How to Make Homemade Bacon

Most livestock farmers agree that homemade bacon is much more flavorful than the kind found in the supermarket. With the right cut of pork and a bit of pink salt, you can be "makin' bacon" in no time at all.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh pork belly
• Pink curing salt
• Maple syrup or brown sugar
• Large cellophane bag
• Frying pan

Instructions

1. Make homemade bacon by getting a fresh pork belly roast with the rind removed by the butcher. Ensure that you're not getting salt pork, which will make better fried pork rinds than bacon. A 5-pound pork belly roast should be sufficient for your needs.

2. Get some pink curing salt, which contains a small percentage of sodium nitrate, from the butcher as well. Curing salt has been dyed pink so that butchers can tell the difference when they're preparing meat.

3. Wash the pork belly roast thoroughly in cold water. Dab up the excess moisture with a dry paper towel.

4. Rub 1/4 cup of the pink curing salt all over the pork roast until all surfaces are covered.

5. Coat the pork belly roast with maple syrup or brown sugar, applying enough to completely coat the meat.

6. Place the pork belly roast in a large re-closeable plastic bag to make homemade bacon. Seal the bag and shake it so that all of the syrup or brown sugar is evenly distributed.

7. Put the bag with the pork belly roast in the refrigerator for 1 week. Shake the bag and flip it over at least once a day. Do not remove any of the liquid that gathers at the bottom of the bag.

8. Remove the pork belly roast from the refrigerator after a week has passed, and wash off the excess salt and syrup or brown sugar.

9. Cut a tiny piece from the center of the roast and fry it up in a pan. Taste the piece to see if it is too salty. If it is, simply soak the roast in cold water for a few minutes, and then fry up another small piece until it suits your taste buds.

10. Slice the pork belly roast to make your homemade bacon. Remember that thicker pieces may take longer to fry, but the flavor of the meat will be stronger.

Tips & Warnings

• You can give your homemade bacon a little kick by adding sliced jalapeños, a dash of hot sauce or a few cloves of garlic while the pork belly roast is marinating in the refrigerator.