The Benefits of Curing and Smoking Your Own Meats

Curing and smoking your own meats is a rewarding hobby that not only gives you control over the flavours and quality but also helps you save money. Whether you're interested in making your own bacon, ham, or jerky, this guide will walk you through the benefits and show you why this process is worth trying.

Table of Contents

1. What is Curing and Smoking?
2. The Health Benefits
3. Cost Savings and Flavour Control
4. About Lion Skin

What is Curing and Smoking?

Curing and smoking are traditional methods of preserving and adding flavour to meats.

• Curing involves treating meat with salt, sugar, and sometimes nitrates to prevent bacteria from growing. It also enhances the flavour of the meat.
• Smoking uses wood smoke to cook the meat slowly, adding a deep, smoky taste. This process not only preserves the meat but also improves the texture and overall flavour.

By curing and smoking meats at home, you can experiment with different flavours and techniques to create your perfect taste.

The Health Benefits

One of the main reasons people choose to cure and smoke their own meats is the control they have over the ingredients. Many store-bought cured meats contain preservatives and chemicals that can affect your health.

When you do it at home, you can:

• Use fewer chemicals: You can skip unnecessary additives and stick to simple, natural ingredients.
• Lower sodium content: Many commercial cured meats have high amounts of salt. At home, you can adjust the amount of salt to your preference, making the meat healthier.
• Choose higher-quality meats: When you cure and smoke your own meats, you have control over the quality of the meat you start with, which can make a big difference in your final product.

Cost Savings and Flavour Control

Curing and smoking your own meats can save you money in the long run. While there is an initial investment in equipment like a smoker or curing tools, the cost of meat and spices is often lower than buying pre-cured meats from the store.

In addition to saving money, you also have complete control over the flavour:

• Customise your spice mix: You can experiment with different spices and wood types (like hickory or applewood) to create unique flavours.
• Make larger batches: You can cure and smoke meats in bulk, ensuring you always have a supply of your favourite cuts on hand.
• Create new recipes: Once you get the hang of curing and smoking, you can try out new techniques, like making your own sausage or jerky.

About Lion Skin