🥓 Meat Curing & Smoking Calculator

Calculate precise cure amounts, curing times, smoke durations, and expected yields for all your home cured meats. From bacon and ham to salmon and jerky, get professional results every time.

Curing Calculator

Enter the raw weight of the meat before curing.

Your Curing Estimate

Cure / Salt Needed (g)
Sugar Needed (g)
Curing Time (days)
Smoke Time (hrs)
Expected Yield
Shelf Life Estimate

How It Works

Our meat curing calculator uses industry-standard curing ratios and times based on meat type, weight, and curing method. These values are derived from food safety guidelines and artisanal curing traditions practiced by charcutiers and home curers worldwide.

Curing Science Basics

Curing preserves meat through osmosis and the antimicrobial properties of salt and nitrates. Prague Powder #1 (6.25% sodium nitrite) is used for short cures and cooked products, while Prague Powder #2 (6.25% sodium nitrite + 1% sodium nitrate) is used for long, dry-cured products like prosciutto and pepperoni that require extended aging.

Formula

Cure Amount (g) = Meat Weight (g) × Cure Percentage Sugar (g) = Meat Weight (g) × Sugar Percentage Curing Time (days) = Meat Weight (lbs) × Days per Pound Smoke Time (hrs) = Meat Weight (lbs) × Hours per Pound Yield = Meat Weight × Yield Percentage
Food Safety Note: Always use precise measurements when working with curing salts. Never exceed recommended amounts — too much nitrite can be dangerous. Follow food safety guidelines and maintain proper temperatures throughout the curing process.