Making Bacon/Pork belly

[toomuchsun]

I am the cook here. Wife is excellent but I adventure and do more! This is a Bucket List learn to do. The curing etc. totally lost. Always wondered about feral hogs if too lean for bacon? That is my first question?
I have the smoker, ability to slice, control temps in the smoker but lot to learn. Will check the link above as well. Back to wild hog? Usable or not for bacon?

[Bryan11]

That’s a nice Rec Tec there, bacon looked like it came out great


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[hunt247]

I am in Stephenville if you need a taste tester!

[Hooverfb]

Good stuff. Reminds me I need to cure the belly in the freezer

[gvick]

I am the cook here. Wife is excellent but I adventure and do more! This is a Bucket List learn to do. The curing etc. totally lost. Always wondered about feral hogs if too lean for bacon? That is my first question?
I have the smoker, ability to slice, control temps in the smoker but lot to learn. Will check the link above as well. Back to wild hog? Usable or not for bacon?

I have made bacon from a few wild pigs. They were between 150 and 200 pounds and where killed right about the time grain season was over so they were in good shape. Bacon turned out great. But most of the one that are running around in the woods are to lean for me, I have cured them though. As will as curing deer back straps, wild hog back straps. just about any meat can be cured and smoked. Most wild hogs though are to lean to get the actual Pork Belly, you will end up with a belly about a half inch thick, but the as I mentioned you can cure the straps and hams.

[Ilik2hunt]

Are y’all using the same cure on buckboard as you do on pork belly bacon? I have made a lot of pork belly and jowl bacon but never made buckboard bacon.

[tpack]

Are y’all using the same cure on buckboard as you do on pork belly bacon? I have made a lot of pork belly and jowl bacon but never made buckboard bacon.

I used the same exact cure. I ate some 2 days ago and it was really good. It tasted like a bacon /ham cross. I had to put some bacon grease in the skillet to fry it in though , because it was so lean.

[Tjciranni]

Looks great. I have been wanting to try this myself. Thanks for all the info.

[tpack]

Here is what mine looked like after I fried it up.

[dpg481]

Looks great. If you make anymore look into an inexpensive or used meat slicer. I found a small used one for $10 locally...it's old but gets the job done. Not only did it make the job 10x easier, uniform slices make for more consistent cooking.

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I can't seem to find a slicer that will cut the bacon in the long strips we are use to. I have tried two different ones, an LEM, and the Academy store brand with the same results, I can only slice them on the short side. I have just been using my boning knife.

[Jtrage]

I can't seem to find a slicer that will cut the bacon in the long strips we are use to. I have tried two different ones, an LEM, and the Academy store brand with the same results, I can only slice them on the short side. I have just been using my boning knife.

I have the same problem. I just cut it in half before slicing.

[tpack]

I actually took the bone out of the pork butt and sliced the butt down the center(top half and bottom half) and smoked the top half for bacon. It is leaner than the bottom and it makes it easier to cure and slice into bacon.

[Geezy Rider]

Got mine in the cure tonight. I’m doing a whole slab of pork belly, 12 pounds. It’s going to be a long three days of waiting.

[Geezy Rider]

My pork belly is still in the cure. I’ll be smoking it tomorrow but in the meantime I saved the skin and made Cracklins today. WOW! These are fantastic. I’ll never feed the skin to my dogs ever again.
Dust them with a combination of Raging Blaze and Serendipity.
Mighty good eats.

[tpack]

My pork belly is still in the cure. I’ll be smoking it tomorrow but in the meantime I saved the skin and made Cracklins today. WOW! These are fantastic. I’ll never feed the skin to my dogs ever again.
Dust them with a combination of Raging Blaze and Serendipity.
Mighty good eats.

Mine had no skin. That look really good.