Tried Meathead Bacon recipe

[DanLacinski]

Tried the bacon recipe. I didnt like the way the bacon fried up and the sugar seemed to burn on edges. Any advice ?

[ecowper]

I have eliminated most of the sugar in my bacon cures. If I want a sweet taste, I use maple syrup. If I fry the bacon, I do it slower than store bought. I typically, now, cook it on a rack/cookie sheet in the oven :-)

[grantgallagher]

Yup. I havent fried bacon in a long time. Always do it on a rack in the oven now. Less mess and just better IMO

[Attjack]

I'm about to bake some bacon right now.

[DeathCassette]

I haven't cooked bacon in a pan in years. You get an even cook and easy clean up doing it in the oven.

[ecowper]

For example, here is my Maple-Whiskey bacon cure .... this assumes a standard size/shape hunk of belly that weighs 3 lbs

For 3lbs of trimmed pork belly

3.5 grams Prague Powder #1
6 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic (or 1 tsp minced garlic)
3/4 cup distilled water
1/2 cup dark maple syrup
2 tbsp whiskey .... rye, bourbon, single malt

[DanLacinski]

Thanks ! I have a third piece that I cut down on brown sugar and added maple syrup. Did not try yet. I like your garlic add also.

[ecowper]

DanLacinski I used to add brown sugar and use less salt. I’ve since modified to what you see here. I like it a lot better.

[barelfly]

Gonna give this flavor profile a try next batch. Bourbon and bacon! Oh my!

[Donw]

Homemade bacon is not generally going to fry up crisp like factory made if that is what you were refering to. Factory bacon is processed to 124-126 degrees.

[ddmcwhirter]

Did you rinse the cure off before smoking?

[DanLacinski]

yes. I put some in oven at 300 f and it didnt burn. I ran it to about 155 f on the smoker so it doesn’t really need cooked.

[DeathCassette]

Try it at 400 f. It normally cooks up crisp in about 8-10 minutes but I set a timer for 6 so I can keep an eye on it. Also so I can open the oven and fill the house with delicious bacon smells.

[shify]

The texture is more ham like than store bought bacon. I cook at a lower temp and just until a bit of brown. It will never be solidly crispy and brown like store bought.

[Spinaker]

Cook the bacon at a lower temp in the skillet.

​​​​​​​I like to add a press to the bacon as it fries.

[ecowper]

yep, when I fry my bacon, definitely has to be lower temp and slower cooking than store bought stuff