My wife and I prefer more of a savor taste to our bacon so I thought I would try something different this time. My first attempt at bacon was the tried and true method of MTQ and vrown surgur which was ggood but I thought we might like this better. I had a whole pork belly to make into bacon it weighed about10.5 lb after removing the skin. I cut it into 4 pieces to fit better into the smoker.
On one piece I used equal portions of MTQ and onion powder calculated by the weight of each piece, next equal portions of MTQ and Garlic powder,
Next 1 part MTQ 2 parts onion powder and
lastly 1 part MTQ 1 part onion powder 1 part garlic powder
One thing I did due and maybe everyone does is I mixed the powder and MTQ together and then put into a empty spice shaker to spinkle onto the meat a little more evenly.
cured for 14 days
they did not have much liquid after the curing time I am assuming it is due to all of the powder soaking it up
(http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq112/daryltj/DSCN2045.jpg)
I soaked for an hour and let dry
On the 1/1 onion powder I cover 1 side with black cracked peper
(http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq112/daryltj/DSCN2046.jpg)
smoked for 6 hours using pecan
IT ranged from 148 to 155( I was busy and the temp got away from me for a little while)
Rested in smoker for 1 hour after and here are the final results
(http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq112/daryltj/DSCN2047.jpg)
(http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq112/daryltj/DSCN2048.jpg)
I let it rest in the fridge for a couple of days before slicing
Slicing was an adventure almost through the second piece I decided to slice my finger!!!! Everyone will be happy to know that no bacon was harmed in the accident ;D One good thing about it was my wife felt sorry for me and did most of the clean up!! I was a little preoccupied and sore to take pictures of the sliced bacon.
Oh yeah as for taste....it tasted great!!!!! The taste was subtle and not overpowering, I think my favorites if I had to choose would be the onion garlic combo then the onion pepper combo hard to choose a winner. Also hard to tell between the 1/1 onion pwder and the 1/2 onion powder since I put pepper on the 1/1.
I sure hope all of this makes sense!!!!
Daryl
Looks great Daryl! ;)
Sorry to hear about your finger. :o Ouch!
Mike
Don'r really think you can loose on that one!!! Garlic, Onion, Bacon....YUM! :D
Man now I am going to have to find some pork belly in the town and smoking soon about you can't miss with Garlic, Onion, Bacon. I think all three are food groups.
I am not sure if the Traeger will go a low enough temp for belly bacon. Get with Habs on that one. Home made Canadian or belly bacon is the best!
You are right Smokin Soon, buttom temp is about 175 degress. Now a reason to look into Bradley smokers. Now where to find pork belly.
Many markets can order it if they don't carry it. Ask someone behind the meat counter.
Savannah, dont need a reason, your already one of us now, dont hold back!!!!!!!
To me, that's what makes the Bradley an incredible machine......the ability to cold smoke. Now, don't get me wrong........after seeing all the stuff Nepas puts out of his Traeger, I'd love to have one but they'd have to rip the Bradley out of my cold(smoke) dead fingers ;D
The bacon really looks droolable. :PNice job.
Looks great Daryl.
Nice job on the Bacon.
Well Smoking Duck, I would not trade the traeger in on a bradley but add the bradley to the outdoor kitchen tools. Ofcourse Traeger does have a cold smoke addon. Have to learn more.
Now where to get some pork belly.
Quote from: Savannahsmoker on December 20, 2008, 02:58:07 PM
Well Smoking Duck, I would not trade the traeger in on a bradley but add the bradley to the outdoor kitchen tools. Ofcourse Traeger does have a cold smoke addon. Have to learn more.
Now where to get some pork belly.
Oh, I wouldn't trade it in either but I'd almost give up one of the kids for a Traeger (heck, there are some days I'd trade in more than one ;D).
Find a butcher......he'll get you hooked up.
Give this guy a call: http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADBS_enUS225US225&um=1&q=butcher+shops+in+savannah+ga&fb=1&view=text&latlng=17348839870396688802
SD
Used to buy half of stear form Ray's years ago but now there is a problem. It is not in a very safe area of Savannah and I don't owned an armored car.