Smoked Pork Chops

You need smoked pork chops in your life.

I have a thing for really thick pork chops. It’s one of the few farmed meats I miss, and I almost always order them when I see them on a restaurant menu. So I decided to do something about it.

My friends Christian and Kate of Ham Sweet Farm in Michigan raise really good hogs of all varieties. including ossabaw crosses. Ossabaw is a classic Southern pig that lays on a fair bit of fat. They had a hog available, and shipping was surprisingly cheap, so I bought one.

I asked for real pork chops. No less than two fingers thick, and ideally three. Double bone chops. Chops that make you shout, “America!” This is what you want for smoked pork chops.

Keep in mind this is a recipe for smoked pork chops, not barbecued pork chops. That’s another recipe. This is a straight up smoke, no sauce. And it… is… amazing.

See all that fat? First off, it’s so unsaturated that when you eat some, the heat of your mouth melts it. So good. Second, what you don’t feel like eating, you put in a pan to render. If you have never cooked with smoked lard, your life is incomplete. Trust me on this one.

As for how to eat your smoked pork chops, you can simply eat them for dinner right out of the smoker, or you can let them cool and slice off bits to eat as a knee-buckling snack. No mustard needed, although I won’t think ill of you if you do.

Render the fat and cook some potatoes or greens with it, or add a spoonful to your rice. Or use it as the fat in cornbread. Yes, do that…

And do not toss the bones! They are too good for your dog. Even if you have a very good dog. Use the smoked bones to make a quick stock to cook beans in, or collard greens. You’re welcome.

Can you make smoked pork chops with thin pork chops? Yeah, I suppose. But they won’t be as nice.

Also, you need the curing salt to get the full effect. The chops get a little hammy, and stay a rosy pink. You can of course skip it. You will get a grayer meat, though, more porky and less hammy. Both are good, but I prefer a fully cured smoked pork chop.

You can buy curing salt here. You will also need a kitchen scale because this method of curing works by weight — it also keeps your pork chops from getting too salty, so it’s worth it. I like this scale, but anything that can measure to 1 gram works.

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Smoked Pork Chops

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

4 hrs

Total Time

4 hrs 10 mins

 

This recipe is designed for domestic pork, but you can of course use wild hog chops, too. I just like the extra fat I get with farmed pigs. You can scale this recipe up if you'd like. 

Course: Cured Meat

Cuisine: American

Serves: 4 people

: 241 kcal

Author: Hank Shaw

Ingredients

• 2 thick pork chops
• kosher or sea salt (See instructions below)
• Instacure No. 1 curing salt (See instructions below)
• 1/2 cup sugar (optional)

Instructions

1. Weigh your pork chops in grams. Yes, you need a scale for this recipe because I have no idea how heavy or thick or large your chops are. Once you have your weight, measure out 1.25% of that weight in grams of sea salt, or kosher salt. Now measure out 0.25% - that's one-quarter of one percent - in curing salt if using. If you are not using curing salt, sub in more regular salt. 

2. Mix the salts and the sugar, if using, together and massage that into the pork. Ideally, you then vacuum seal the pork. If you don't have a vacuum sealer, put the pork chops in heavy freezer bags. Set them in the fridge to cure. You will need to cure these chops for a minimum of 2 days, and for chops as thick as mine, up to a week. Don't worry, this method of salting them prevents the pork from every getting too salty. You can leave the chops in there for 10 days if you wanted. 

3. When you are ready, get the smoker going. Any wood you like works, but I prefer apple or cherry. Rinse the pork chops in cold water and pat dry. You want them still damp. 

4. Smoke at 200F for at least 4 hours. You want them to be fully cooked inside, about 150F to 160F. Serve hot or cold. 

NOTE: Recipe time does not include cure time. 

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