I just got a 21lb fresh hogleg from my stepmom. I have never cured one before, And I was wondering if anyone here had any good advice. My plan so far is to cure it in a brine with adeala sea salt, beet sugar, and pork stock, and my butt rub. Maybe in the brine in the fridge for the week, and smoke it next weekend.
Big green ham.
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Max1
Head Chef
Youtube and google.... I have cure bacon before but never a ham. You may want, and actually need to inject because the brine would never reach to the center of the meat by itself.
Like I said, I would research it first. Don't forget the pink salt!!! I never use it.
Like I said, I would research it first. Don't forget the pink salt!!! I never use it.
Max1
Head Chef
True, but you want to be safe, and bacteria is anything but safe.
Agreed. The brine has been boiled, then quickly chilled, The ham will stay in there for about 6 days at 34*. Then it will be smoked just like I would do a shoulder, at about 250* on apple and mulberry wood for, I guess the better part of a long day. with the exception of maybe a habaniero-honey glaze with some pineapple. I feel pretty confident with this process, as far as food safety, from the research I have done. Mainly, I was just wondering about the brining ingredients, and time frame. This might be pretty close to being the biggest chunk of meat I have ever cooked, and I'm really looking forward to it. But I certainly don't want to get anyone sick. Do you think that, even in the fridge, there might be a chance for dangerous bacteria, with wet curing? Also as a side note I used some celery juice in the brine to add natural nitrates because I wasn't able to find the pink curing salt.
Max1
Head Chef
Yes it is coming to the time of year that I cure some bacon. Last time around I only cured and smoked 3 bellies. This time around I am going to do a total of 6, and then 2 pork loins for some canuk bacon. Gonna try Vermins Recipe for that... Gonna have to start the cure here shortly. Maybe in the next few weeks.
We will see, has been on the pit now for 12 hours, at 225. I'll give it a few more to get it to 140 inside. I think this is gonna be a good ham.
Well, the ham didn't really turn out like I'd hoped. It tastes just like it looks, like roasted pork. I don't know if it was because my injector needle was too short,(hurr hurr), or it just wasn't brined for long enough. It still tastes good, and will get eaten, but...disappointing.
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Well since you didnt use any curing agents..that would be a smoked fresh ham. And it sure looks tasty. If you want a ham ham..Try Morton's Tender Quick next. Commonly available in all real grocery stores. Just sub it out for the salt ration.
That stuff may be readily available in any grocery store in TX, but not in NEbraska, We happen to have better beef, but the curing process for pork is generally done at the farms. I appreciate your input, B-dub! I've missed you, you're my favorite person here.
Max1
Head Chef
Nice to see that you went through with it. I am actually going to start curing some pork bellies, and a couple of loins for some bacon, and Canadian bacon here next weekend.
Well you are one my favorites too. Dont make me come up there. Thanks. I invented you a zip code.
http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-home/where-to-buy
http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-home/where-to-buy
http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-home/where-to-buy
http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-home/where-to-buy
Max1
Head Chef
LMFAO, BW I will give you my address. We have BEER first. Deal???
Vermin999
Executive Chef
I know I'm late to the party but if any one around you makes sausage or a butcher shop that processes whole hogs ask them for some curing salts or Tenderquick. You don't need a lot and they will surely have some. They are good places to get casings too.
I'm pretty sure one of the butcher shops would sell me some. I had no luck at the grocery stores. The problem is that they are all on the south side, which is kind of a long drive from where I live. Which is why I buy a freezer full of meat when I go there. Next time I do, I will ask them though. good advice, thanks. I probably won't be cooking another ham soon, But I would like to make some bacon, or maybe pastrami. BW's idea, of ordering direct from morton is a good idea too. I should probably get on that.
Well if you go to the link and punch in the zip code it gives a list of about a million stores in Omaha to buy Tender Quck. Here is a list of them within 10 miles of about as far South as a person can get and still live there.
Morton® Tender Quick® 2 lb. bag near Bellevue NE 68157
Store Contact Distance
Bag N Save Supermarket 5101 Harrison St
Omaha NE, 68157
(402) 733-6771 0.7 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Hy Vee Food Store 3505 L St
Omaha NE, 68107
(402) 731-6107 2.6 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps No Frills Supermarket 1230 N Washington St
Papillion NE, 68046
(402) 339-2858 3.7 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Hy Vee Food Store 11650 S 73rd St
Papillion NE, 68046
(402) 597-5790 4.1 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Hy Vee Food Store 5150 Center St
Omaha NE, 68106
(402) 553-2664 4.1 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Bakers Supermarket 888 S Saddle Creek Rd
Omaha NE, 68106
(402) 551-0613 4.9 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps No Frills Supermarket 820 N Saddle Creek Rd
Omaha NE, 68132
(402) 556-9225 5.9 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps No Frills Supermarket 1510 Harlan Dr
Bellevue NE, 68005
(402) 291-7170 6 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Bag N Save Supermarket 7646 Dodge St
Omaha NE, 68114
(402) 392-2052 6.1 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Bag N Save Supermarket 5110 S 108th St
Omaha NE, 68137
(402) 592-2005 6.6 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps
Morton® Tender Quick® 2 lb. bag near Bellevue NE 68157
Store Contact Distance
Bag N Save Supermarket 5101 Harrison St
Omaha NE, 68157
(402) 733-6771 0.7 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Hy Vee Food Store 3505 L St
Omaha NE, 68107
(402) 731-6107 2.6 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps No Frills Supermarket 1230 N Washington St
Papillion NE, 68046
(402) 339-2858 3.7 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Hy Vee Food Store 11650 S 73rd St
Papillion NE, 68046
(402) 597-5790 4.1 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Hy Vee Food Store 5150 Center St
Omaha NE, 68106
(402) 553-2664 4.1 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Bakers Supermarket 888 S Saddle Creek Rd
Omaha NE, 68106
(402) 551-0613 4.9 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps No Frills Supermarket 820 N Saddle Creek Rd
Omaha NE, 68132
(402) 556-9225 5.9 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps No Frills Supermarket 1510 Harlan Dr
Bellevue NE, 68005
(402) 291-7170 6 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Bag N Save Supermarket 7646 Dodge St
Omaha NE, 68114
(402) 392-2052 6.1 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps Bag N Save Supermarket 5110 S 108th St
Omaha NE, 68137
(402) 592-2005 6.6 miles View on Google maps
View on Yahoo maps
Max1
Head Chef
Damn BW, your like a Stalker or something, you know that?
