Pork Belly - Final Temperature?

Charles Brown · Nov 22, 2013

Gentlemen,

Was going to smoke a pork belly this weekend for some guests coming to town. What would a good final temperature be? I'm planning on vacuum packing a wet brine with maple syrup and bourbon for a day or two and then throwing it on the BGE. I've never smoked a belly before.

I'm thinking of setting the fire to 205* on the smoker with apple / maple wood but don't know when to pull the meat.

I have a large BGE and a DigiQ for heat monitoring. Any help would be appreciated. Also, seeing as this is also my first time cooking belly, any guesses on how long it should take?

thanks,
Charlie

AZScott · Nov 22, 2013

Cook the belly just like you cook ribs and it should be good.

landarc · Nov 22, 2013

I cook them until the jiggle and wiggle like jello.

The trick is to get the fat rendered out well, otherwise, the fat ends up crunchy (not desirable, Noooo). I smoke at 225F to 250F.

Charles Brown · Nov 22, 2013

AZScott said:
Cook the belly just like you cook ribs and it should be good.

Interesting idea. Similar to a 3-2-1 method?

GSXR883 · Nov 22, 2013

Cook until 150 IT. On my LG BGE at 200 - 225 it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours but that was 15lbs of belly. Be sure to use the platesetter and a drip pan to avoid fair ups of rendered fat. Enjoy!

southpaw_1979 · Nov 22, 2013

I do it at around 225° until it reaches 165°

GSXR883 · Nov 22, 2013

In my earlier post I said 150 degrees if you're making bacon. If not bacon than cook to a higher temp, like 195.

Charles Brown · Nov 23, 2013

Not making bacon. Just smoking a fresh belly. The meat has been vacuum packed with the brine / marinade. Planning on smoking it tomorrow morning, cooling it, and then searing it to give it some crisp while serving it over grits.

I'll flip a coin between 150* and 165*.

Other input is still appreciated.

best,
Charlie

Okie Sawbones · Nov 23, 2013

Charles, I cooked my first pork belly last month, and it turned out great. Here is the link, with step by step notes on what I did. Hope it helps.

Pork Belly - Final Temperature?

Charles Brown

Guest

AZScott

Take a breath!

landarc

somebody shut me the fark up.

Charles Brown

Guest

GSXR883

Knows what a fatty is.

southpaw_1979

Knows what a fatty is.

GSXR883

Knows what a fatty is.

Charles Brown

Guest

Okie Sawbones

Banned

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