John I guess ya don't have ta smoke it, but I'm kinda partial ta smoked bacon.. As long as ya cure it correctly and cook it till the internal temp exceeds 160 it will be just fine... I am smoking this one on the pit , not in the smokehouse.. Its just not worth crankin up the house for 1 piece of meat.. My smokehouse will cook 100+ lbs. of sausage or meat at 1 time.. so its more cost effictive to just smoke it on the pit.. I started the fire and placed the mesquite on it and placed the loin way away from the fire.. my pit is 3 ft. long and the firebox is located on one end .. I put the loin at the far side just to get some smoke in her and get her to temp...