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Around New Years we always pick up a fresh chunk of Smoked Hog Jowl to slice up for seasoning the collards and peas. We really enjoy the smoky taste/smell. I would like to try cold-smoking some store bought cured bacon to achieve similar flavor. I've read almost every 'bacon' post here and found a few tips on smoking store bought bacon(thx Qnorth).

I have a homemade coldsmoke rig for my CS that can maintain 85-90* smoke temps for extended times.

Question(s):

Is cured store bought bacon safe to eat after coldsmoking for several hours? Planning to freeze most of it for later.

Can anyone recommend a good ballpark wood amount/type and smoke time for my first trial batch?

I'm planning on trying a several 1/2lb batches with different times but unsure where to start.

Thx!
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quote:
Is cured store bought bacon safe to eat after coldsmoking for several hours? Planning to freeze most of it for later.


I haven't died yet. Just had some yesterday. It shouldn't take you more than an hour to do a good smoke and I don't think that salty bacon is going to be affected. I turn the smoker off after 20 mins and let it sit for about 45.

quote:
Can anyone recommend a good ballpark wood amount/type and smoke time for my first trial batch?


I wouldn't use more than two oz. It's not going to smoke for that long.
Back in the day we used to cure and smoke our own bacon from the 2 or 3 hogs we slaughtered each fall. After curing we hung the pork bellies in our smokehouse for about 12 hours and smoked away. We tried not to let the temperature get over 70 deg F. Any more than that we got real nervous. That should answer your question about spoilage. If it's cured properly you are okay.
CS smokers are not meant for cold smoking. I know people have been doing it with all kinds of Rube Goldberg add-ons but still.........
A couple of years ago, on ebay, I purchased a neat little smoke machine that runs on pellets with a tiny aquarium pump. I mounted this on the outside of my Smokette and ran the hose in to the bottom grease hole. On my test run it worked great. The box stayed in the 65-75 deg range. But as you can see I was just using the Smokette for a "box" A dorm size refrigerator with 5/8 inch holes top and bottom would work as well or better.
Thx Qnorth. 2oz for about 45 minutes after smoke looks good and pure sounds like a good place to start.

AW: Thx for reply. The temp readings I listed for my add-on smokebox were from cheese smoke tests with CS oven temp at 300* in 65* outdoor temps. Using 225* oven setting I am expecting to maintain smokebox temp under 70-75* in cold weather.

Sounds like you found a good way around it also.
Qnorth, Your tips were spot on. While I was smoking some cornish hens this past w/e (2.5 oz apple/pecan wood) I put a lb of store bought bacon in my remote box. I connected the vent pipe 30 minutes into cook a left for 1 hour. Wrapped and put back in fridge. Had first sample tonight. Amazing flavor. I didn't tell my wife the bacon was "enhanced" and she commented 2 bites in it was really good. She's not a super taster but I'm pretty pleased Smiler Thx!

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