Help with Bacon

[ragweed]

I can't stand it any longer.  I've got to try and make some bacon.  I think I may have located a place to buy the raw material, but what exactly am I looking for and about how much per pound should I pay?  I assume I want a pork belly, but what else do I need to consider or know?  There are lots of "bacon" experts here.  Help me please.

Joe

[Saber 4]

I can get good pork belly for 3.99 to 4.99/lb around here, I usually look for pieces that are about 3 lb's so the cure gets a good distribution with the 10.5 recipe and I they are usually sized so I can get 2 pieces on one rack. I also find them easier to keep cool to hand slice at that size, just take one piece out at a time until it's all sliced. I vac seal mine and label it so I know when to smoke and it's easier for me to flip, I have had ziplocs leak on me so I quit using them. When you are looking at the belly look for pieces that have a good shape for fitting in the bag, rack and slicing, also look for the ration of meat to fat that you like in store bought bacon. Hope this get's you started.

[beefmann]

Joe,

to make bacon you  would  need  the following

morton tender  quick
brown  sugar
onion  powder
garlic powder
black  pepper

a tupperware type container
measuring spoons

and of  course pig belly


the  recipe is
1 tbsp morton  tender  quick per  lb
3/4 tbsp  brown sugar per lb
3/4 tbsp onion powder per  lb
3/4  tbsp garlic powder  per  lb
1/2 tbsp black pepper  per  lb

if you  want it  to have a bit  tangy add in 3/4 tbsp ground  mustard per  lb... 

prep the belly removing the  skin if it  has  it,,,  coat the  belly  throughly  and place into  container ... let  stand  in  fridge  for  7  days... (  1 day is  24  hours )  the   remove  rinse the  belly and  let  dry,, smoke  with  hickory for  2 hours and till an  it of  145 .. box  temp of  225, top vent  wide  open

also check  some of the asian stores  they seem to have the best  prices on  pork belly

[Tenpoint5]

Ragweed,
I usually get my bellies between $2.89 and $3.29 a pound when I get them. If the have the skin on them don't worry it is easy to take off. Here is a link to a video I did about skinning a belly.

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=31667.0

[KyNola]

Joe, check out this thread.  Stickbowcrafter is an incredible meat curing guy.  Wish he still posted here.  I use this recipe exclusively.  It works for me every time.

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=6770.msg66256#msg66256