A bacon weave is not just the best bacon recipe but also the star of the show at every bacon party. This one smoked bacon recipe can be a go-to for making a lot more other recipes taste delectable. For instance, you can use a smoked bacon weave in a sandwich to get that intensely smoky flavored bacon in every bite. You can also wrap it around chicken, pork sausages, and meatloaf to make it drool-worthy. If you are reading this article, we are sure you are a bacon lover and have always dreamed of pulling off a perfectly smoked bacon weave. no worries, this guide is here to help you with the simplest process, even if you are an amateur cook.
Smoking a bacon weave isn’t rocket science. You just need to create the weave with bacon strips and then use your favorite rub. The rest of the job will be taken care of by an electric smoker. Believe us. With a modern electric food smoker, food smoking is a breeze. Our pick for this recipe is the Bradley Smoker. It comes with advanced controls like a digital console to preset the cooking time and temperature. The food smoker will automatically work without wood refilling for up to 9 hours.
Okay, enough said about electric smokers, now let’s get into the real thing: the recipe.
Ingredients
Coming to the ingredients, you don’t have to run to the grocery store with a long list because the recipe needs only two:
- Bacon strips of equal size (16 or 20, depending on the size of the weave you want to make)
- Your favorite rub (we are allowing you to be creative here because your bacon weave should satisfy your taste buds)
Methods
The weave might appear to be complicated, but it is quite simple. Just follow the steps below to see the magic happening:
1. Divide the number of bacon strips equally, like 10 + 10 or 8 + 8
2. Lay down the first set of strips vertically on a baking sheet or baking tray. See to it that the strips are flush against each other. All fatty sides should be in one direction and meaty sides on the other. The width of the first set should match its length to form a square shape.
3. Now fold every alternative strip into half onto itself.
4. Take one strip of bacon from the other set and lay it perpendicular to the folded strips.
5. Flush the strip against the back of the folds of every vertical bacon strip.
6. Now, unfold the vertical bacon strips against the perpendicular one to form the first line of the weave.
7. Keep folding every other strip in an alternating column like the previous one and flush another perpendicular strip against it. Then unfold the vertical strips.
8. Repeat the process until you complete weaving all the strips of the second set to form a perfectly square weave.
9. Smear your favorite rub on the top and bottom to ensure your bacon weave absorbs the maximum smoky flavor.
10. Let it rest for a while to allow the flavors from the rub to be absorbed completely. At this point, you can also wrap it around some meat if you want.
Smoking the Bacon Weave
Smoking a bacon weave needs no special skills. It is just like normal food smoking using an electric smoker. All you need to do is keep the baking sheet inside the smoker rack and preheat the smoker. Now gently put the bacon weave on the sheet and close the door. Set the temperature to 350 °F or 177 °C and cook for 30 to 45 minutes.
The bacon weave will usually reach the perfect level of doneness as it begins to tighten. If you are wrapping it around some meat, then the bacon weave will tighten around that meat and adhere to it when done.
You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature before taking it out from the food smoker. Just penetrate the centermost part of the weave with the tip of the thermometer to get the exact count.
Also, note that if you want your bacon weave to be crisp, you can let it sit inside the smoker a little longer to get the desired texture. Keep close watch not to char your bacon because that can make the meat bitter.
We hope this guide to smoking a bacon weave has been helpful to you. We tried to make it simple with Bradley tips & tricks to encourage beginners to smoke this yummy bacon recipe.
Interested in learning more about bacon? Check the articles below:
How to Cold Smoke Bacon at Home
Try the Best Wet Cure Seasoning for Bacon
What’s the Difference Between Ground & Formed Bacon?
For more great ideas on how to get the most out of your Bradley Smoker, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Food Smoking Blog for more tips & tricks.
