Smoked Bacon

Sweetcheeks_3

Now appologies if I have posted this in the wrong place, so please feel free to move the post if you can find a better place for it.

Right, I buy value bacon, theres nothing wrong with it, its fine for sandwiches. However, my hubby complained that in the 'old days' we used to have smoked bacon. He`s right. So I bought the value equivilent to the value smoked bacon, which is dearer, and the weight is less. It doesnt taste very smokey though.

So then I try Tescos own smoked bacon, dearer again, but not very smokey. I refuse point blank to buy branded bacon as its loads dearer and get though loads of it in a week. So I am wondering if I can buy a smoked seasoning or something I can put on the bacon when I cook it. Then I can buy my cheap value bacon, at a value price and hubby will be happy. Any ideas????

student100

mmm dunno, Sainsbury's low price bacon is exactly the same price for smoked or unsmoked, they're even sort of mixed up on the shelf sometimes. Tastes pretty smoky.

Sorry I can't suggest anything if you've only got tesco

elona

If only we did not have these "helpful " comments from hubbie - we could save a fortune.

Rather than doing what I used to do which was dash around trying to fix things why not just agree the next time he says this and mutter that "they just don't make things the same recently - maybe it is EU regulations"

I am assuming he does not know you buy value bacon as it is fatal to let the family know you are saving money - they immediately decide that something must be wrong with the stuff

16011996

try a drop of worcesterire sauce in the pan with the fat, gives it a bit of flavour. or else tell him its his tastebuds.

r.mac_2

what about serving it with a 'smokey' BBQ sauce rather than a tomato ketchup? That might help?

Let us know what he thinks if you try any of the suggestions!

Mustang

Get yourself a hot smoker and cook it in that. That will give a true smoked flavour. And you can smoke loads of other foods at the same time, eg garlic, eggs, fish, cheese, etc.

elona

Where do you get a smoker? And don't all laugh - you know what I mean!

bugs

Smokers can be rather expensive to buy. You can make your own - if you happen to have the recentish book "preserved" there is some info in there, otherwise try this article for some ideas:

http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Curing_and_Smoking/Filing_Cabinet_Hot%10Cold_smoker/

Debt_Free_Chick

Sweetcheeks wrote:

So I am wondering if I can buy a smoked seasoning or something I can put on the bacon when I cook it. Then I can buy my cheap value bacon, at a value price and hubby will be happy. Any ideas????

Have you compared the price with that offered by your local butcher? Often, the butcher will discount the price if you buy in bulk and bacon freezes well.

Adding the price of a seasoning, if you can get it, only increases the price of the bacon you buy in the first place, so I'd suggest a trip to the butcher.

Mustang

elona wrote:

Where do you get a smoker?

I got mine from a kitchen wholesaler. However, there are always some on ebay, and of course, as Bugs said, you can build your own. The filing cabinet one allows you to cold smoke .. the smaller ones usually are hot smokers only.

And to go really cheap, just smoke your food in a wok. Put in some smoke dust (again, available on ebay .. very fine wood), put in a grid tray, pop your food on top, put the lid on and cook it at as low a temperature that you can.

If you have a covered BBQ, you can use it as a smoker as well.