Bacon curing question

garyc

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• Oct 17, 2011

• #1

I am curing some bacon and have a question about the length of time to cure. I used 1Tablespoon QT per pound of belly. I put them in the fridge on saturday Oct 15. I was going to pull it to smoke after 9 days but I just found out I will be out of town next week. As I see it I have two choices. I could pull it and smoke next sunday the 23rd after 8 days or let it cure for an extra 5 days and pull them on the 29th. I really don't have the time to smoke them on the 23rd but I will make time if it will ruin the bellies to go longer. Is it OK to let them cure longer?

Thanks in advanced for your answers!

 

pineywoods

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• Oct 17, 2011

• #2

I would rather go longer than needed rather than shorter

 

alblancher

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• Oct 17, 2011

• #3

Remember the cooler it is the slower the cure works.  turn down your fridge and let it go.  Like Piney said, longer is better then shorter.  Normally if you go to long the problem is salt.

Good luck

 

chefrob

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• Oct 17, 2011

• #4

good advice from above......if ya go longer then just do a fry test and if ya need to, then just soak it.

 

Last edited: Oct 17, 2011

garyc

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• Oct 17, 2011

• #5

So the only drawback to going too long is the saltiness? Ok, I can just soak it for a while after I take it out to get some of the salt out. I added some flavorings to the cure. I added brown sugar, garlic, onion and cayenne pepper. Would soaking take those flavors out? If it does would rubbing the bellies again be OK?

 

alblancher

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• Oct 18, 2011

• #6

I would do the fry test first as Chefrob said.  To me bacon can be a bit salty, but it is personal preference.   If the bacon is too salty for you to enjoy it the other flavors being reduced is a minor problem,   

More then likely it will be fine as is, so try it first then make the decision.   You can certainly do another sugar spice rub if you like after a soak but it seems to me that sugar, smoke and spice become more noticeable after a couple of days rest after smoking while salt is salt from the beginning if you know what I mean.

 

Bearcarver

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• Oct 18, 2011

• #7

All good info above.

I always do a salt-fry-test, and mine (TQ cured) have always been a little low in salt flavor.

Since you will be letting it in cure longer than normal, just make sure you do that test.

That way, if by chance it is a little salty, you can soak it to eliminate the extra salt flavor (once you smoke it---too late).

If it's too salty, just soak it for an hour or 2. Then do another test.

Do this until you like the flavor.

I doubt you will have to do more than two hours, if any.

Bear

 

eman

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• Oct 18, 2011

• #8

Just an addition to what the others have said. I do not like salty bacon so If i need to soak i add a few peeled and quartered potatoes to the soak water. The potatoes pull out more salt than just soaking in water. Enjoy your Bacon!

 

tjohnson

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• Oct 18, 2011

• #9

eman said:

Just an addition to what the others have said. I do not like salty bacon so If i need to soak i add a few peeled and quartered potatoes to the soak water. The potatoes pull out more salt than just soaking in water. Enjoy your Bacon!

Click to expand...

I'm with eman, I don't like salty bacon

You'll be surprised at how subtle the flavors of your spices will actually be.

My cure mix has some cayenne pepper and just a hint actually comes thru.

Soaking did not seem to effect the spices

Good Luck and Enjoy!

Todd

 

sierra

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• Oct 18, 2011

• #10

I agree. The flavor of the onion, garlic, and cayenne should survive the soak. Do another fry test after the soak. If it is not flavorful enough, you can add more spice before the smoke.

 

garyc

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• Oct 23, 2011

• #11

Thanks for all the advice. I feel a little better about letting it go an extra 5 days now. We are having our Pastor and his family over for dinner tonight and my smoker is occupied with ribs right now. I would be up way past midnight if I needed to smoke this bacon tonight and since I have an early flight tomorrow it would make for a rather long day tomorrow.

I will do a fry test next friday night when I get home. If it is to salty I will soak the bacon for an hour and test again, repeating until it is no longer to salty. I am glad to hear my seasonings will most likely survive the soak. I really love the flavor that garlic, onion, brown sugar and red pepper gives the bacon! Finding this forum was the best move I have made since starting my true BBQ adventure! Thanks to everyone!

 

sound1

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• Oct 23, 2011

• #12

Good one with the potato, I have used that trick in cooking, never thought of using it on a cold soak.