Skip to Content

Welcome to our Cured & Bacon category archive page! Here, you’ll find a treasure trove of mouth-watering recipes, tips, and tricks for curing and cooking bacon like a pro. Whether you’re a bacon aficionado or just getting started with this delicious meat, you’ll find plenty of inspiration and guidance here.

We’ll take you on a journey through the world of cured meats, exploring different techniques and flavors from around the globe. From classic American bacon to Italian pancetta and Spanish chorizo, we’ll show you how to make your own cured meats at home, using simple ingredients and equipment.

But that’s not all – we’ll also share our favorite bacon recipes, from breakfast classics like bacon and eggs to more creative dishes like bacon-wrapped scallops and bacon-wrapped dates. We’ll even show you how to use bacon in desserts, with recipes like bacon chocolate chip cookies and bacon-wrapped maple donuts.

So whether you’re looking to up your bacon game or just want to explore the world of cured meats, you’ve come to the right place. Browse our archive page and get ready to savor the deliciousness of cured and bacon!

10+ Delicious Salami Spice Combinations to Try Today

Salami is a beloved meat that has found its way onto charcuterie boards and into the hearts of food enthusiasts across the globe. Its rich flavor profile is versatile and can be paired beautifully with an array of cheeses, wines, and spices. Salami is traditionally flavored with a mix of spices that accentuate its natural …

Read More about 10+ Delicious Salami Spice Combinations to Try Today

7 Delicious Types of Prosciutto You Need to Try Now!

Prosciutto, the mouthwatering Italian cured ham, has been a staple in many households and restaurants for centuries. Its rich history and unique production process make it not only a delicious treat but also a fascinating subject. In this blog post, we will discuss the origins and different types of prosciutto, and explore some creative ways …

Read More about 7 Delicious Types of Prosciutto You Need to Try Now!

5 Top-Rated Chorizo Brands You Need to Try Today

Chorizo, a flavorful and versatile sausage, has become a staple in many cuisines around the world. With roots in Spain and Portugal, chorizo has spread across the globe, finding its way into dishes from Mexico, the United States, and beyond. Each region has put its unique twist on this delicious meat, resulting in a wide …

Read More about 5 Top-Rated Chorizo Brands You Need to Try Today

5 Delicious Pastrami Brands You Need To Try Today

Pastrami is a type of cured meat that originated from Romania and gained popularity in the United States through Jewish delis in New York City. This flavorful delicacy is typically made from beef or turkey that has been brined, partially dried, seasoned with various herbs and spices, then smoked and steamed. The result is a …

Read More about 5 Delicious Pastrami Brands You Need To Try Today

12+ Tasty Cured Meats to Add to Your Snack Platter

Snack platters have come back in a big way. Whether you call them charcuterie boards or a light snack, the combination of meat, cheese, fruit, and nuts is as classic as it is tasty. Depending on your taste, you might base your snack platter on cheese or fruit, but we know the true star is …

Read More about 12+ Tasty Cured Meats to Add to Your Snack Platter

8+ Ways to Perfectly Enjoy Aged Salami

Aged salami is a true delicacy that many people enjoy, but few understand how to perfectly enjoy this aged meat. I’ve spent a lot of time experimenting with the right accompaniments and finding just the right ways to eat aged salami, and in this article, I’ll offer suggestions to ensure you enjoy this cured meat …

Read More about 8+ Ways to Perfectly Enjoy Aged Salami

What You Need to Know About Beef Pepperoni: A Guide

Mention pizza to anybody, you can guarantee pepperoni is the first thing that comes to mind. Pepperoni is a staple in pizza toppings in the USA, but do you ever stop to consider what pepperoni is? Yes, it’s those slightly spicy, tasty, meaty little discs floating on top of the mozzarella cheese, but there is …

Read More about What You Need to Know About Beef Pepperoni: A Guide

5+ Delicious Ways to Enjoy Italian Salt Cured Beef

Italian cuisine is known for its bold flavors, delicious sauces, and ability to gather the entire family around the table to enjoy a satisfying meal.  If you enjoy salami on your sandwiches or pepperoni on your pizza, you might want to try other types of cured meats, such as Italian salt-cured beef. You can find …

Read More about 5+ Delicious Ways to Enjoy Italian Salt Cured Beef

7+ Delicious Alternatives to Processed Meat for Your Next Meal

When days are busy and time is scarce, it is easy to rely on processed meat to create your meals. They last longer in the fridge and can be added to almost anything to make a tasty and filling meal. However, we all know that processed foods, including processed meat, are unhealthy. What are some …

Read More about 7+ Delicious Alternatives to Processed Meat for Your Next Meal

8+ Things to Know About Minimally Processed Meat

In a world where most people have yet to learn where their food truly comes from, it is a good idea to know at least what to look for when buying meat, mainly minimally processed meats. Minimally processed meats help balance your sodium levels while still eating good-tasting protein.  Minimally processed meat is excellent for …

