[Camper4lyfe]

I guess this belongs here:

I'm going on a boar hunt this weekend with my dad and brother-in-law for my dad's birthday. We're confirmed for 3 100-160lb boars, which means, among other things, BACON! And lots of it!

I'd really like to make my own bacon, and having this much pork belly is a perfect opportunity. However, I'm wondering if wild boar is the way to go with it. I'd love any input/ideas/suggestions anyone has with regards to the process. And yes, I do have an offset smoker so I can do i tall myself.

 

[demerson]

Do it... bacon is pretty easy ..... look into the different kinds of processes ( dry cure and wet cure) .... we use dry cure and it always comes out great .. almost always!

Heres a pretty basic method ....http://www.imafoodblog.com/index.php/2009/02/25/how-to-cure-and-smoke-bacon you can make/purchase all kinds of cures/rubs to alter the taste to your liking

 

[Camper4lyfe]

Do it... bacon is pretty easy ..... look into the different kinds of processes ( dry cure and wet cure) .... we use dry cure and it always comes out great .. almost always!

Heres a pretty basic method ....How to Make, Cure, and Smoke Homemade Bacon you can make/purchase all kinds of cures/rubs to alter the taste to your liking

That's a thing of beauty. I can't wait.

 

[WNYBuckhunter]

mmmmmm, bacon.....

 

[Camper4lyfe]

Is "wild" boar suitable for making bacon?

 

[WNYBuckhunter]

Im not 100% sure on how much fat wild boars have on them, but its worth a try.

 

[Flynnstone]

You mean to tell me that Smurfette didn't chime in on this?? Patiently waiting...........

 

[Camper4lyfe]

You mean to tell me that Smurfette didn't chime in on this?? Patiently waiting...........

Is it good or bad that she hasn't posted yet?

 

[Flynnstone]

Alaways good to hear from a bacon expert, lol.

 

[demerson]

Is "wild" boar suitable for making bacon?

Yes wild boar is absolutely suitable for making bacon
This is a "wet" type of a cure/brine -theres lots of good ideas out there ... the principle is all about the same
Wild Boar Bacon

2 good sized wild boar bellies

Brine:
2 gallons of water
2 cups sea salt
1/4 cup curing salt (pink salt)
1/4 cup whole peppercorns
1/4 cup garlic powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup brown sugar

Mix brine ingredients and soak pork belly for 2 days then take the belly out and rinse under cool water.

Hang meat in clean area and dry with a fan for 1 hours until pelicle forms

Cold smoke for two hours using apple wood chips.

Freeze, slice thinly

 

[Camper4lyfe]

Yes wild boar is absolutely suitable for making bacon
This is a "wet" type of a cure/brine -theres lots of good ideas out there ... the principle is all about the same
Wild Boar Bacon

2 good sized wild boar bellies

Brine:
2 gallons of water
2 cups sea salt
1/4 cup curing salt (pink salt)
1/4 cup whole peppercorns
1/4 cup garlic powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup brown sugar

Mix brine ingredients and soak pork belly for 2 days then take the belly out and rinse under cool water.

Hang meat in clean area and dry with a fan for 1 hours until pelicle forms

Cold smoke for two hours using apple wood chips.

Freeze, slice thinly

Beautiful

 

[Dennis]

what exactly is cold smoking?
I need to try this can you buy pork bellies fresh?

 

[demerson]

what exactly is cold smoking?
I need to try this can you buy pork bellies fresh?

A butcher should be able to get you pork bellies and a cold smoke is a smoking proccess that adds smokey goodness to food without cooking it - so you smoke it at a low temp like 80 to not more than 120 degrees ... the smoke will " absorb" into your meat...

 

[demerson]

ooo forgot to add - you can hot smoke it too (like 175-185 degrees or so) which pretty much cooks it so its like a russian style bacon - if I am going to do a hot smoke I usually use a wet or brine cure and if I am doing a cold smoke I usually do a dry cure ...either way be sure to let the pelicle form ( let it dry out on the outside)

 

[Smurfette]

Here! *raises hand*

Sorry, work has been very busy lately.
First, I need to know more about this bacon hunt. How far away is it? They can guarantee boars? How does that work? Because I need to do one.
Second, I have never made bacon but wow that sounds awesome. I have had wild boar shortribs and they are awesome.

 

[Flynnstone]

Ahhhhhhh the world is right now, lol.

 

[Camper4lyfe]

Here! *raises hand*

Sorry, work has been very busy lately.
First, I need to know more about this bacon hunt. How far away is it? They can guarantee boars? How does that work? Because I need to do one.
Second, I have never made bacon but wow that sounds awesome. I have had wild boar shortribs and they are awesome.

We're going to Tioga, PA. I haven't seen any guarantee in getting anything but I see the odds being pretty good.

 

[de17walt]

 

[Jetster]

We're going to Tioga, PA. I haven't seen any guarantee in getting anything but I see the odds being pretty good.

I went to the Wilderness lodge once,its guaranteed kill!!!!!Which i am sure Tioga is as well....We got a Corsican ram and a Boar,could of shot alot more stuff if ya got the money!!!!

 

[Jetster]

Heres what we shot!!!!