The Ten Commandments of Homemade Pork Bacon: 3. Create the Cure

Both of my basic cures (dry and wet) contain kosher salt, granulated sugar, and pink salt (curing salt, aka Instacure #1). You can achieve a wide, subtle range of flavors by varying the ingredients to include brown sugar or maple syrup instead of white sugar; other spices such as coriander, mustard seeds, or black peppercorns; and condiments such as Dijon mustard, chipotles in adobo, and sriracha to add a touch of heat. Wet cures include some kind of liquid, commonly water, but can also use a fruit juice such as peach nectar (see BBQ Bacon).