HOMEMADE BACON CURE 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:

• Start by mixing the dry cure, mustard powder, brown sugar, and ground pepper together. Rub the entire pork belly with the mixture, including the sides.
• Pour the maple syrup on the pork belly and rub it in, making sure to get your hands all nice and gooey. Put the pork belly in a ziplock bag and store it in the fridge for around a week, flipping it every day or so.
• The bacon is ready to smoke when it is firm to the touch. When you take the bacon out of the bag, give it a good rinse under the sink and pat it dry.
• We like to smoke the bacon with apple or hickory for two to three hours at around 200℉. It also can be slow roasted in the oven. The bacon is done when its internal temperature reaches 150℉.
• Once the bacon has been smoked, slice it and cook it the way you would any other bacon.