CANADIAN BACON BRINE RECIPES

Steps:

• Bring all ingredients except loin to a boil for 10 minutes.
• Trim fat from loin.
• Cool the brine to 38 degrees F and strain if desired.
• Add loin and put a plate on top to keep submerged.
• Cover,Put in fridge and let sit 7 days turning once at 4 days.
• Remove and rinse in cold water. Soak for 45 minutes in cool water.
• Get smoker to 225 Degrees F. Use a good hardwood of choice.
• For breakfast bacon cook to 145 degrees F.
• For finished bacon cook to 155-160 degrees F.
• Cut to desired thickness. 1/4" for me.
• Keeps in fridge same as commercial bacon.
• Keeps in freezer longer if left unsliced.

Steps:

• Put all ingredients except the pork loin in a large sauce pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove and let cool.
• While the brine cools, trim the pork loin of excess fat and silver skin, keeping a thin layer of fat around the loin. Cut the loin in two equal 4-5 pound pieces and set aside.
• Once the brine is cool, place the pork loin pieces in a two-gallon Ziploc bag and pour the contents of the sauce pot over the pork. Close the bag and refrigerate for four days, checking each day and turning the bag to make sure the loin brines evenly.
• The morning of the fifth day, remove the pork, rinse and pat dry. Place on a rack set inside a sheet pan and return the loin to the refrigerator to dry for several hours.
• In the afternoon, prepare your smoker. If you don’t have a smoker, you can use a kettle grill. (See How to Turn Your Kettle Grill Into a Smoker) You can also roast this in the oven, you will just lose the smoky flavor. If oven-roasting, cook at 300 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees.
• In the smoker, cook the loin pieces for about 4 hours or until internal temperature reaches 155. Do not cook longer or the meat will be too dry. Remove and allow to cool before slicing.