HOMEMADE BACON RECIPES

Steps:

• Rinse the pork belly and pat dry. Transfer to a resealable 2-gallon plastic bag. To make the spice rub, mix the kosher salt, pink salt, brown sugar, honey, red pepper flakes, paprika and cumin in a bowl. Coat the pork belly all over with the mixture.
• Close the bag and refrigerate 7 to 10 days, flipping once a day, until the pork belly feels firm. It should take 7 days for a thin belly that is about 11/2 inches thick, longer for a belly that's 2 to 3 inches thick.
• Remove the pork belly from the bag, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Refrigerate the belly on a rack, uncovered, 48 hours.
• Set up your smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions using applewood chips, and set to 200 degrees F. Smoke the pork belly 3 hours, or until the bacon reaches an internal temperature of 150 degrees F.
• Remove the rind (optional), then slice and cook as desired. To store, wrap the bacon in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 2 months.
• Pink curing salt is a mix of salt and sodium nitrite. It keeps the meat pink and protects it from bacteria. You can find it at specialty food stores or online.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
• Season pork belly with paprika, salt, and pepper. Tightly wrap pork twice in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 hours. Turn off the oven; let pork rest in the oven for 1 hour. Remove meat from oven, leaving it wrapped in aluminum foil, and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Remove pork from foil and slice across the grain in 1/4-inch thick slices. Working in batches, cook pork in a non-stick skillet over medium heat until golden and crisped, 6 to 8 minutes per slice.