The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: harry on January 09, 2012, 05:05:37 pm

Title: cold smoked bacon
Post by: harry on January 09, 2012, 05:05:37 pm
i have a bradley smoker....... anyone know how to cold smoke bacon and sausages...
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: JulieS on January 09, 2012, 05:11:27 pm
I bought the cold smoker attachment for mine, but if you haven't got one of those you can rig one up from a cardboard box and tubing apparently.  The details are on the bradley smoker website.

I put sausages and bacon (before slicing)  in the smoker and then set the briquettes thingy (my very technical term!! lol)  going and 5 hours later it's done.

I then vacuum pack the  sausages, bacon or ham...cheese is good too,  for a couple of days before slicing or packing.



Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: Dan on January 09, 2012, 05:14:05 pm
Cold smoking bacon (http://vimeo.com/385870)

 :)
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: deepinthewoods on January 09, 2012, 05:36:18 pm
that would be sooooo much better if the smoke went into an old wine barrel ;)
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: Eve on January 09, 2012, 06:57:56 pm
Cold smoking is really easy with one of these: http://www.macsbbq.co.uk/ColdSmoking.html (http://www.macsbbq.co.uk/ColdSmoking.html), we haven't done any hot smoking since we've bought one of these cold smoking 'thingies'. We use it inside one of these smokers / BBQs: http://www.masterbuilt.com/kingsford/king_smokers.htm (http://www.masterbuilt.com/kingsford/king_smokers.htm) which we bought a few years ago from or via Amazon.

In the morning, you put the bacon inside the Kingsford and light the Mac's BBQ cold smoking thingy. In the evening, you come home and hey presto!  :yum: Works even when it's freezing outside. We use applewood dust.

Hot smoking is much more hassle, but it does give you that nice brown colour on the bacon  :yum:


 :wave:
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: Mel on January 10, 2012, 11:01:43 am
 Morning :wave:

I have seen this on the fleabay-can anybody advise,do you think this would be ok to cold smoke my bacon loins and such? 250952318346 or 180778220452
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: Mel on January 10, 2012, 12:25:06 pm
Sorry to seem silly,but if I smoke the meat,is this done after curing or done instead..sorry if it seems a silly question!
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: Eve on January 10, 2012, 12:51:31 pm
Not silly at all as smoking is a form of curing so it can be a bit confusing  ;)

Salt-cure first, smoke after.
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: Mel on January 10, 2012, 01:07:21 pm
Thank you Eve! xx
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: Mel on January 11, 2012, 06:14:54 pm
I have purchased one of those ProQ cold smoking devices to try   ??? -it was cheap and cheerful and I cannot warrant paying out for one of those super duper generators like Dan and others have! ;) Well,not at the moment.

Please tell me,I was going to use a friends old tall larder fridge-broken and does not work,So I thought about putting the ProQ in the bottom,like Dan's video,the fridge would obviously hold the meat but do I need a chimney or other light ventilation?-I am asking this before I have Chris cutting chimney holes in it! :D
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: JulieS on January 11, 2012, 06:26:16 pm
I have a ventilation thingy (another technical term from me!!)  on the top of mine.  Depending on the temperature outside and weather conditions I either open it partially or fully open......but always open a little though.

Hope this makes sense  :)
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: lill on January 13, 2012, 07:27:31 am
Harry,
I also have a bradley smoker. For hot smoke attatch the 2 foot long cable to the smoker and the box, turn up the slider on the front of the smoker, it is just below the door. For cold smoke do not attatch the 2 foot long cable and turn the slider down, I always do cold smoke therfore my slider is always off, but please remember that there will always be heat where there is smoke. The air vent on the top of the smoker allows for the smokey taste, vent only open a wee bit you will have heavily smoked items, vent half open there will be a lighter smokey taste.
HTH
Lillian
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: harry on January 13, 2012, 08:38:37 pm
i am going to practice on a bit of supermarket pork.... what 2 cheap cuts should i buy for ham and bacon. i suppose i then need a bacon cutter
Title: Re: cold smoked bacon
Post by: HappyHippy on January 13, 2012, 09:26:15 pm
For bacon you'll need a piece of loin (for back bacon) or belly (for streaky) if it's a ham you want you'll need to go for a leg joint - but a rolled gigot should do just as well. I'm not sure how readily available they'll be in a supermarket though  :-\  Might need a 'proper' butchers shop.
HTH
Karen  :wave: