hocks, add some butt, ears & tails and mold up some head cheese! OMW good!

This was my day, I hope yours was as good!
 
That looks like a Whole Lotta Good!
I would think for Seasoning Meat, Heavy smoke would be the goal? Of course, I ain't goin to argue wit' a Cajun!...Nice work...JJ
 
foamheart.... those hocks look fantastic! LIKE!
I love smoked hocks but never smoked them myself by whatever reason.... :emoji_astonished: Can you share your brine recipe to cure hocks? Thanks!

Thank you.

Its really all about the hocks. No secret on the brine, I use Pop Fassett's. I would guess everyone on this board does. I use his old first original. Its easy, 1gal water 1c brown sugar, 1c refined sugar, 1 c salt, 1 Tbsp #1 cure. Everyone has their small take on the basic. BUT its Pop's that taught us all.

I use per gallon, 1 brown, 1 refined, 3/4c canning salt (it dissolves better), 1 1/2 Tbsp. #1 cure, 2 oz. maple extract. This time I also added a couple of bay leaves and a couple of large smashed toes of garlic. Add the cure and the extract after the brew has been cooked.

Just remember! ""

I have nothing but fun with it. Once you start and you will, you'll be curing all kinds of stuff and really having fun while making some excellent meals. Turkeys, hams, bacon, canadian bacon, then ya start stuff like spare ribs, Turkey legs, chickens, anything pork. And you hands smell so good! LOL.
 
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Thank you, foamheart! I do have pop's brine recipes and used them for different "projects". I just did not know the pop's brine is "universal" and can be applied to whatever you want. Thank you again!
 
That looks like a Whole Lotta Good!
I would think for Seasoning Meat, Heavy smoke would be the goal? Of course, I ain't goin to argue wit' a Cajun!...Nice work...JJ

Thanks Chef

I have found that too much smoke on anything does not appeal that much to me, If I can get some decent smoke from 90 to 140 IT generally I am happy camper. When it comes to fresh veggies they are so easily overpowered with smoke and/or cure. Some need a lot, some not so much. I like my green beans to taste like green beans, I want the seasoning meat to be like salt. Something I'll miss if not there, but I want to realize I am eating green beans with my eyes closed. Accentuate not dominate.

Its why there are so many different recipes and cooks/chefs.
 
Those look incredible. I see some white beans and cornbread in your future!

Thanks
White beans, Red beans, pinto beans, blackeye'd peas, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, Lima beans, black beans, green beans, wax beans, crowder peas, field peas, pinkeye'd purple hulls, Navy beans, the list is endless........ Oh but the cornbread and some smothered taters goes good with them all. LOL.. I feel like the guy from Forest Gump with the shrimp dishes. LOL
 
Beans beans,good for the heart
The more you eat,the more you... smoke hocks

Excellent looking pucks of goodness!
 
Thats right its hocks smoking day! Two weeks in the brine cure. Remember I showed you a couple Monday, I really really really needed a couple for a pot of pinto beans so I used 'em cured but not smoked.

Are those not pretty?

View attachment 402469

Well I bought a 1/2 case and had them cut to 1" thickness. This is the first half of them.

So today I dried them a bit this morning and then smoked them this afternoon.

View attachment 402470

I really do get some nice hocks, even better than good hock, I get them my way!

View attachment 402471
View attachment 402472

Takes both the above to get 'em all in the picture.

View attachment 402473

Into the smoke which has been heated, decided to use the A-MAZE-N tube first while getting my chamber heat on track.

View attachment 402474

Taking a little apple color from the tube.

View attachment 402475

Its just too easy not to use. Its a small amount of smoke, had I wanted to do it all fast I would have grabbed the Adjustable Oval Tube. But Ya know I have free pecan shells, so why not use them in the Masterbuilt cold smoker?

View attachment 402476

See the pecan taking hold here? Those hocks have still not cooked. If you cook the hocks they are hard and take forever to cook down in a pot of whatever.

View attachment 402477

I don't want the smoke to be overwhelming so I pulled 'em here. I


View attachment 402478

They are now in the reefer cooling down, my hands smell fabulous! Tomorrow I will cryp seal them.

FYI this is only 1/4 case. I bought a half and I onlt cured half of what I got. Why? Well this way they all fit easily in the curing bucket and the smoker without needing to bunch 'em up. But mostly so I can do it again later......LOL

Seriously, friends don't let friends buy those "smoked" hocks in the Piggly Wiggly, there is no comparison. You know what is totally awesome? Use smoked cured hocks, add some butt, ears & tails and mold up some head cheese! OMW good!

This was my day, I hope yours was as good!


How do you get your pecan shells to stay lit?. I tried them crushed and ground and just can't keep them lit...
 
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