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Pork Belly Burnt Ends-Help Needed

Posted on 1/17/23 at 8:44 am
Posted by Doug_H
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2013
2655 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 8:44 am
I recently got a Traeger 780 Pro pellet grill and have been enjoying trying new things to smoke on it. I've done pizza, eggs, pork ribs, beef ribs, turkey breast, deer backstrap, and mac-n-cheese and all of which came out pretty damn good. But twice now I've smoked pork belly burnt ends and while they come out pretty decent, the last layer of fat on some of them are a bit too chewy.
I bought pre-cubed pork belly from Chris' Specialty meats, and I did not trim anything else off of them? Is this my mistake?
First time I followed the Meat Church recipe to the T, 275º for 3hrs and spritzing with apple cider vinegar several times, then tossing them in a sauce and putting them back on for another hour. Doing this most of them came out very chewy.
Second time I smoked 4hrs before tossing, and this time about half as many came out chewy. So I made some progress by cooking them an extra hour, does that mean simple fix is to smoke for another hour?
This post was edited on 1/17/23 at 8:46 am
Posted by Glock17
Member since Oct 2007
23023 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 8:47 am to
I go by temp... usually 190-200 internal
This post was edited on 1/17/23 at 8:47 am
Posted by Doug_H
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2013
2655 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 8:49 am to
quote:

I go by temp... usually 190-200 internal

I checked that as well both times. First time was right at 200, second was about 210
Posted by Whatafrekinchessiebr
somewhere down river
Member since Nov 2013
1684 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 9:06 am to
You need to really render the fat, but pork belly is going to have a little chew.

How big are they cubed? You can try smaller pieces if you are worried about how long they are taking to cook.

I have started using the Meatchurch/Heim bacon burnt end recipe and I like it a lot better. After curing the pork belly I slice some into bacon and cube the trimmings for bacon burnt ends. I like the texture of the bacon burnt ends better.
Posted by Doug_H
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2013
2655 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 9:28 am to
The batch I bought was pre-cubed, so I just left them as is and I had enough that I split them into 3 smaller bags to try and get the method right.
After I do this next batch, when I need some again I'll buy the whole belly and cut them myself. Once thing I did notice with these is that they were not cut very evenly
Posted by Trout Bandit
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2012
14834 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 9:31 am to
Are they skinless or skin-on like cracklin'?
Posted by armytiger96
Member since Sep 2007
2015 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 9:36 am to
In my opinion you’re smoking them too long. Try Malcolm’s recipe on How2BBQright. After smoking for two hours you braise them for a couple of hours.

He has a video on YouTube.
Posted by Doug_H
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2013
2655 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 11:04 am to
quote:

Are they skinless or skin-on like cracklin'?


Skin on like a cracklin. I have not tried skinless yet, do you think that could be the difference?
Posted by Doug_H
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2013
2655 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 11:05 am to
quote:

In my opinion you’re smoking them too long. Try Malcolm’s recipe on How2BBQright. After smoking for two hours you braise them for a couple of hours.

He has a video on YouTube.

I'll check it out. Thanks.
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
91256 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 11:05 am to
i dont have much to contribute but i buy the pork belly from costco and cube it myself; roll it in rub and then smoke for a couple hours and they are the bomb..melt in your mouth

my only problem is i want to sit there and pop them in mouth until i cant move.

eta fantastic game day snack
This post was edited on 1/17/23 at 11:06 am
Posted by Doug_H
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2013
2655 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 11:10 am to
quote:

i dont have much to contribute but i buy the pork belly from costco and cube it myself

I saw the pack at Costco the other day and would have grabbed some if I didn't still have some of mine left. From the Costco pack all you did was cube? No other trimming?
Posted by TigerMurphy
Member since Jan 2023
5 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 11:11 am to
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/17/23 at 3:51 pm
Posted by Trout Bandit
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2012
14834 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 2:18 pm to
quote:

Skin on like a cracklin. I have not tried skinless yet, do you think that could be the difference?

I bet the skin is the chewy part. Usually the meat and fat get soft when you smoke and braise them. Try a skinless belly and see if that makes a difference.
Posted by jchamil
Member since Nov 2009
18825 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 2:53 pm to
quote:

i dont have much to contribute but i buy the pork belly from costco and cube it myself; roll it in rub and then smoke for a couple hours and they are the bomb..melt in your mouth


Maybe I need to start another thread, but I just bought a pork belly from Costco. Anything else you like to do with it besides the burnt ends?
Posted by Whatafrekinchessiebr
somewhere down river
Member since Nov 2013
1684 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 3:04 pm to
quote:

Anything else you like to do with it besides the burnt ends?


Bacon, I have been using the EQ method to cure and it’s very easy. As I mentioned up thread, after it’s cured you can slice (I use a mandolin) or you can cube for burnt ends.
Posted by Jambo
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2009
2239 posts
Posted on 1/17/23 at 5:21 pm to
quote:

I bet the skin is the chewy part.


100% this. they will ruin a 4 hour smoked belly
Will have a super chewy layer
Posted by GeauxTigers0107
We Coming
Member since Oct 2009
10659 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 5:20 am to
Yep. The ones he bought were cut for gratons (cracklins). Just cut the skin off and smoke them the same way. HowToBbqRight has a great video on it.


Posted by LSUintheNW
At your mom’s house
Member since Aug 2009
36778 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 7:52 am to
quote:

I just bought a pork belly from Costco. Anything else you like to do with it besides the burnt ends?


Lardo pork belly gyros/mobile link
Posted by jchamil
Member since Nov 2009
18825 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 8:07 am to
quote:

Lardo pork belly gyros/mobile link


Ha! I've actually had that exact sandwich at Lardo's. Wife and I went to Oregon for our anniversary several years ago and spent a night in Portland
Posted by LSUintheNW
At your mom’s house
Member since Aug 2009
36778 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 8:33 am to
quote:

Ha! I've actually had that exact sandwich at Lardo's. Wife and I went to Oregon for our anniversary several years ago and spent a night in Portland


It's a beautiful thing....

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