We did our first informal taste test of the "heritage cured" bacon today! You may remember a blog post about 2 weeks ago about producing some old fashioned "heritage" brine's without nitrates, and running them through the smoker at the local butcher shop. Well we can proclaim that the experiment was a grand success!
We taste tested three flavors today with our immediate family. I was the only one that knew which flavor was which so its a "blind taste test", thought informal. The flavors tested were:
1. Molasses and Pepper brine (no nitrates at all)
2. Celery and Honey cure (natural nitrates)
3. Standard bacon nitrate cure
I am glad to announce that our family unanimously chose the no nitrates cure for flavor and aroma. This is very good news because one of our goals was to find a true no nitrate cure for bacon and ham that is as good or better in flavor than even the celery cure with natural nitrates. For us, we have found it!
Next we have 3 flavors of ham to test and choose. Yum!
Our plan is to offer our own recipes for our customers that order ham, bacon, and hocks cured. We will of course offer the standard nitrate cure, but now we can also offer the extra health benefits and outstanding flavor of "heritage cures" that are completely nitrate free.
Follow along our adventure as we make the transition from corporate city life to the world of natural farming. Each day brings a new experience and brings us to a deeper understanding about the life and spirit that made America great. At our farm we do our best to give the animals we raise a natural, free, happy, stressfree lifestyle. Our mission is to learn and share how to manage a farming operation that is both profitable and humane.
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