The ORIGINAL Bacon thread & ALL things bacon-related!!!

[Monster Dave]

Candied Bacon

8 smoked bacon slices (we slice these very thin from a slab with a slicer)
4 tbsp light brown sugar
1 pinch cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 325°F
Drag bacon through brown sugar till lightly coated arrange on silpat* on sheet pan
Sprinkle remaining brown sugar and cayenne evenly over slices
Place another silpat on top and place in oven
Bake for 15 min, raise oven temp to 375°F and bake for 5 min, check and see if crisp.
Check every min until ready. Be careful because it can burn easily.

Starting low keeps the bacon flat during cooking; otherwise it would ripple.




*A silpat is a silicone baking sheet. If you don't have any on hand, you can use parchment paper.

[Jaman]

^^^ made something similar over the weekend for Saturday bfast

I bought 2 lbs of good quality deli Bacon, used 1/2 for recipe below, other 1/2 for regular Baconscrumpdeli-ishiousness.

1.  fire up smoker
2.   in a 1 gal ziplock - took 1/2 cup light brown sugar, added a teaspoon or so of cumin, 1/2 tsp of garlic powder, big pinch of  cayenne & ground black pepper, shook it all up, added about 1 lb of thick sliced Bacon, shook up some more, making sure all pieces are coated
3.   smoked for maybe 30 minutes give or take, turning occaisionally, got impatient, turned smoker to "High"(hurry up, I'm hungry!) to finish up
4.   fight/wrestle for last piece!

It was Bacon / rib candy!  My nephew was hitting me up for recipe & telling my bro that they had to stop by store on way home to get some Bacon to make it.  I will use a little less cumin next time, as the flavor was very similar to ribs that I make, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[Vindingo]

^^^ made something similar over the weekend for Saturday bfast

I bought 2 lbs of good quality deli Bacon, used 1/2 for recipe below, other 1/2 for regular Baconscrumpdeli-ishiousness.

1.  fire up smoker

oh man, I couldn't even imagine bacon on that smoker!    

The TJ's by me had some Niman Ranch bacon that I picked up this past weekend.  For some strange reason, six slices of bacon seemed appropriate with my 2 eggs. 

[Jaman]

You need to come back out for an extended stay (ie, 1 way, mofo!)  you always have a place to stay 

been doing some experimenting with different variations of rubs/sauces/cuts 

it's been the same ole same ole, lose 5 lbs during the week, gain 7 back on the weekend. 

[eltristo]

Made my third batch of bacon last week.  Gooder and gooder.

[The Bacon Junkie]

Made my third batch of bacon last week.  Gooder and gooder.

[Howie]

Looks mmmmmmmmmmmmmmgood  

[eltristo]

It were good indeed, and really really easy to make.  I really should get one of those meat slicey machines though. 

[Jaman]

It were good indeed, and really really easy to make.  I really should get one of those meat slicey machines though. 

How many days did you cure, and what kind, if any, flavorings (maple?) did you use?  Hickory for smoker?

I have been really wanting to go all out & make my own Bacon for awhile now, and the above pic (subsequent drool) is giving me the final push i needed...

[eltristo]

6 days cure, kosher salt and brown sugar.  I think it was just a touch too salty, so maybe 5 is best.

I have used hickory and mesquite in the past, but I find them too strong for my tastes.  This time I found applewood, and that was juuuuust right 

[Speedbag]

What cut do you use to make your own?

I must try.

[eltristo]

Belly.  Belly o' pork.  mmmmmmmm.

I only buy it if it looks good, frequently it looks like a giant glob of fat with a few pink streaks.  This one started life about 30% larger, but I cut one whole end off before curing and discarded it as unusable.  What was left was very nice indeed.

Oh, and it's VERY CHEAP, about $2/lb.   

[Monsterlover]

[rgramjet]

You will need a place to store all the money you save making your own Bacon.  The only appropriate container is this:

http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/42e94d03-5a4a-404f-94f2-a373ce42fa8e/bacon-wallet-is-back#3

[The Bacon Junkie]

You will need a place to store all the money you save making your own Bacon.  The only appropriate container is this:

http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/42e94d03-5a4a-404f-94f2-a373ce42fa8e/bacon-wallet-is-back#3

I have that!  And a bacon belt too...