Bacon Curing At Sandridge Farm

Our bacon is made from fresh British pork which has been cured (preserved with salt) so that it will keep for longer. There are two main methods of curing, Dry Curing is the oldest, each farmhouse would have its own recipe and a flitch of bacon would be kept in the inglenook above the fireplace. From Saxon times pigs were fattened hereabouts in oak forests on mast (acorns) during Autumn and cured to provide meat for the family in winter months. Bacon formed part of the rations for long distance sea journeys, heavy salting preserved the meat from 'going off' but by the time it reached the Americas it was tough and more like boot leather than bacon as we know it today.

The Wiltshire Cure was developed by the Harris family of Calne, Wiltshire and was revolutionary in its time (1840's), they packed the roof with ice - as meat keeps fresh longer at lower temperatures it did not require so much salt. A milder cure was born. The term 'Wet-cure' means to immerse in a brine, unfortunately mass produced bacon today is not only immersed in liquid but pumped with water and flavour enhancers to speed up the process and add yield, flavour was sacrificed for profit. We hope that when you taste our bacon it will redeem the name of 'Wiltshire Cure' as a brine cured bacon, that sizzles in the frying pan!

The Wiltshire Cure

Sides of pork are immersed in Brine (a salt and nitrate solution containing useful salt tolerant bacteria) for 3 to 4 days, then stacked in a cool cellar for two weeks to mature. Following the Traditional Wiltshire method, we do not add any water to the bacon. We like to say that after Salt, Time is our most important ingredient.

Smoking

Wiltshire sides and middles of bacon are smoked naturally over Oak and Beech sawdust for 2 to 3 days. Smoking gives a honeyed colour to the Bacon rind.

Dry Curing

Legs and middles of pork are packed in salt or pickled in a salt, molasses and spice mixture and are regularly turned and massaged to rub in the salt, the curing time varies from 28 to 56 days.

Speciality Hams

THE CHIPNAM a traditional ham that has a deep pink colour and is firm when cut. Its full flavour made it a favourite dish on the farmhouse table at Farmhouse Harvest Suppers. This Wiltshire ham is coated in breadcrumbs.

THE GOLDEN RIND SMOKED a ham naturally smoked over Oak and Beech sawdust for 2 to 3 days recreating the essence of Farmhouse Inglenook Smoking.