Smoked Pork Belly (Brisket Style)

CAN YOU SMOKE PORK BELLY LIKE A BRISKET? You absolutely can smoke pork belly like a brisket. It has great flavor and cooks in less time. Pork belly is also more affordable than beef brisket, which less time and less cost makes this more desirable to make. Did you know that pork belly is where bacon comes from? Knowing this makes this cut more desirable!

DO YOU NEED TO BRINE PORK BELLY BEFORE SMOKING? While it is necessary to brine pork belly when making bacon, it is not required for smoking like a brisket. We don’t brine beef brisket before smoking, so same rules apply with pork.

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Recipe from learningtosmoke.com
instagram.com/learningtosmoke

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pork belly (3-5 lbs.)
  • 2 Tbsp kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp apple juice
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat grill to 250 degrees over indirect heat with a blend of hickory and cherry woods.
  2. Score the fat of the pork belly 1/4 inch deep with a sharp knife. Cuts should go diagonally across the fat side about two inches apart.
  3. Season all sides of pork belly with equal parts salt and pepper mix.
  4. Place on smoker for three hours, spritzing once an hour with a mix of equal parts apple juice and apple cider vinegar.
  5. When meat reaches internal temp of 165 degrees, remove and wrap in pink butcher paper or foil.
  6. Place back on grill and cook until internal temp reaches 202 degrees. Remove and rest for 30 to 45 minutes before slicing and serving.