Make your own peameal bacon and back bacon. You can find both of them all over Canada but not so easily elsewhere. Luckily, theyre easy to make!.
As I’ve already said, one of the annoying things about living away from home is that I can’t get many of the basic foods, treats, and comfort foods that I’m used to.
Mostly, they’re not too hard to make once I get my mind set on making a recipe for something like Tiger Tail Ice Cream or Honey Garlic Cooking Sauce!
I recently bought some “Canadian bacon,” but we don’t call it that; we call it back bacon! I lamented the lack of availability of not only GOOD back bacon, but also peameal bacon.
My husband had only ever had “Canadian Bacon,” which is what we call it here in the US. He had never heard of peameal. anemic, flavourless, very blah ham product. This was a situation that needed to be rectified!.
So, I looked up some recipes and techniques and then made up my own recipe with the flavors I liked.
A few things I needed were sent to me, including Prague Powder, which I had never heard of before. I then called my husband to tell him I was starting a new hobby: curing meat.
When your spouse says something like, “WTF? Because we don’t have enough hobbies?” you know you’re married well when they respond with, “Awesome! I’ve been meaning to start smoking meats! We can do both!”
Smoking back bacon usually requires special tools or skills. Making pea meal bacon, on the other hand, is incredibly simple and doesn’t need any special tools or skills. I was really kicking myself for not having done it sooner!.
Peameal bacon also known as Canadian bacon is a beloved breakfast staple for many. But to enjoy those signature salty-sweet slices at their best, it’s key to know the right techniques for cooking peameal bacon properly. So how long does it actually take to cook peameal bacon to perfection?
The cooking time for peameal bacon can range quite a bit based on factors like slice thickness, preferred doneness, and cooking method. Read on for a complete guide to determining the ideal peameal bacon cook times.
What is Peameal Bacon?
Before diving into cook times, let’s start with an overview of what exactly peameal bacon is
Peameal bacon is a type of Canadian back bacon made from pork loin. It gets its name from the cornmeal or peameal that is rolled onto the surface of the cured pork before slicing.
Unlike regular bacon, peameal bacon is not smoked. It has a leaner, tender texture and a mildly sweet, ham-like flavor. The signature cornmeal crust gives each slice a crispy exterior when cooked.
You can find peameal bacon sold pre-sliced or in larger slab form. Opt for packages without tears or air pockets, which indicate the bacon may be past its prime.
Peameal Bacon Cooking Methods
There are a few different ways to cook peameal bacon. The method you choose will impact the total cook time. Here are some common cooking techniques:
Pan-Frying: The quickest method, pan-frying involves cooking the bacon in a bit of oil over medium-high heat. Sizzle for 1-2 minutes per side.
Grilling: Imparting smoky flavor, grilling involves cooking the bacon over direct medium heat, flipping halfway through.
Baking: The oven produces evenly cooked bacon. Bake at ~375°F for up to 1 hour until reaching 140°F internal temperature.
Microwaving: Not ideal, but microwaving can cook bacon in just a few minutes. Use lower power and watch closely to avoid overcooking.
No matter which technique you use, always start with bacon that is patted dry and at room temperature for optimal results. Now let’s look at cook times.
How Long to Cook Peameal Bacon Slices
For sliced peameal bacon, approximate cook times are:
- Pan-frying: 2-5 minutes total
- Grilling: 5-10 minutes total
- Baking: 45-60 minutes
- Microwaving: 2-5 minutes
Thinner slices will cook faster than thick-cut bacon. Cook times also vary based on doneness preference. If you like bacon very lightly cooked, err on the lower end of the time range. For crispy bacon, cook longer.
How Long to Cook a Whole Peameal Bacon Slab
If cooking a whole intact slab of peameal bacon, allow more time for the heat to fully penetrate the larger cut of meat.
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Baking: Bake at ~375°F for up to 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches at least 140°F.
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Grilling: Grill over medium heat for around 15-20 minutes total, flipping occasionally, until 140°F internal temperature.
Allow the bacon to rest 5-10 minutes after cooking before slicing to let juices redistribute. Then you can cut into your desired thickness.
Testing Peameal Bacon for Doneness
Visual cues to look for when pan-frying or grilling:
- Light golden color
- Crispy cornmeal coating
- Slight pulling away or curling of the edges
Check for doneness when baking or microwaving using an instant-read thermometer. Peameal bacon is safely cooked and ready to eat at an internal temperature of 140°F and above.
If reheating fully cooked peameal bacon, heat only until warm, around 130°F. Overcooking precooked bacon can make it dry and tough.
