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First attempt at cold smoked Bacon

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SoCal_Griller
SoCal_Griller Posts: 516
in Pork
Question for the cold smoke gurus out there.  I have 5 pounds of bacon cold smoking right now.  I am using the Amazin smoker and using the oak pellets that came with it.  How long should I let the bacon smoke?  I was originally thinking of letting the amazin run it course (10+ hours?), but now I am wondering if that is to long since I am using oak as opposed to apple.  Any thoughtts?  Am I over thinking this?


Thanks,
Kevin
Simi Valley, California
LBGE, PBC, Annova, SMOBot
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Comments

  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    Oak isn't a very common smoke to use for bacon, but it's used....I usually cold smoke 4-6 hours.  Make sure there's nitrite in the cure if you're cold smoking.  Really depends on how much smoke you like.  Not uncommon for bacon to sit in smokehouses for days.  The amount of smoke is another factor.  Longer with less smoke is better than shorter with heavy smoke.  Heavy smoke leaves more bitter ash and combustion products on the surface relative to what gets absorbed in the meat.
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    I love lamp..
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  • SoCal_Griller
    SoCal_Griller Posts: 516
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    Thanks Nolaegghead,

    Yeah the bacon was cured, i have done hot smoked bacon a few times.  Oak was all i had and thought I would give it a try, but oak is kind of strong.  Maybe I will cut a test piece after 4 hours to see how its doing.
    Simi Valley, California
    LBGE, PBC, Annova, SMOBot
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    Good idea.  Funny how often people don't test what they're doing.... Taste and taste often!
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    I love lamp..
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  • SoCal_Griller
    SoCal_Griller Posts: 516
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    Lol!  Well I just pulled it after a test taste.  I did half savory and half sweet.   The savory was good, but the sweet?  well Im hoping it was just the piece that I tested.  But I went ahead and pulled after about 4 hours, not only due to the taste, but the ambient temp went over 90 :(.

    So its in the fridge, then into the freezer then the slicer.

    Thanks Nola!
    Simi Valley, California
    LBGE, PBC, Annova, SMOBot
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    my pleasure.  Takes a day for the flavor to develop after a cold smoke.  You should be fine, it'll mellow out.
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    I love lamp..
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,961
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    I let it roll. 10-12 hrs. I usually just do it overnight when it cooler and take it off the next day.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • SoCal_Griller
    SoCal_Griller Posts: 516
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    Great point CT.  Next time I'll do it overnight, but with a lighter smoke.  I wanted to keep an eye on the Amazin since I have only done short cold smokes before (almonds).  Iwas very pleased with they way it kept on putting out the smoke.
    Simi Valley, California
    LBGE, PBC, Annova, SMOBot
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