New member

[bob85282]

Jeff said to introduce myself so hi. I am Bob. I live in Tempe Arizona and have been using my offset smoker for 10 or 12 years. BBQ season is year round here so I get a lot of practice. I am always looking for tips and thought this would be a good source.

 

[noboundaries]

Bob, welcome to SMF!  With that much experience we'll be getting tips from you.  Lots of new smokers here benefit from experience so don't be shy to share your hard-earned lessons. 

Glad you're here.

Ray

 

[kihler]

Welcome Bob, I live just down the road in Casa Grande, AZ. And you're right, we can smoke year around here. I smoke and cure almost anything. Beef, pork, chicken and fish. Make my own bacon. This is a good web site for smoking info.

Dennis

 

[bob85282]

Thanks Dennis. Where do you buy pork belly for bacon?

 

[kihler]

I buy my bacon at 2 place in the Phoenix area. Most of the time I buy it at Lee Lee's at Warner and Dobson. I bought 20 pounds last week, it was some of the nicest pork belly I have ever found. It was about 2 inches thick and mostly meat, very little fat. The other place is an Asian markets at the Asia Cultural Center, I'm not sure of the name or address. I think it's on 44th. The pork bellies at Cosco look bad compared to the bellies at the Asian markets. There are times when the bellies available are thin and fatty, but just go back in a couple of days. The biggest problem I have at Lee Lee's is the butchers don't speak much English. 

 

[bob85282]

Thanks. I am familiar with Cofco Center ( 44th st.) and Lee Lee, just never thought to look for pork belly. I did see some last time I was in Costco at Priest and Elliot but it didn't look great and was pretty pricey.

 

[kihler]

Be sure look in the pork section of the meat counter, not the prepackaged area. Lee Lee also has pork belly with rib meat, you don't want that for bacon. It has a rib bone in it.

Good luck with your bacon. I use Morton tender quick for the curing process. You can buy it at AJ's or online. Morton puts out a easy curing guide that is almost fool proof. 

 

[bob85282]

Thanks again.

 

[joe black]

Welcome from SC, Bob. There's a lot to learn and a lot to share here. Jump in and enjoy. Good luck and keep on smokin', Joe

 

[bob85282]

I've been smoking for more than 15 years but always looking to improve.