How can I make bacon at home?

Question

like home-made bacon from scratch

Answer 1

I started some bacon at home this weekend. I'm glad you asked!

You will indeed need a pig or at least some side meat. I got mine from Copenhagen Farms in VA and the farmer showed me how to process the meat. We went from being on the hoof at 6:30 AM yesterday to packages for the freezer in the evening.

I brought home the side meat and the ham to cure. Here is the directions I was given by Tasha Cunningham on Copenhagen Farms for curing them both:

Curing needs to be done on a slatted table type surface, so that the moisture that gets pulled out of the meat by the cure can drain and needs to be done in a cool stable environment at 40-48*F w/ low to mid humidity. (Note from dk: I mad mine out of a pallet.)

As soon as possible after slaughter and cool down ( same day preferably, Next day at the latest) Make a mixture in a large bowl of 3 parts NON-iodized salt , 2 parts Black Pepper, and 1 Part brown sugar, (light or dark) As an example: 15lbs salt, 10 lbs pepper, 5lbs Br. Sugar.

Ham
Put brown paper down on the slatted surface, this can be clean brown paper bags, or the brown paper linings of dog food bags as long as you do not use the plastic lined layer of brown paper in those bags.

Put apprx. 1/2" of the mixture on the brown paper
Put ham skin side down
Cover w/ more mixture making sure all surface area and crevaces are filled or covered including the leg bone

Bacon

Put brown paper down
Put 1/2" approximately of the mixture down on the paper
Place sides of bacon skin side down
Rub appx. 1/4 lb of Br. Sugar on meat surface
Cover completely w/ mixture

Redo after 3 weeks
Brush all mixture off of ham and bacon and follow previous instructions again

Leave Bacon down for 3-4 more weeks
Remove from mixture and brush as much off as possible
Remove skin and slice to desired thickness and length
Freeze using whatever type of freezer supplies you prefer.
(we wrap it first in plastic wrap, and then in freezer paper as we find it keeps so much better that way rather than the freezer bags)

For hams you leave them to cure for 90 days total
Remove from mixture and brush off as much cure as possible
Remove skin

Slice it how you want it and freeze according to how you want it.

**Ham and Bacon must be cooked before eating***

Feel free to email me or message me if you have questions or want more information.

Answer 2

This is straight from Recipezaar:

1 cup sugar
1 cup salt
8 ounces molasses
1/2 gallon water
1/2 gallon apple cider
2 tablespoons fresh coarse ground black pepper
5 lbs raw pork belly, from the loin-end


In a large non-reactive pot, bring half the water, 1 cup of sugar, salt, and 8 ounces molasses to a boil.

Stir to dissolve the sugar.

Pour into a large container with the remaining water, and the apple cider.

Place in the refrigerator and cool to 40 degrees F.

Press the black pepper into the pork belly.

Once the brine has cooled place the peppered pork belly into the mixture until completely submerged.

Refrigerate for three days.

After three days have passed, remove the pork from the brine and pat dry with paper towels.

Lay on a rack over a sheet pan and place in front of a fan for 1 hour to form a pellicle.

Lay the pork in the protein box of a cold smoker and smoke for 4 to 6 hours.

Chill the meat in the freezer for 1 hour to stiffen for easy slicing into strips of bacon.

Slice what you need and keep the remainder in a freezer safe bag in the refrigerator or freezer.

Place the strips of bacon onto a sheet pan fitted with a rack and place into a cold oven.

Turn the oven to 400 degrees F and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon.

Remove from rack and drain on paper towels.

Enjoy.

Answer 3

Just buy a package of bacon at the store then put the slices on paper towel on a plate and put in the the micro for a few minutes. Yum!

:)

Answer 4

Get a non-stick cooking thing that you make cookies on. Put the bacon on there and then wait like 5-10 minutes. until it is as crispy as you want it.

Answer 5

Do you want to "make" bacon or "cook" bacon? There is a
big difference

Answer 6

Two ways

1) buy it at the grocery store. unwrap. put in frying pan at med high until crispy.

2) buy pig. raise it and feed it nourishing food. humanely slaughter it. butcher. put in frying pan at med high until crispy

Answer 7

First, get a pig. Then...