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Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams
Founded1947
FounderAlbert H. Hicks
Headquarters
ProductsCured meats
Websitebentonscountryhams2.com

Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams is a producer of cured meats in Madisonville, Tennessee, United States. The business was started in 1947 by the late Albert H. Hicks.[1]

Allan Benton[2][3][4][5][6][7] and his father, B.D. Benton, took over the business in 1973 and it was subsequently renamed and moved to its current location in Madisonville.[8]

Overview

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The company uses a slow curing process using salt, brown sugar, and sodium nitrite.[9][10][11] The mixture is rubbed onto fresh hams in a maple box; the hams are then aged an average of 9 to 10 months, but often up to 18 months. Many of the hams are also smoked in a small, wood-fired smokehouse that sits behind the shop. Benton's also produces prosciutto, cured bacon, and fresh pork sausage.[12]

Benton's wood-fired stove, smokehouse

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jones, Maggie. "New PBS show will feature Knoxville restaurant, East Tennessee meat curing business". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  2. ^ Boyd, Chadwick; AJC, For the. "Tramping for ramps enriches a friendship". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  3. ^ Reedy, Allyson (2020-03-09). "A Taste of the South at the Source Celebrates Ham King Allan Benton". 5280. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  4. ^ Video, Eater (2019-02-18). "Watch: How Benton's Makes Its Perfectly Smoky Bacon". Eater. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  5. ^ "Where to Get Benton's Bacon". Tasting Table. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  6. ^ "Benton's Smokey Mountain Country Hams". kottke.org. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  7. ^ "Allan Benton". Cityview. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  8. ^ "The World's". www.wrcbtv.com. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  9. ^ "Benton's Smoked Country Ham, Madisonville, Tennessee". PBS Food. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  10. ^ "Cured Ham And American Whiskey Create A Taste Adventure". The Whiskey Wash. 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  11. ^ John, Robert St. "Country bacon at its best comes from Benton's; smoked and cured the way our grandparents' grandparents did it". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  12. ^ "Travel: Bring Home the Taste of Tennessee | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
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