RD Pork Belly Question

[smokerpa]

Anyone ever bought this, and if so, we're you ok with using it for bacon? They sell so much cheaper than what I'm paying, but I don't want to get a 50# box and find out it isn't worth it.

If you bought it, what were the average weights of it? I'm hoping for 5# belly, as that is what I buy now.

Any help, as always, is greatly appreciated.

 

[SGH]

Heck yeah it's good belly and great for bacon. That is what we buy it for. I buy from the RD in New Orleans, LA. Sadly it's the only one around. The boxes will never be the same, this is out of RD control. But with that said the ones I have seen average 4-8 pounds. I'm sure that this will vary from region to region though. Hey, don't be scared of RD belly. It's good stuff for sure.

 

[THoey1963]

Also, don't be afraid to open a couple boxes and put the best out of the boxes into one. Seen it done a lot and started doing it myself.

 

[captndan]

Just what is it that RD does to pork bellies? I have never been to one. When I buy bellies for bacon they come two to a case skin on. A case weighs about 40 #. That's the only thing I know except the ones still on the pig.

 

[smokerpa]

Nothing funny about it. I have always bought from a butcher, so the price at RD is a lot better, especially when I found out today that it was $2.00/lb.

The boxes at my store are sealed. I wanted to make sure that they were not in 2lb increments or something crazy. Not being able to see something made me nervous. I just got home and opened the box, and much to my delight, they are full bellies.

It was definitely a good score for me.

 

[rexster314]

The Seaboard brand of bellies is what is available at my Houston RD. Sometimes they're really great quality, sometimes not. 4 to a case and usually around 38 pounds. Since September when RD bellies went over 3$/pound I've been buying Costco Swift brand bellies for around 2.75$/pound. But they're much better quality, better marbling and a uniform thickness all around. They come 5 full bellies to a case and usually around 54 pounds