Best Scrap Iron Chefs Bacon Recipes

HOMEMADE BACON

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.

BACON-MAPLE SPROUTS

Steps:

• Crank the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the bacon on a rimmed half sheet pan (a lip is important as there will be a fair amount of fat). Roast, flipping halfway through, until crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Carefully remove pan from oven and transfer the bacon slices to paper towels to drain. Carefully pour the bacon fat from the sheet pan into a small heatproof bowl and reserve both the fat and the sheet pan. Keep the oven on.
• While the bacon is making the kitchen smell awesome, trim the dry ends from the sprouts remove any yellow outer leaves, and halve the sprouts longitudinally. Cut the apple by quartering, then remove and discard the core. Slice each quarter lengthwise into thirds, then cut crosswise into fourths to yield 12 pieces. Do not peel the apple!
• In a large bowl, toss the sprouts and apple pieces with 2 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat and spread in an even layer on the reserved sheet pan, placing as many sprouts cut side down as possible. Reserve the bowl.
• Roast until the sprouts are browned and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. (A little char is a good thing.)
• While the sprouts and apple cook, whisk the mustard and the syrup together in the reserved large bowl. Coarsely chop the bacon.
• When the sprouts are brown, return them to the bowl and toss with the mustard-maple mixture. Plate and top with the bacon.

SCRAP IRON CHEF'S BACON (HOMEMADE BACON)

Steps:

• 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.
• Pour into a large container with the remaining water, and the apple cider.
• 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.
• After three days have passed, remove the pork from the brine and pat dry with paper towels.
• Lay on a rack over a sheet pan and place in front of a fan for 1 hour to form a pellicle.
• 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.
• 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.
• Remove from rack and drain on paper towels.
• Enjoy.