Venison Bacon

Cracked Pepper

Peppered Style Venison Bacon

Cracked Pepper is a venison bacon built on a 50% lean meat / 50% pork blend, using lean wild game. Smoke at 160-180°F (71-82°C) and finish at an internal 152°F (67°C), grind at 1/4". Exact amounts scale to any batch weight in the DeepWoodz Smokehouse app for iPhone and Android.

Black and white pepper together, heavy, with the sugar pulled back so it lands savory instead of sweet. This is the venison bacon that works best crumbled into other things — eggs, beans, anything that needs a savory hit. Mesquite if you want it harder still.

• Peppery
• Smoky
• Bold

Internal temp

152°F (67°C)

Smoker temp

160-180°F (71-82°C)

Casing

No casing — pressed into a 9x13 aluminum pan lined with Saran Wrap

Bloom

24-48 hours (cure rest)

What goes in it

• Kosher Salt
• Cure #1
• Coarse Black Pepper
• White Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Brown Sugar
• Ice Cold Water
• Smoked Paprika
• Mustard Powder

Amounts are calculated for your batch weight in the app — including the cure, which is held at a fixed, food-safe rate.

The meat

Lean Wild Game · Pork Butt · Pork Shoulder

Bear or wild hog: take it to 160°F and hold 3 minutes. Freezing, smoking and curing do not kill trichinella — only heat does.

How it's made

1. Grind chilled venison and pork fat (32°F) through a 1/4" plate.
2. Add all seasonings and ice water. Mix until tacky with good protein extraction.
3. Press firmly into a 9x13 aluminum pan lined with Saran Wrap. Pack tightly. The Saran Wrap makes it easy to pull the slab out when it's time for the smoker.
4. Place in the fridge for 24-48 hours.
5. Coat the outside generously with extra coarse black pepper.
6. Smoke at 160-180°F until internal temperature reaches 152°F. Important: Do not let your smoker exceed 180°F. Even if your smoker is set at or below 180°F, the actual temperature can spike higher — monitor closely.
7. Refrigerate overnight, then slice to your desired thickness.

Wood

Hickory · Oak · Mesquite

Before you start

• How much Cure #1 per pound
• Venison to pork fat ratio