Read More about 8+ Things to Know About Minimally Processed Meat

12+ Best Things to Smoke for Beginners

Meat enthusiasts know the value of varying their preparation methods. Smoking foods give them unique flavors while keeping the protein tender and moist. The process can seem overwhelming; however, smoking is beginner-friendly if you know where to start. Meats with plenty of fat and collagen are the best things to smoke for beginners. The foods …

Read More about 12+ Best Things to Smoke for Beginners

Grey Bacon? Here’s Why and How to Fix It

Picture this: it’s Saturday morning. You make a home-cooked breakfast featuring eggs, bacon, and pancakes. The remaining bacon goes into a zip-up plastic bag.  But then, you go to make a bacon sandwich that Friday morning before work to reward yourself for a job well done this week, and now your bacon is grey and …

Read More about Grey Bacon? Here’s Why and How to Fix It

What Is Prosciuttini and Cappacuolo? Key Differences Explained

Americans consume more than 300 million sandwiches daily, a significant amount compared to other food items people choose to eat. However, it is possible to elevate your sandwich experience by adding some thinly sliced cured meat, such as prosciuttini or cappacuolo. 

Read More about What Is Prosciuttini and Cappacuolo? Key Differences Explained

Dry Aged Meat: The Ultimate Guide to This Culinary Process

Research has proven that dry-aged meat provides a unique flavor while helping preserve the meat for extended periods. It can take 14 to 40 days to thoroughly dry age meat in most situations, resulting in optimal flavor and preservation. Continue reading to learn more about what dry-aged meat is: 

Read More about Dry Aged Meat: The Ultimate Guide to This Culinary Process

Salami vs Pepperoni: Which One to Choose?

When it comes to spicy, flavorful sausage meat, pepperoni and salami are among the most popular on the planet. For many pizza lovers, pepperoni is a must-have, while many who enjoy a great Italian sub love the flavor salami brings to the party. However, both sausages have very different flavors and ingredients and can completely …

Read More about Salami vs Pepperoni: Which One to Choose?

Unveiling the Secret Behind Pepperoni’s Spiciness: 2+ Reasons

According to Science Direct, cooked pepperoni can be made within one day and is one of the most highly produced cooked meats on a large scale. More than 251 million pounds of pepperoni are consumed annually by Americans. However, some people do not prefer the taste of pepperoni because it is spicy. So why is …

Read More about Unveiling the Secret Behind Pepperoni’s Spiciness: 2+ Reasons

The Ultimate Guide to Pepperoni Ingredients and Production

Pepperoni is one of the most requested pizza toppings in the world. In America alone, pepperoni is on at least 40 percent of all pizzas ordered yearly. Its spicy, salty, delicious flavor and satisfyingly crunchy, chewy texture taste absolutely divine combined with seasoned pizza sauce, fresh dough, and melty mozzarella cheese. Many also enjoy this …

Read More about The Ultimate Guide to Pepperoni Ingredients and Production

Top 5 Keto Bacon Brands for Delicious Primal Pork Taste

It’s no secret that the Keto diet, with its low carb, high fat structure, is a popular choice of diet plan. The goal is to help your body achieve the metabolic state of ketosis, so you burn fat for energy. Whether considering the Keto diet for health and blood sugar concerns or a diet choice, …

Read More about Top 5 Keto Bacon Brands for Delicious Primal Pork Taste

10+ Best Fresh Corned Beef Brands for Better Cooking

There are plenty of corned beef brands in the market, and choosing the best is often daunting, especially if you don’t have experience with these products. This post will look at the best fresh corned beef brands you can choose from.  From the list of the corned beef brands we’ve provided, you will worry less …

Read More about 10+ Best Fresh Corned Beef Brands for Better Cooking

9+ Best Corned Beef Brands for Easy Pot Roast

Corned beef is a delicious dish that’s easy to make and use in all recipes. We’ve compiled this list of our favorite corned beef brands for easy pot roast, so you know where to start! Many brands are available (including others that are better for hash), so it might take trial and error to find …

Read More about 9+ Best Corned Beef Brands for Easy Pot Roast

7+ Best Brands of Liverwurst To Try Next

Liverwurst isn’t very popular in the United States, but this tasty meat is widely eaten across Europe, especially in Croatia, Austria, Germany, and other Eastern European countries. Made from the liver of cows or pigs, this type of liver sausage is spreadable but also comes in smoked versions.  Many people eat liverwurst spread on a …

Read More about 7+ Best Brands of Liverwurst To Try Next

Why Is Spam So Salty? Here’s How To Make It Better

Canned Spam, that unique mix of ham, pork, and preservatives, has been feeding people since just before the start of World War II. The very thing that made it a viable food option for soldiers on the battlefield — its salty, almost addicting flavor — makes it a highly controversial, yet popular food today. Many …

Read More about Why Is Spam So Salty? Here’s How To Make It Better

How To Smoke Bacon In an Electric Smoker Effectively

Are you ready to plunge into your smoking adventure? If you just purchased an electric smoker, you have the convenience of push-button starting and temperature controls. The electric heating element turns wood shavings into fragrant wood smoke for reliably smoking delicious, nitrate-free bacon every time. Here’s how to smoke bacon in an electric smoker effectively.

