The History of Bacon in Virginia [ VIRTUAL ]

The History of Bacon in 19th-Century Virginia

Bacon goes back… way back! Before refrigeration was widely available, people around the globe used salt to cure and preserve pork. In 1500 BC, the Chinese were salting and curing pork belly.  Even Ancient Romans and Greeks ate bacon. Eventually, it made its way through Europe and to the colonies.

In this History of Bacon class, we’ll step into 19th century Williamsburg, Virginia and learn about how bacon was made.

In this class, you’ll learn about:

• The role salt plays in food preservation and local salt sources

• How to dry-cure  bacon

• Bacon smoking techniques

• Ancient bacon recipes

• How skilled enslaved cooks prepared bacon in our foodway

• How regional Native American tribes preserved pork

Whether you're a history buff, a homesteader, or just a bacon-lover, you’ll leave with the knowledge (and inspiration) to make your own bacon at home.

You can complete this and all of our virtual classes at your own pace.

Your virtual class access begins November 1st and you'll have access until the end of 2025.