Bacon

[ChuckO]

I've been lucky enough to get Pork Bellys for $3.99 a LBS, so I've had a few go's at making bacon. The bacon is amazing, but my bacon is not pretty. I want to make bacon like Jim Lampe, and would like to hear what I need to do different. For what it's worth, I did ask Santa for an electric knife, that seemed to work real well with Jim's last batch

My snake (that ran for nearly 7 hours)

The fat piece: I knew that this piece was going to be soup / pizza bacon

The good pieces

About an hour in

About 3 hours in

Six hours (I couldn't believe I could go 6 hours on a snake)

Sliced / cut

Packaged

Would appreciate to hear how to make it better looking. Taste amazing, but is ugly bacon

 

[JimK]

Bacon looks good. What did you use to slice?

I started with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000CFDB9/tvwb-20

They have gotten pretty darned expensive since I bought mine, but there are many cheaper options. In fact, for a few bucks more than the price of that knife, you can buy a legit slicer.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/game-winner-75-electric-meat-slicer#repChildCatid=3174055

 

[Bob Correll]

I'm not Jim, but try putting it in the freezer until stiff but not fully frozen.
I use a slicing knife or electric slicer.

 

[JimK]

Good point, Bob. Yes, semi-frozen makes a big difference.

 

[ChuckO]

Ah ha, partially frozen. I might order the knife in Jim's link, I'm sure it would come in handy. My electric slicer is this one:

http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?63743-Cabela-s-Heavy-Duty-Slicer

It's OK at best. Not sure I would endorse it

Thanks Jim & Bob, good info

 

[Rich Dahl]

Mr. Lampe certainly does have some great knife skills, way beyond my shaky talents. I do like Bob said, partially frozen and use my electric meat slicer which works great.

 

[JimK]

Ah ha, partially frozen. I might order the knife in Jim's link, I'm sure it would come in handy. My electric slicer is this one:

http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?63743-Cabela-s-Heavy-Duty-Slicer

It's OK at best. Not sure I would endorse it

Thanks Jim & Bob, good info

Your slicer should be more than adequate for bacon and lunch meat, unless your doing dozens of pounds at a time.

 

[Cliff Bartlett]

I bet that bacon is delicious, and that's what counts. Looks great to me Chuck.

 

[Jim Lampe]

c'mon guys!

i slice using an electric knife and most of the time its done on a meat slicer.
ANYONE can do it. No Special Skills REQUIRED!period.

OH, and BY THE WAY! the Bacon gig on this BBQ Smoking Website BELONGS to BOB CORRELL! And No Other!!
Please make no mistakes about that.

if Bob did not post this thread,→ http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?13312-Bacon-made-easy
(and another OH BY THE WAY! it has OVER 107 THOUSAND hits!)
...nearly the entire membership of this fine forum would still be buying Oscar's or Patrick's over priced factory made bacon.


now..... where was... oh yeah.

Chucko, GREAT LOOKING BACON!, Man!!

 

[Bob Whitney]

I have a great slicing knife but I'm not good enough to slice bacon perfect Everytime. I bought this a couple years ago. Love it.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/DELU...oryId=734095080&CQ_search=food+slicer&CQ_st=b

 

[Clint]

This is an inspiring pic:

I wonder if a slicer like this would be any good at bacon (I have one of these & also the counter/deli-style slicers)

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004X12T/tvwb-20

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

Yep, Bob wins the cookie for his generosity in the bacon group, among all his other contributions to the forum. Now if he'd just send some bacon......
Slicers are great if you have space, I've never got enough space. Personally I don't care for electric knives but, it's been a long time since I've used one. I want a slicer, I HAVE good large well sharpened knives. A good knife is worth the price. A slicer is on my "list" though. And a vacuum packer!

 

[Len Dennis]

'lectric knife is ok IF you can slice the meat in one pass. If the meat is too wide and you need to take a second swipe from the other side, well you know the middle may be a bit ragged.

 

[Robert-R]

Nice job with the bacon. Looks super!