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I love this stuff (bacon)

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Cookinbob
Cookinbob Posts: 1,691
edited November 2014 in EggHead Forum
A couple of weeks ago I picked up a pork belly at Restaurant Depot.  Cured a 3 lb piece for Pancetta, the rest became bacon.  In the cure for a week, hot smoked on the XL on Thursday, I finally got around to slicing and packaging tonight.  I cured and smoked the trimmings along with the large piece.  Small pieces get diced up and frozen for use as an ingredient (did bacon risotto on Thursday, Fettucini Carbonara last night, and breakfast pizzas this morning). The big slab got sliced and vacuum sealed.  Of course there were a few misshapen pieces that I had to fry up and sample;)   The Pancetta does not get cooked or smoked, it is hanging in the cellar until it loses 30% of its weight.  Can't wait!

Something tells me however that I should not be eating bacon 4 times a week.  I might do better next week with everything frozen.
imageimage
XLBGE, Small BGE, Homebrew and Guitars
Rochester, NY
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  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
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    OK, what was the price of the belly at RD? I need to do some more...

    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
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  • Cookinbob
    Cookinbob Posts: 1,691
    edited November 2014
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    I paid $1.98 per lb., was blown away it was so cheap.  A week later, my son went to RD in Buffalo, an hour away, and bought 2 bellies for $1.50 per lb !!!!!!!!!!

    It is sure not Berkshire pork, but I can tell you it makes great bacon!
    XLBGE, Small BGE, Homebrew and Guitars
    Rochester, NY
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  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
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    Cookinbob said:
    I paid $1.98 per lb., was blown away it was so cheap.  A week later, my son went to RD in Buffalo, an hour away, and bought 2 bellies for $1.50 per lb !!!!!!!!!!

    It is sure not Berkshire pork, but I can tell you it makes great bacon!
    Thanks! For those prices I see a RD run this week...

    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
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  • anton
    anton Posts: 1,813
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    Awesome bacon, because bacon. If you are only eating it 4 times a week maybe you need to step up your game? There are 7 days in a week yo!
    :-bd =))
     Using a MBGE,woo/w stone,livin' in  Hayward California," The Heart Of The Bay "
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  • Greeno55
    Greeno55 Posts: 635
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    Looks fantastic.  My latest batch has a a few days left to cure.  So great to have bacon you are 100% aware of what's in it.
    LBGE (2012), MiniMax (2014), and too many Eggcessories to list.  - Sudbury, Ontario
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  • CarolinaCrazy
    CarolinaCrazy Posts: 585
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    I have 9# curing right now.  It is local, pasture raised, so it wasn't cheap. But the fat is so creamy you could eat it with a spoon.


    1 LBGE in Chapel Hill, NC
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  • CarolinaCrazy
    CarolinaCrazy Posts: 585
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    @cookinbob - nice slices BTW. What slicer to you use? I think I'm going to have to invest in one. I'm pretty good w/ a sharp knife and can take down a couple pounds pretty neatly and easily. But a slicer would be a huge help.


    1 LBGE in Chapel Hill, NC
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  • Cookinbob
    Cookinbob Posts: 1,691
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    Slicer is a Chefs Choice 615. Not commercial grade but works well for me. Amazon sells it
    XLBGE, Small BGE, Homebrew and Guitars
    Rochester, NY
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  • shtgunal3
    shtgunal3 Posts: 5,661
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    Your bacon looks great! I just put 3lb of belly in the cure today? What cure do you use? I went with the basic cure this time with brown sugar added.

    ___________________________________

     

     LBGE,SBGE, and a Mini makes three......Sweet home Alabama........ Stay thirsty my friends .

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  • SeahawksEGGHead
    SeahawksEGGHead Posts: 289
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    I got a Chefs Choice 615 as well, sliced up my bacon yesterday with it.  These look terrific, and amazing price on the bellies!
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  • cook861
    cook861 Posts: 872
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    Nice looking bacon want to make some soon 
    Trenton ON 1 mbge for now
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  • Cookinbob
    Cookinbob Posts: 1,691
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    shtgunal3 said:

    Your bacon looks great! I just put 3lb of belly in the cure today? What cure do you use? I went with the basic cure this time with brown sugar added.

    I use Ruhlmans basic cure, 17 g per lb. plus a little extra sugar.
    XLBGE, Small BGE, Homebrew and Guitars
    Rochester, NY
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  • bcsnave
    bcsnave Posts: 1,009
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    Looks fantastic.....but we drive to Nueskes in Whittenburg and pick up their sales 5# for $12.95..

    bought 8 bags (40#)....it's great

    The Dude..a Mini and a Large Egg..a DigiQ DX (BGE Green)..some Cast Iron...a Thermapen.............and an Ol' Fashion

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    Glenbeulah, WI

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  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
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    =D>  There are no words to describe how beautiful that is...

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

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  • Cookinbob
    Cookinbob Posts: 1,691
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    Griffin said:

    =D>  There are no words to describe how beautiful that is...

    Thanks man!
    XLBGE, Small BGE, Homebrew and Guitars
    Rochester, NY
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  • stv8r
    stv8r Posts: 1,127
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    looking good @cookinbob ! Mine will be ready to smoke tomorrow.  Cant wait to see how it comes out!
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  • Cookinbob
    Cookinbob Posts: 1,691
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    Post a pic @stv8r!
    XLBGE, Small BGE, Homebrew and Guitars
    Rochester, NY
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  • CrookedTreeBBQ
    CrookedTreeBBQ Posts: 2
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    Cured, smoked, or grilled; pork belly is just good. As Malcom say's the 'creme del le creme' of pork. Mastering pork belly in all dishes covers quite a few skills (i suffer with 'Crackling' perfection). Nonetheless; that is a nice "Belly of Bacon', great looking plate!

     

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  • BearQ
    BearQ Posts: 174
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    Looks great.. Just finished curing my 1st belly on Friday. Paid a lot more @ $5 lb. wonder if I can bring meat across the border?
    Barrie,Ont.,Canada.
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    BearQ said:
    Looks great.. Just finished curing my 1st belly on Friday. Paid a lot more @ $5 lb. wonder if I can bring meat across the border?
    I don't know if there are any asian markets in Barrie but belly is usually $2-3 a pound in the outskirts of TO

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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