Read More about How To Smoke Bacon In an Electric Smoker Effectively

Charcuterie Meats 101: Mastering Effective Shopping Techniques

Nowadays, charcuterie refers to the collection of cured and smoked meats on a platter, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an art form designed to preserve meat without refrigeration. Like any art form, it has evolved over a matter of centuries and has many iterations, from salami to pâté to various kinds of …

Read More about Charcuterie Meats 101: Mastering Effective Shopping Techniques

What Is Vito Meat & What Does It Taste Like?

Vito Meat is a combination of a number of other deli meats, and for those who love a big combo sandwich, the mixture tastes awesome! Designed by Jimmy Johns, the sub sandwich chain in competition with Subway and similar, Vito Meat is a nice twist on the standard salami – provolone – capicola mix, laid …

Read More about What Is Vito Meat & What Does It Taste Like?

Uncured Pepperoni Explained: What You Need to Know

Uncured pepperoni does not contain any artificial preservatives. Instead, the curing process uses natural preservatives, including organic sea salt, celery powder and juice, and beet extract. Since they’re still full of nitrates, the natural curing agents still create the pepperoni you know and love. But the finished product often tastes a bit saltier and looks …

Read More about Uncured Pepperoni Explained: What You Need to Know

Why Is Spam So Expensive? Here’s Why.

While you can easily choose Spam as the meat ingredient to your recipe, the expense can be deterring, whether you are making musubi or experimenting with a new dish. One of the significant factors that drive Spam’s cost is its production process which enables it to retain its high quality from when it is packaged …

Read More about Why Is Spam So Expensive? Here’s Why.

What To Do With Cottage Bacon (Buckboard Bacon)

Cottage bacon is a popular pork cut in the United Kingdom that is less known in the United States and, therefore, more difficult to find. It is usually called buckboard bacon in the US. Because of this, Americans are less likely than the British to know what to do with cottage bacon, but we have provided …

Read More about What To Do With Cottage Bacon (Buckboard Bacon)

Why Is My Corned Beef Tough? 4+ Ways To Tenderize Corned Beef

Saint Patrick’s Day allows everyone to celebrate all things Irish. Corned beef is traditionally associated with the Irish because many Irish immigrants to the United States ate corned beef. However, if not cooked correctly, corned beef can be very tough. Here are several ways to cook corned beef so that you will not be left …

Read More about Why Is My Corned Beef Tough? 4+ Ways To Tenderize Corned Beef

Avoid Overcooking Corned Beef: Tips to Make It Perfect

Corned beef is a delightful meal when properly prepared, but there are dangers of overcooking it if you are not careful. You don’t want to find yourself trying to prepare the perfect corned beef meal only to discover that you have made something that people are unable to enjoy because you have overcooked it. Thus, …

Read More about Avoid Overcooking Corned Beef: Tips to Make It Perfect

Bresaola: The Italian Cured Meat You Need to Try – Learn How It’s Made

While most of us are familiar with cured meats, such as prosciutto, cecina, and salami, most people draw a blank when it comes to Bresaola. It can be difficult to find in any store other than the most well-stocked specialty shops, leading many people to ask: what is Bresaola?

Read More about Bresaola: The Italian Cured Meat You Need to Try – Learn How It’s Made

Discover the Process of Making Cecina: A Traditional Delicacy

You’re doing yourself a serious disservice if you’re a meat-lover and you haven’t tried the dried beef tradition of cecina. Cecina has all the irresistible flavors of the most celebrated cured meat creations from around the world with a fascinating history and cross-cultural reach that makes it just as appealing to learn about as it …

Read More about Discover the Process of Making Cecina: A Traditional Delicacy

How To Reduce The Saltiness Of Corned Beef (w/ Examples)

Corned beef brisket is a cut of meat that is preserved in brine and cured. Because of the brine that makes corned beef what it is, the meat will be very salty if you don’t do something when you prepare it. Made from beef brisket (notably the Flat), corned beef is a dish traditionally served …

Read More about How To Reduce The Saltiness Of Corned Beef (w/ Examples)

Bacon’s Salty Secret: Packaging’s Role in the Saltiness

Bacon too salty? Whether you are working with your own slab bacon and prague powder or buying pre-cooked & flavored bacon, your bacon is likely too salty due to modern packaging and shipping. You can fix the saltiness by soaking before cooking. Now, there is a bit more nuance to the whole story that starts …

Read More about Bacon’s Salty Secret: Packaging’s Role in the Saltiness

20+ Healthy Breakfast Meat Alternatives To Start The Day

This list of healthy breakfast meat alternatives will help you come up with a breakfast that “sticks” all morning with complete protein. Breakfast meats are incredible, but what if you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or just want to reduce your meat consumption (or have a toddler that just doesn’t like the texture of meat)? It can …

Read More about 20+ Healthy Breakfast Meat Alternatives To Start The Day