Set out a small bowl. Mix the granulated sugar, salt, black pepper, and curing salt together. Set the beef navel slab on a cutting board. Rub the salt mixture over all sides and edges. Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap. Place the beef slab in the center of the plastic wrap and sprinkle any remaining curing salt on top. Wrap the beef tightly in the plastic and refrigerate for 4 to 5 days.
After curing, unwrap the slab of beef and rinse it thoroughly with fresh water to remove as much salt as possible. Then place a baking rack on a rimmed baking sheet or in a baking dish. Place the beef bacon on the rack. Pat it dry with paper towels. Place the beef bacon, uncovered, in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days to dry age.
Once the bacon has dry aged, place it in the freezer for 30 to 60 minutes to flash freeze. It should be solid enough to easily hold its shape as you cut it, but not so solid that you can’t get a knife through it. Slice the bacon into thin strips. Place the bacon strips in a Ziploc bag and remove all air before sealing it. Refrigerate the bacon until ready to use.
To cook, set a large skillet over medium heat. Lay several strips of bacon in the skillet, and fry them for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Or use our oven bacon baking method for baking the beef bacon.
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Notes
Want to add extra spice to the curing salts? Try mixing in some smoked paprika, ground Szechuan pepper, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.Uncooked beef bacon will keep well in the fridge for up to 6-7 days. Keep the slices stacked and wrapped tightly together in plastic wrap, and place them inside a zipper bag or other sealed container.Freeze the uncooked bacon for up to 1 month.Cooked bacon keeps well for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.