Around My Family Table

I believe getting together around the supper table is important for all families. Let me help you get there faster with my quick and easy, family-friendly recipes.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
    • Author Wendy O’Neal
  • Recipes
  • Homemaking
    • cleaning
    • easy crafts
    • gifts
    • hospitality
    • organization
  • Celebrations
  • Travel
    • travel tips
    • camping planning
  • Cookbooks
    • Smoke It Like A Pit Master
    • Smoke it Like A Texas Pit Master
    • Live Fire BBQ and Beyond
  • Shop

allergy friendly » dairy free » How to Cure Your Own Bacon

By Wendy O'Neal 6 Comments

How to Cure Your Own Bacon

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

A simple, easy to follow recipe teaching you How to Cure Your Own Bacon. Once you have homemade bacon, you may never buy store bought bacon again!

How to Cure Your Own Bacon

I am so excited! The next two weeks are going to be full of amazing bacon recipes. They aren’t going to be just plain on bacon recipes…but really pushing the limits of what bacon can do. Well, at least in my mind. (Keep Reading for a giveaway)

What comedian Jim Gaffigan says about bacon makes me giggle. He says bacon is the fairy dust of the food world…it makes everything better! Um, yeah it does!

Bacon Month 2014

Bacon prices are at an all time high these days, but did you know you can make your own bacon at home for a fraction of the cost…even with the special ingredients and tools. To make your own bacon there are a couple necessary ingredients and tools that you might not already have on hand:

  • pork belly(ask your butcher & buy several pounds or find an Asian market)
  • pink curing salt (this is not the same a pink Himalayan salt, this salt is what gives bacon the “bacon” flavor)
  • smoker (check out my whole post on how to use a smoker)
  • electric knife or meat slicer (optional, but totally worth it…at least have an electric knife)

 

How to Cure your own Bacon

And here it is in all it’s glory after it’s been cured, smoked, cut, and baked in an oven. Can’t you just smell it? It is so full of flavor and absolutely the best bacon I’ve ever had.

How to Cure your own Bacon

 

So, tell me….will you consider making your own bacon? You really should give it a try because it’s easy, cheaper than store bought, and the taste is unbelievable!

Continue to Content
How to Cure Bacon at Home

How to Cure Bacon at Home

Yield: 4 pounds

Once you learn how to cure bacon at home, you'll never want to buy it from the store again!

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs pork belly
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 5 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 4 whole bay leaves
  • 1 tbls coarse black pepper
  • 2 tsps pink curing salt
  • 4 gallon sized ziptop baggies

Instructions

  1. Cut pork belly into one pound sections. Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Divide the seasoning blend into fourths and rub all over each pork belly, covering all areas well. Place each pork belly in their own ziptop baggie (only one belly per bag, otherwise it won't get enough curing seasoning on it and you will end up with something more like Canadian bacon).
  2. Place ziptop baggies in the fridge for about 7 days. Every day, rotate bags and rub meat through the bag to make sure the spices are evenly covering the pork.
  3. After seven days, prepare and preheat smoker (according to directions) with mesquite or hickory wood chips.
  4. Remove pork from baggies. Rinse under cold water and pat dry. Place in the smoker with plenty of space around each piece of meat.
  5. Smoke at 200F for about 2 hours or until it reaches 150F (use a thermometer to check the temperature).
  6. Let cool, slice off the top layer of fat that remains and then slice as thick or thin as you like. Freeze in a single layer (and then store in a freezer bag) any that you aren't going to use up in a week.
  7. The goal is to not cook the bacon, but to impart a strong smoke flavor. So keep the temp low and the smoke level high.

Notes

Alternate Method

You can also try roasting it in your oven at 200F for 2-2 1/2 hours. I have not tried this method, but have heard others have done it successfully. Before cooking, brush with liquid smoke and roast fat side up. Roast until 150F (use a thermometer to check).

Did you make this recipe?

Share and Tag @MyFamilyTable on Instagram...I'd love to see it. Or leave a comment!

© Wendy O'Neal
Cuisine: American / Category: side dishes

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out all the other amazing bacon recipes this week: ‘); // ]]>

You Might Also Enjoy....

  • How to Grill: Using a SmokerHow to Grill: Using a Smoker
  • DIY Gourmet BaconDIY Gourmet Bacon
  • Spicy Sauteed Green BeansSpicy Sauteed Green Beans
  • Sausage Dressing with Apples and BaconSausage Dressing with Apples and Bacon
  • Bacon BBQ Blue SlidersBacon BBQ Blue Sliders
  • Jalapeño Bacon Cheese BallJalapeño Bacon Cheese Ball
  • Southwest Smoked TurkeySouthwest Smoked Turkey
  • How to Cook: Pinto BeansHow to Cook: Pinto Beans

Filed Under: dairy free, egg free, gluten free, how to, smoker

Grab One of My Cookbooks

« Coconut Ice Cream
Bacon Habanero Mojitos »

Comments

  1. Steve Yager says

    April 7, 2016 at 7:02 am

    I see in several bacon recipes that after the bacon is rinsed, it is put in fridge to dry out overnight prior to smoking it. I notice this step is omitted from your method. any particular reason? Just curious.

    Reply
    • Wendy O'Neal says

      April 7, 2016 at 9:03 am

      I do rinse it, but I don’t see the need to dry it out overnight in the fridge. I read tons and tons of articles on making bacon as well when I was coming up with the recipe..some had that step and some didn’t. So, I decided to not add that step. It’s delicious and perfect without that extra drying time. w-

      Reply
  2. Joelen says

    August 20, 2014 at 9:57 am

    Oh man, you have me craving bacon in the worst way! Looks fantastic and I wouldn’t have ever thought of curing it myself!

    Reply
  3. Nutmeg Nanny says

    August 19, 2014 at 8:32 pm

    This post is awesome! I LOVE bacon 🙂

    Reply
  4. Lexi @ Lexi's Clean Kitchen says

    August 19, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    Great post!!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Bacon By Seduced - 24 pick up says:
    March 8, 2016 at 12:10 am

    […] How to Cure Your Own Bacon – Around My Family Table – A simple, easy to follow recipe teaching you How to Cure Your Own Bacon. Once you have homemade bacon, you may never buy store bought bacon again! […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wendy’s Table

Welcome friend!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I love sharing my no-fuss {family approved} recipes, travel stories, and homemaking tips here.

Grab a chair and join me at my table. The coffee pot is always on!
[Wanna Know More...]

15 Minute Suppers eBook


Cooking101 eBook

explore recipes           explore home           explore celebrate           explore travel

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316 · Website Design by DIY Blog Designs

© 2010-2021 | All Rights Reserved | Privacy & Disclosure | About | Subscribe | Work with AMFT | Contact

Around My Family Table is owned & operated by Wendy O'Neal. All content & images on this site are copyright protected.