Tips for Cooking Peameal Bacon
Follow these tips for perfect peameal bacon every time:
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Pat bacon dry before cooking to prevent splattering.
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Use medium to medium-high heat to render fat slowly and prevent burning.
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Cook bacon in a single layer with space between slices. Crowding causes steaming.
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Flip bacon just once during cooking. Frequent flipping can make it hard to achieve crispy results.
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Brush with maple syrup at the end for candied, caramelized flavor.
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Let bacon rest after cooking, tented loosely with foil, before serving.
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Stick to the lower end of time ranges if you prefer soft, chewy bacon rather than crispy.
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Adjust cook times depending on your desired level of doneness.
With the right techniques and cook times, you can enjoy tender, lightly sweet peameal bacon that makes the perfect partner for eggs, pancakes, in sandwiches and more.
The Bottom Line
So how long does it take to cook peameal bacon? Approximate cook times range from:
- 2-5 minutes pan-fried
- 5-10 minutes grilled
- 45-60 minutes (slices) or 60-75 minutes (slab) baked
- 2-5 minutes microwaved
Always cook until the internal temperature reaches at least 140°F. Rest, then slice and serve your hot, sizzling peameal bacon!
How to Make Peameal Bacon
The whole recipe follows, but as a general overview:
1 – Get a nice looking pork loin roast.
2 – Trim back the fat so there’s only a thin layer remaining on the roast.
3 – Prepare the brine, bringing it to a boil and allowing it to cool.
4. Put the pork loin and brine in a plastic bag. Put the bag in the fridge and wait 5 days.
5 – Discard the brine, rinse the pork loin, and pat dry with a paper towel.
6 – Roll cured pork loin in yellow cornmeal.
7. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill it for a bit before slicing it up.
How to Serve Back Bacon
SO, after all of my smack talk about American “Canadian bacon” on pizza. my favourite way to serve back bacon IS on pizza.
You can fry it up and serve it as breakfast bacon, just like any other bacon. You can also put it in a sandwich, fried or not—it’s already cooked, so you can serve it cold! but IMHO, pizza is where it really shines.
And yes, that includes on “Hawaiian” pizza… which is actually a Canadian invention!
I promise you, making a pizza with this will wreck you for all other “Canadian bacon” pizzas. I like to make a spicy Hawaiian- back bacon, pineapple, thinly sliced jalapenos, and a drizzle of Sriracha. spectacular!.
Sometimes I’ll use candied jalapenos… augh so good!
My book, “More Than Poutine: Favourite Foods from my Home and Native Land,” has a lot of great Canadian recipes, and this is one of them.
“More than Poutine” is a Canadian cookbook like no other. It was written by a Canadian who now lives outside of Canada and includes both traditional home cooking recipes and accurate homemade versions of many snacks, sauces, convenience foods, and other foods that are hard to find outside of Canada!
Order your copy here on this site, through Amazon, or through any major bookseller!
How to Cook Peameal Bacon: The Breakfast Series – Cooking with Kimberly
FAQ
How do you know when peameal bacon is done?
How long do you cook peameal bacon in a frying pan?
How do you cook Lou’s peameal bacon?
Can you cook peameal bacon in an air fryer?
How long do you cook peameal bacon in the oven?
This will make clean-up much easier and prevent the bacon from sticking to the pan. The ideal cooking time and temperature for sliced peameal bacon in the oven is 400°F (200°C) for approximately 20-25 minutes. Preheat the oven before placing the bacon in to ensure even cooking.
Can you cook whole peameal bacon?
Slice into 1/4-inch thick slices and pan-fry them. You can roast a whole peameal bacon at 350-F until it reaches 145-F, then rest for 5 minutes, slice, and serve. You can pop the whole thing onto the rotisserie. You can also smoke peameal bacon. Wondering what to serve with peameal bacon?
How do you cook a peameal bacon roast?
Preheat oven to 375F. Place peameal bacon roast, skin side up in a baking dish. Score the top of the meat, cutting in about 1/2 inch deep. Make the cuts diagonally, and then cut the same lines at a 90 degree angle. Brush the maple syrup on the top of the roast. Cover the baking dish with foil. Place in the oven and bake for one hour.
How do you cook peameal bacon in a rotisserie?
Here are some suggestions: Slice it into 1/4-inch thick slices and grill them over low heat. Slice into 1/4-inch thick slices and pan-fry them. You can roast a whole peameal bacon at 350-F until it reaches 145-F, then rest for 5 minutes, slice, and serve. You can pop the whole thing onto the rotisserie. You can also smoke peameal bacon.