BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Smoking Techniques => Curing => Topic started by: Drac on November 03, 2010, 02:35:05 PM

Title: Making the bacon
Post by: Drac on November 03, 2010, 02:35:05 PM
Or at least trying.

Trying out this recipe http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?542-Maple-Cured-Bacon for my first time making bacon.  I got a belly for Central Market.  Got it home and after it thawed I got it out and this is what it looked like -

(http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/8899/bacon1.jpg)

(http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8380/bacon2.jpg)

It is a full length and only about a half inch thick on average.  Not sure if this will work out but had nothing else I could do with it so -

(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/4267/bacon3.jpg)

(http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/1616/bacon4.jpg)

Any recommendations?  Do I need adjust curing time and smoking times?

Thanks,
Jim
Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: terry08 on November 03, 2010, 03:25:28 PM
Drac, if you used TenPoint 5's recipe I can say you will be fine. Not sure about the others as I am a newbie myself. But if I had to guess I would say you are right on. Some of the pros will let you know shortly.
Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: DTAggie on November 03, 2010, 06:31:13 PM
Drac - how much did it cost?
Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: Drac on November 03, 2010, 06:35:26 PM
About $3 a pound.
Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: DTAggie on November 03, 2010, 07:43:16 PM
Other members, how does that price compare to what you all pay?
Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: Smokin Soon on November 03, 2010, 07:52:51 PM
I'm paying 1.99 a lb at an Asian Market. That belly looks like it will cure in 4 or five days cause it is on the thin side. Gonna have to decide by judging the firmness as you rotate.
Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: jiggerjams on November 03, 2010, 08:11:09 PM
I got lucky and paid 1.59 last week in the Toronto area (Brampton). Bellies will come on sale here regularly for 1.99

JJ
Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: Habanero Smoker on November 04, 2010, 02:29:37 AM
With a slab that thin; which I have never seen I would cut down on the curing time to 4 - 5 days. Because it is so thin, I'm not sure how well that will come out if you smoke it the way the recipe states.

Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: 3rensho on November 04, 2010, 02:53:25 AM
Around here a belly costs €6.90/kg normal price and €4.99 on sale.
Title: Re: Making the bacon
Post by: BuyLowSellHigh on November 04, 2010, 03:17:10 AM
Paid $2.69/lb yesterday.

The bellies I got yesterday look much like what you got.  They are very wide (short dimension, as measured along the lean).  I plan on making a cutting to narrow them up a bit, and use the long thin strip as pork fat for sausage, etc.