What is Pancetta & How To Make It | Video Recipe

As I am sure some of you already know, pancetta is cured but un-smoked pork belly that is commonly used in Italian Cuisine. This video will take you through the pancetta making processes, from start to finish; from spicing and salting to rolling, hanging and curing, if you ever wanted to learn how to make pancetta, this video is a great place to start.

A couple of quick notes:

The curing salt that I use is Kosher salt mixed with .2% pure Sodium Nitrite by weight. For example, if you have 1,000g kosher salt, you would multiply that by .002 (.2%) which would give you two grams. Mix together and this will be your curing salt.

If you're using pink curing salt, weigh out Kosher Salt and add 11% pink curing salt by weight (make sure the pink curing salt contains sodium nitrite and NOT nitrATE). So if you have 1,000g kosher salt, multiply that by .11 (11%) resulting in 11g. Mix together with kosher salt to create curing salt.

Since curing your own pancetta does have some finer points that need to be discussed, please refer to this episode's show notes for more information.

THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES:

Follow Chef Jacob on Twitter:

Friend Chef Jacob on FaceBook

DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE STELLA CULINARY YouTube CHANNEL. NEW VIDEOS ARE RELEASED WEEKLY!

[JacobBurton]

Just to clarify, this recipe uses sodium nitrite, not nitrate. Pink curing salt is a mixture of sodium chloride and sodium nitrate or nitrite that is colored pink so you don't mix it up with your regular table salt. I know it can be a little confusing. I added a link in the description section of this video which will take you to another video I did explaining the difference between sodium nitrate, nitrite and pink curing salts. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[mpazmo]

Absolutely beautiful tutorial, I followed this to a tee, let the meat go for 4 months and I’ll tell you what, there’s no way anybody has tasted something so good unless they made it themselves. Thanks.

[JacobBurton]

Lamb belly will probably be your best bet. In fact, I made some lamb pancetta a few weeks ago and it turned out great.

[JacobBurton]

Thanks for the nice comment. I really appreciate it!

[jackrodriguez]

its 2am and I have no intention of making this...what am I doing here?

[russf]

Here in western Oregon, I always make my Pancetta and other 'long cured' meats in the late fall, so I can hang them in my garage. _(unfortunately I don't have a walk in fridge)_
I just pulled a perfectly 'squared off' piece of belly from the deep freeze and it's got Pancetta written all over it! _I'll get back to you in the spring and let you know how it turned out! (my coppa should be done then too)_

[mmtk]

Jacob,

I just wanted to let you know that I made my first ever pancetta....based on the video you made here. (I watched the video many times to make sure I got it right) It came out fantastic. My next venture will be a prosciutto. Although I will have to wait a little longer for that. But I am sure it will be worth the wait!

[jeva]

You’re a comedic chef I say. Keep at it, you’re doing so great!

[JacobBurton]

At 3:03, it does sound like I burped. I can't figure out if it was a bad audio edit or maybe I was just having a gassy day. ;-)

[JacobBurton]

Congratulations on your first successful pancetta. Glad you found the video helpful.

[zpt-pizr]

I noticed you ate it raw, my wife was upset when I ate it raw with cheese but I told her it was edible but she never believed me so thank for your video as proof to my wife and it looks delicious. keep up the great videos

[milanstojanovic]

i want to thank you for recipe. i used kitchen salt, spicing my way, let it 11days in cold place. then i rolled in cheese cloth and hanged it on windy place for 17days (i couldnt wait anymore). i cut a little, like you did in video and hang it again. i can tell bacon is good, i belive it will be even better next days. i will put much more now. thanks

[canadianhomesteaders]

Just needed how to roll the pancetta. Thanks a bunch. Love curing meats.

[russiasvechenaya]

We played the cheesecloth game and my friend is in the hospital. I would like a pork pancetta sent to my house as compensation

[CecilDSouza]

Perfect. What a nice demo. I learned something.

[aesoprockslig]

Sheesh this video is perfectly done. My word. Wish everyone did this. Thank you for this amazing instruction. Def subbed.

[landis]

Watched 4-5 how to's on this and this is by far the best, esecially for chefs.

[drag]

Goog job .. that is the best clear recipe about panceta !

[arthurkolb]

Great job chef... I love the fact that you make everything yourself... it assures that the end product is exactly what you want.

[MrEndzo]

What do you call the thing used to wrap the pancetta?