BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Smoking Techniques => Curing => Topic started by: Caribou on July 05, 2011, 06:09:15 PM

Title: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Caribou on July 05, 2011, 06:09:15 PM
Hi everyone :)
I made my first bacon and I used 10.5's recipe from the recipe site: http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?542-Maple-Cured-Bacon (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?542-Maple-Cured-Bacon)
It was so easy and it came out so good.
(http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/WindriverStudios/IMG_3162.jpg)
My ingredients.  The pork belly was 5 pounds and came skinned.
(http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/WindriverStudios/IMG_3166.jpg)
Cure and other ingredients applied all over the pork belly.
(http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/WindriverStudios/IMG_3169.jpg)
into the bag and the frig for 7 days to cure.
(http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/WindriverStudios/IMG_3199.jpg)
Into the OBS with 2 hrs of maple smoke
(http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/WindriverStudios/IMG_3219.jpg)
Removed from the smoker when it hit an IT of 140F
(http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/WindriverStudios/IMG_3222.jpg)
I had to sample a bit to see how it came out, it was awesome!!
(http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/WindriverStudios/IMG_3271.jpg)
Took it to the meat processor and he sliced it for $2.65....don' think I'm going to buy a slicer anytime soon! ;)
(http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr144/WindriverStudios/IMG_3277.jpg)
Vacuum-sealed 3 lbs and a package of ends for beans.  Kept one pound out for the frig.

I have the other half of the pork belly and want to try to make honey bacon next.
Want to use honey from my own bees, so I'll have to wait until next month.

I'm NEVER buying bacon again!
Carolyn

Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: deb415611 on July 05, 2011, 06:28:42 PM
Looks awesome.  It's hard to buy bacon or eat it out after making your own :D
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Caribou on July 05, 2011, 06:35:57 PM
Quote from: deb415611 on July 05, 2011, 06:28:42 PM
Looks awesome.  It's hard to buy bacon or eat it out after making your own :D
No, kidding Deb ;)
Because I didn't own a slicer, I didn't think I'd be making any anytime soon.
He even offered to wrap it at that price, too.

Carolyn
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Tenpoint5 on July 05, 2011, 07:15:29 PM
You Done GOOOOD Carolyn!! That looks great.
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: neocostical on July 05, 2011, 07:22:32 PM
Looks GREAT!!! Nice work.....
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Meat tooth on July 05, 2011, 08:54:45 PM
Talk about inspiration! Must try it!
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: GusRobin on July 05, 2011, 09:19:47 PM
Carolyn,
Great job. Yes once you make it and taste it you find it hard to buy bacon again. I lost my source for bellies and have to find another one soon.
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Bavind on July 05, 2011, 09:20:42 PM
Fantastic I was of the same opinion when I made my first batch
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Caribou on July 05, 2011, 09:33:29 PM
Thanks everyone :)
I'm definitely hooked and it really wasn't any work compared to the other things I smoke.

Carolyn
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Quarlow on July 05, 2011, 09:43:20 PM
Holy smoke  :D :D :D that fifth pic sure is a prize. Nice job Carolyn.
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: TestRocket on July 06, 2011, 06:41:21 AM
Yea, Gus really needs to find us a new source for bellies. Every time I see homemade bacon my mouth waters! You done good!   ;D
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: ghost9mm on July 06, 2011, 06:45:42 AM
Carolyn...for the first time you really did a great job, that bacon would surely be good on a BLT... :D
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Caribou on July 06, 2011, 07:05:49 AM
Quote from: TestRocket on July 06, 2011, 06:41:21 AM
Yea, Gus really needs to find us a new source for bellies. Every time I see homemade bacon my mouth waters! You done good!   ;D

When I wanted to make my own ham, I asked the meat guy at my local grocery store and he said he could get anything I want including pork bellys.
At the time it was all $1.97 a pound.
I'm guessing that this isn't unique to my local store.

Carolyn
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: TestRocket on July 06, 2011, 07:56:17 AM
Quote from: Caribou on July 06, 2011, 07:05:49 AM
Quote from: TestRocket on July 06, 2011, 06:41:21 AM
Yea, Gus really needs to find us a new source for bellies. Every time I see homemade bacon my mouth waters! You done good!   ;D

When I wanted to make my own ham, I asked the meat guy at my local grocery store and he said he could get anything I want including pork bellys.
At the time it was all $1.97 a pound.
I'm guessing that this isn't unique to my local store.

Carolyn

I've only asked the meat guy at Kroger's. I'll try a couple of other stores! Thanks!  ;D
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Caribou on July 06, 2011, 08:26:20 AM
Quote from: TestRocket on July 06, 2011, 07:56:17 AM
Quote from: Caribou on July 06, 2011, 07:05:49 AM
Quote from: TestRocket on July 06, 2011, 06:41:21 AM
Yea, Gus really needs to find us a new source for bellies. Every time I see homemade bacon my mouth waters! You done good!   ;D

When I wanted to make my own ham, I asked the meat guy at my local grocery store and he said he could get anything I want including pork bellys.
At the time it was all $1.97 a pound.
I'm guessing that this isn't unique to my local store.

Carolyn
yes, you never know until you ask. :)
I found that out with the meat slicing.  I asked the processor if they would slice stuff for me and they said yes and it was REALLY cheap too.
And I didn't have to clean the slicer when I was done either. ;)

Carolyn

I've only asked the meat guy at Kroger's. I'll try a couple of other stores! Thanks!  ;D
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: OU812 on July 06, 2011, 08:48:40 AM
Niiiiiiiiiiiice.

Thats a great lookin pile of bacon.

Honey bacon is very good, I make it form home grown honey also.

Just a little heads up for every one wanting to make bacon, the market for bellies just went crazy so you folks better buy know, there expecting the price of bellies to sky rocket shortly.

Just sayin.
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Hopefull Romantic on July 06, 2011, 09:52:00 AM
Quote from: Tenpoint5 on July 05, 2011, 07:15:29 PM
You Done GOOOOD Carolyn!! That looks great.

Ditto X 2

Hady
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: Caribou on July 06, 2011, 10:26:11 AM
Quote from: OU812 on July 06, 2011, 08:48:40 AM
Niiiiiiiiiiiice.

Thats a great lookin pile of bacon.

Honey bacon is very good, I make it form home grown honey also.

Just a little heads up for every one wanting to make bacon, the market for bellies just went crazy so you folks better buy know, there expecting the price of bellies to sky rocket shortly.

Just sayin.
Thanks OU,
Sounds like a commodities market trading tip OU! ;)

Hi Hady!!

Carolyn
Title: Re: My First Bacon....EVER!!!
Post by: jiggerjams on July 06, 2011, 11:54:06 AM
Excellent looking meat candy!! Nice job.