wittdog
Master Chef
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This is the second video in our 3 video series on how to make pea meal and Canadian Bacon. In this video we cover what needs to be done after the loins have been brined for 5 days and how to make a fry up some pea meal bacon. The first step is to remove the loins from the brine and then rinse with cold water and scrub the outside down with a stuff brush. We do this so the bacon will not be to salty the excess salt tends to stick to the outside of the bacon.
A word about salt when doing cures or rubs for BBQ make sure to use no iodized salt. The Iodine can leave white streaks after the meat has been smoked. Kosher salt does not contain iodine so it is ok to use.
As the smokehouse is preheating to 160* (the meat will take the temp down to 140*) place the loins on cooling racks to dry some. This will speed up the drying process in the smokehouse. When the smokehouse comes up to temp then either place on bacon hooks, stuff into stockenetts or into casings or lie flat on the racks to cook. I prefer just to hang the bacon from the hooks, they can be difficult to stuff into casings and the stockinet bags and they both cost extra and the only benefit is cosmetic. If you chose to use the bags the night before soak the bags in vinegar. If you don’t want the diamond patter on your meat from the bags you can add a little liquid smoke to the vinegar for coloring. It won’t change the flavor. I’m talking like a teaspoon of liquid smoke to 2 Cups of vinegar. The vinegar will make it easier to remove the bag from the meat. If you use casings dust the loin with Soy Protein or Powdered milk this will make it easier to remove the casing as well. I don’t like to lay them flat on the rack in the electric smokehouse because the area is so small and it doesn’t cook evenly. Again this is a personal preference. And depending on what type of smoker you are using will also dictate what method you use.
When the smokehouse is at temp hang the bacon and keep the temp at 140* for about 4 hours or until the outside of the bacon is dry to the touch. Then add the sawdust and smoke for about 4 more hours. I time it by 2 pans of sawdust at a temp of 160*. I like to use hickory wood for the first pan and mostly hickory with a touch of cheery for color and sweetness in the second pan. After the smoke has cleared let the smokehouse ride at 160* till the meat hits 142* for fully cooked Canadian bacon leave in smokehouse till the internal temp is 152*-155*. If you pull the bacon at 142* its not considered complete cooked and will need to heated before you eat it.
After the bacon reaches your desired temp remove from smokehouse and shower with cold water till the internal temp is 110*. Let bloom for a few hours and refrigerate. The next morning slice and use as needed.
For the pea meal bacon after it has been removed from the brine and dried some just roll it in cornmeal. Slice what you need and fry it with a little bit of butter. When it starts to become white flip it over and brown the other side. Remember when cutting the loin even though it is cured it is still raw pork and should be handled as such.
We also made some tasso which I am told is a Cajun delight. We just sprinkled a little Cajun rub on the outside and will smoke it like that.
This is the second video in our 3 video series on how to make pea meal and Canadian Bacon. In this video we cover what needs to be done after the loins have been brined for 5 days and how to make a fry up some pea meal bacon. The first step is to remove the loins from the brine and then rinse with cold water and scrub the outside down with a stuff brush. We do this so the bacon will not be to salty the excess salt tends to stick to the outside of the bacon.
A word about salt when doing cures or rubs for BBQ make sure to use no iodized salt. The Iodine can leave white streaks after the meat has been smoked. Kosher salt does not contain iodine so it is ok to use.
As the smokehouse is preheating to 160* (the meat will take the temp down to 140*) place the loins on cooling racks to dry some. This will speed up the drying process in the smokehouse. When the smokehouse comes up to temp then either place on bacon hooks, stuff into stockenetts or into casings or lie flat on the racks to cook. I prefer just to hang the bacon from the hooks, they can be difficult to stuff into casings and the stockinet bags and they both cost extra and the only benefit is cosmetic. If you chose to use the bags the night before soak the bags in vinegar. If you don’t want the diamond patter on your meat from the bags you can add a little liquid smoke to the vinegar for coloring. It won’t change the flavor. I’m talking like a teaspoon of liquid smoke to 2 Cups of vinegar. The vinegar will make it easier to remove the bag from the meat. If you use casings dust the loin with Soy Protein or Powdered milk this will make it easier to remove the casing as well. I don’t like to lay them flat on the rack in the electric smokehouse because the area is so small and it doesn’t cook evenly. Again this is a personal preference. And depending on what type of smoker you are using will also dictate what method you use.
When the smokehouse is at temp hang the bacon and keep the temp at 140* for about 4 hours or until the outside of the bacon is dry to the touch. Then add the sawdust and smoke for about 4 more hours. I time it by 2 pans of sawdust at a temp of 160*. I like to use hickory wood for the first pan and mostly hickory with a touch of cheery for color and sweetness in the second pan. After the smoke has cleared let the smokehouse ride at 160* till the meat hits 142* for fully cooked Canadian bacon leave in smokehouse till the internal temp is 152*-155*. If you pull the bacon at 142* its not considered complete cooked and will need to heated before you eat it.
After the bacon reaches your desired temp remove from smokehouse and shower with cold water till the internal temp is 110*. Let bloom for a few hours and refrigerate. The next morning slice and use as needed.
For the pea meal bacon after it has been removed from the brine and dried some just roll it in cornmeal. Slice what you need and fry it with a little bit of butter. When it starts to become white flip it over and brown the other side. Remember when cutting the loin even though it is cured it is still raw pork and should be handled as such.
We also made some tasso which I am told is a Cajun delight. We just sprinkled a little Cajun rub on the outside and will smoke it like that.