Question

How do you cook pork belly in the oven to make bacon?

Answer 1

To make bacon from pork belly in the oven, you can follow these simple steps:

Ingredients:

• Pork belly slab (ideally with skin removed, but skin-on will work too)
• Salt
• Sugar
• Black pepper (optional)
• A baking sheet or roasting pan with a wire rack

Instructions:

1. Preparing the pork belly:

   • If the pork belly has skin, you can either remove it yourself or ask your butcher to do it for you. Skin-on pork belly will produce a different texture, so it's a matter of personal preference.
   • Rinse the pork belly under cold water and pat it dry with paper towels.

2. Curing the pork belly (optional):

   • To add more flavor, you can choose to cure the pork belly with a mixture of salt, sugar, and any other desired spices like black pepper or smoked paprika. Rub the mixture all over the pork belly, making sure to cover it evenly. Place the pork belly in a large resealable plastic bag or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Let it cure in the refrigerator for 3 to 7 days, turning the pork belly occasionally to ensure even curing. Note that curing is optional; you can skip this step if you prefer.

3. Preheating the oven:

   • Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F). If your oven has a convection setting, use it for even cooking.

4. Baking the pork belly:

   • Place the pork belly on a wire rack set inside a baking sheet or roasting pan to allow the rendered fat to drip away. If you didn't cure the pork belly, lightly sprinkle both sides with salt (and any other desired spices).
   • Bake the pork belly in the preheated oven for about 30 to 40 minutes or until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning, especially towards the end of the cooking time.

5. Cooling and slicing:

   • Remove the pork belly from the oven and let it cool slightly on the wire rack. It will crisp up further as it cools down.
   • Once it's cool enough to handle, slice the bacon into strips of your preferred thickness.

6. Storing:

   • If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Keep in mind that homemade bacon may have a different texture and flavor than the commercially available bacon you might be accustomed to. Adjust the seasoning and cooking time to match your taste preferences. Enjoy your homemade oven-cooked pork belly bacon!