I’m not sure, with all the homesteading books I’ve looked through over the years, that I’ve ever seen directions for how to cure bacon. That can’t be right; it must be my mommy-brain. Still, do you have a resource you recommend for learning this?
I’ve cured my own bacon for two years from various online sources. But these sites often refer to “Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing” by Michael Rhulman and Brian Polcyn. I just received this for Christmas. Looks like an essential book. One to shelve with those homesteading books.
The book Maggie recommends is essential reading for anyone interested in smoked/cured pork products. We also do a lot of fermented and dry-cured sausage, and the book is great for that, too.
That said, our bacon recipe is not from the book. It’s not really a recipe, even. Basically, we stick the slabs and hams in 5-gallon buckets, cover them with water, throw in some salt (a couple of cups, maybe more, maybe less) and some maple syrup (a couple of cups, maybe more, maybe less) and stick the buckets in the basement for a week or so. Then, we throw everything across a bit grate, which sits about halfway down a big ole hole we dug a few years back. Build a small, smokey fire in one corner and cover the hole with rusted roofing tin. We generally put the smoke to ‘em for 12 hours or maybe a bit more.
The whole process is exceptionally inexact and unscientific. We’ve been doing it this way for about 5 years, a couple times per year, and the results are always more than satisfactory. Hope this helps.
Toby,
What part of the process are you looking for advice on? Raising? Killing? Cutting? etc…
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That’s a lot of beautiful bacon!
oh my goodness they are some pretty awsome piggies!!!! nancy
I’m not sure, with all the homesteading books I’ve looked through over the years, that I’ve ever seen directions for how to cure bacon. That can’t be right; it must be my mommy-brain. Still, do you have a resource you recommend for learning this?
I’ve cured my own bacon for two years from various online sources. But these sites often refer to “Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing” by Michael Rhulman and Brian Polcyn. I just received this for Christmas. Looks like an essential book. One to shelve with those homesteading books.
Hallelujah bacon! We’re doing our first two pigs this spring. Advice?
Ham sandwiches for lunch, Ben?
Elizabeth,
The book Maggie recommends is essential reading for anyone interested in smoked/cured pork products. We also do a lot of fermented and dry-cured sausage, and the book is great for that, too.
That said, our bacon recipe is not from the book. It’s not really a recipe, even. Basically, we stick the slabs and hams in 5-gallon buckets, cover them with water, throw in some salt (a couple of cups, maybe more, maybe less) and some maple syrup (a couple of cups, maybe more, maybe less) and stick the buckets in the basement for a week or so. Then, we throw everything across a bit grate, which sits about halfway down a big ole hole we dug a few years back. Build a small, smokey fire in one corner and cover the hole with rusted roofing tin. We generally put the smoke to ‘em for 12 hours or maybe a bit more.
The whole process is exceptionally inexact and unscientific. We’ve been doing it this way for about 5 years, a couple times per year, and the results are always more than satisfactory. Hope this helps.
Toby,
What part of the process are you looking for advice on? Raising? Killing? Cutting? etc…
That sounds so good. I like the whole more or less. Makes perfect sense to me. .
Holy Pile of Bacon, Ben! Hey Everyone, brunch at Ben’s house!
Hello This Is A Great Blog, I’m alos in the roofing business, and I thinks everyone will learn alot on your blog. I also wanted to offer the Roofing Business Blueprint to you, and roofers everywhere. I have estimating software, blogging software, and sales training t help any roofing business get more leads, and make more sales which so you can more money.