Can pork go bad before it cures?

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Can pork go bad before it cures?

Postby mrb68 » Sun Dec 21, 2014 10:14 am

Hello, this is my first attempting at making some bacon. I have used Prague powder #1 and am curing a 2kg pork loin this morning. I cut the piece into 2 x 1kg pieces that are 6 inches long. I just noticed the sell by date on the pack is today while I was tidying up. I'm estimating they will take 14 days to cure at 1 day per half inch plus 2. Will the meat start curing before it does bad? I'm thinking I should start again with fresher meat. Can anyone please advise me? Thanks
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Re: Can pork go bad before it cures?

Postby yotmon » Sun Dec 21, 2014 11:18 pm

Hi mrb68 and welcome to the forum. The 'sell by date' has nothing to do with the condition of the meat. it's either fresh or it isn't ! As long as the meat smelled and felt fresh before you started the cure, and during curing its kept at a temperature low enough to prevent bacterial growth then you won't have any problems. I don't think it will take 14 days to cure your bacon. The 1/2 inch calculation is for the thickness of the meat, not the length. personally I would have cured the pork as one piece, was there a reason for cutting it in half ?

HTH. yotmon.
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Re: Can pork go bad before it cures?

Postby mrb68 » Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:05 am

Hi yotmon, thanks for your advice. The pork smelled and looked fresh before I started the cure. I'm relieved to know it won't deteriorate while it's curing in the fridge. I didn't really want to cut it in half but the bags I had weren't quite large enough. It looks like I should have my first bacon by the New Year. Can't wait to see how it comes out!
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Re: Can pork go bad before it cures?

Postby NCPaul » Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:49 am

Welcome to the forum. :D Remember to let us know how your bacon turned out.
Fashionably late will be stylishly hungry.
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Re: Can pork go bad before it cures?

Postby crustyo44 » Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:43 am

Hi mrb68,
I bet my short and curlies that it will cure OK. Smoking is a bit of trial and error, depending on your smoker but I assure you that it will taste a lot better than the crap sold, prepacked and sold in shops.
Butcher shops excluded of course!!!!!!!!!!! Post a few photo's if possible.
Cheers,
Jan.
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