Pork Belly-Bacon and Braise (tons of pics)

Smokin' not stirred

Picked up 12lbs of pork belly about 2 weeks ago. Decided to braise and smoke a couple pounds and make bacon with the rest. Props to Thirdeye, Stripsteak, and Jeffersonian for the info on the bacon process. It was fun and will definitely try again.

First the belly:



The Braise
Cut off about 1 lb and added a garlic, salt, pepper paste rolled, tied and seared



In the braise (red wine, carrots, red onion, head of garlic). The meat didn't take on the braise as much as I'd like. I think I'll change it up next time.



Smoked with apple wood. I will try a heavier wood next time.It was good and the fat is melty delicious. A few changes and this would be outstanding.



Ok, bacon,
Cured with pink salt, kosher salt, brown sugar, and maple syrup for 10 days. Amazingly the bacon wasn't as salty as I thought it should be. I think I will omit the syrup next time.



Smoked with apple wood until 150 internal



The pile, sliced with a carving knife...that sucked



Had to fry up a piece, best bacon I have ever had



Well worth the effort.

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker

good stuff, eh? did you firm the bacon in the freezer for an hour or so before slicing? helps. i wouldn't freeze overnight, because there's a good chance you'll be freezing leftovers (unless you eat 12 pounds of bacon in a sitting). hahaha

so, put it in the freezer only to firm it, but not actually to freeze it. then slice. you probably did that, but i thought i'd throw it out case there are any other bacon-lurkers

Smokin' not stirred

Hey, I actually put in the fridge overnight. It was plenty firm just a lot of slicing by hand. I FoodSavered most of it by wrapping slices in wax paper. I'd be in either meat coma or the dehydration zone if I ate all of that. Good stuff. I was going to make a small football out of the skin but it still had the nipples on it and thought it would be too gross. Thanks again. J.

EggerDan

Looks great. Going to put this on my to do cooks.

Thanks for sharing.

Daniel

EggerDan

Looks great. Going to put this on my to do cooks.

Thanks for sharing.

Daniel

EggerDan

Looks great. Going to put this on my to do cooks.

Thanks for sharing.

Daniel

Frank from Houma

Looks great