Scrap Iron Chef's Bacon

Name: Scrap Iron Chef's Bacon
Prep time: 6 h 13 min
Cook time: 6 h 13 min
Total time: 6 h 13 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 2 liters 1/2 gallon apple cider; 2 Tbsps course ground black pepper; 227 grams molasses; 2 kgs raw pork belly from the loin-end; 237 milliliters salt; 237 milliliters sugar; 2 liters 1/2 gallon water

Scrap Iron Chef's Bacon requires approximately 6 hours and 13 minutes from start to finish. This recipe makes 12 servings with 444 calories, 43g of protein, and 8g of fat each. This recipe covers 25% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. It is a good option if you're following a gluten free and dairy free diet. It works well as a main course. If you have apple cider, course ground pepper, water, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. To use up the water you could follow this main course with the Watermelon-Peach Slushies as a dessert.

Instructions

In a large non-reactive pot, bring half the water, 1 cup of sugar, salt, and 8 ounces molasses to a boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

Ingredients you will need

Molasses

Sugar

Water

Salt

Equipment you will use

Pot

Pour into a large container with the remaining water, and the apple cider.

Ingredients you will need

Apple Cider

Water

Place in the refrigerator and cool to 40 degrees F.

Press the black pepper into the pork belly. Once the brine has cooled place the peppered pork belly into the mixture until completely submerged. Refrigerate for three days.

Ingredients you will need

Black Pepper

Pork Belly

Brine

After three days have passed, remove the pork from the brine and pat dry with paper towels.

Ingredients you will need

Brine

Pork

Equipment you will use

Paper Towels

Lay on a rack over a sheet pan and place in front of a fan for 1 hour to form a pellicle.

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Lay the pork in the protein box of a cold smoker and smoke for 4 to 6 hours. Chill the meat in the freezer for 1 hour to stiffen for easy slicing into strips of bacon. Slice what you need and keep the remainder in a freezer safe bag in the refrigerator or freezer.

Ingredients you will need

Bacon

Meat

Pork

Place the strips of bacon onto a sheet pan fitted with a rack and place into a cold oven. Turn the oven to 400 degrees F and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon.

Ingredients you will need

Bacon

Equipment you will use

Oven