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Are you someone who loves the savory taste of bacon and hates to waste anything in the kitchen? If so, you might be interested in How to Save Bacon Grease for future use.
Learn how to save and use bacon grease in your cooking and baking with our tips. From eggs to vegetables and baked goods, bacon grease is a versatile and flavorful ingredient. Discover how to incorporate it into your meals and enjoy its delicious taste. Dive into the world of bacon grease and save this precious ingredient for later use!
Bacon grease is a versatile ingredient that can add a delicious smoky flavor to various dishes. Plus, it’s an eco-friendly way to repurpose leftover fat that would otherwise go to waste.
A Southern Tradition!
For many years, my Southern family has saved bacon grease as it was considered a valuable commodity. My Mommom used to keep a crock on her stove and would add the grease leftover from cooking to it every time she had some. She would use it in all her recipes, adding depth and richness to the dishes.
When she would up fry up some cornbread in the cast-iron skillet, she would add a scoop of grease to the skillet & fry it up. And I am telling you that she made the best-fried cornbread ever!
I remember when I was a little girl, she was always cooking up some southern meal, and I guess being born & raised in the south, that’s what you are accustomed to. But I sure do miss her cooking so much!
How to Save Bacon Grease
Saving bacon grease is common practice in many households as it adds flavor to various dishes while being used for cooking. Here are some tips for saving and using bacon grease:
- After cooking bacon, allow the grease to cool to room temperature.
- Then, strain the leftover bacon grease through a fine mesh strainer or a coffee filter to remove any bacon bits.
- Pour the grease into a clean, heat-proof container such as a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid
- Store the jar of bacon grease in the refrigerator for up to several months.
Bacon grease should be stored in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator. It will solidify when cooled but will liquefy when heated. If it develops an off odor or flavor, discard it.
I was chatting with my cousin Dawn about how our family used it & how they stored bacon grease, and this is what she had to say…
” I remember my mama would just keep it in a container on the stove with a lid until one time she discovered it had gone bad, so then she started keeping in the fridge. But, she said that Mema and the old people back then never refrigerated it, just kept it in the coolest place in the kitchen, because they didn’t all have big fridges “
How long can you store bacon grease?
Bacon grease can be stored in the refrigerator for up to several months. The exact shelf life will depend on how well the grease was strained and how it was stored. Keeping the bacon grease in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid is essential to prevent oxidation and contamination. It should be discarded if the grease develops an unpleasant odor or flavor or shows any signs of spoilage, such as mold.
There is always a question about the Health & Nutrition of saving bacon grease.
To reduce the risk of rancidity: it is recommended to use bacon grease within three to six months of storage. Before using it in your cooking, give it a sniff if you are not sure how long it has been stored. If the bacon grease smells off or like rancid fat, it’s best to discard it and start fresh with a new batch.
Food safety experts generally advise caution when it comes to saving and using bacon grease. Bacon grease is high in saturated fat and can turn rancid if not stored properly, leading to foodborne illness. To ensure safety when using bacon grease, experts recommend using the bacon grease within three to six months of storage to reduce the risk of rancidity.:
It’s important to note that while bacon grease can add delicious flavor to your cooking and baking, it should be used in moderation due to its high saturated fat content. By following proper food safety guidelines and using bacon grease in moderation, you can enjoy its rich, smoky flavor while minimizing the risk of foodborne illness.
What is Bacon Grease used for?
The rendered fat left over after cooking bacon is known as bacon grease, and it has many uses, such as:
- Cooking: People commonly use bacon grease as a cooking fat, adding a savory, smoky flavor to foods. It is a great option for frying eggs, cooking vegetables, and sauté meat.
- Baking: You can use bacon grease as a substitute for butter or oil in baked goods, such as biscuits or cornbread, to add a rich, savory flavor.
- Seasoning: You can add flavor to soups, stews, and sauces by using bacon grease.
Overall, bacon grease is a versatile ingredient that can add a lot of flavor to a variety of dishes. However, it’s important to use it in moderation, as it is high in saturated fat.
Favorite ways to Use Bacon Grease
Bacon grease can be a versatile and flavorful ingredient that can be used in many different ways. However, it’s important to use it in moderation, as it is high in saturated fat.
- Fried Eggs: Bacon grease can be used to fry eggs, giving them a delicious, smoky flavor.
- Roasted Vegetables: Tossing vegetables in bacon grease before roasting them can add a savory, delicious flavor to the vegetables.
- Biscuits: Using bacon grease instead of butter or oil in biscuit recipes can add a rich, savory flavor to the biscuits.
- Sauteed Greens: Using bacon grease to sauté greens like kale, collard greens, or Swiss chard can add a delicious, smoky flavor to the dish.
- Cornbread: Using bacon grease instead of butter or oil in cornbread recipes can add a savory flavor to the cornbread.
- Roasted Potatoes: Roasting potatoes in bacon grease can add a delicious, crispy texture and savory flavor to the dish.
- Green Beans: Adding bacon grease to green beans is a great way to infuse them with a smoky bacon flavor.
- Brussel Sprouts: Cook Brussels sprouts in a skillet with bacon grease for a delicious and easy side dish.
Food safety experts generally advise caution when it comes to saving and using bacon grease.
Bacon grease is high in saturated fat and can turn rancid if not stored properly, leading to foodborne illness. To ensure safety when using bacon grease, experts recommend the following:
While bacon grease can enhance the flavor of your cooking and baking, it should be used moderately because of its high saturated fat content. By following proper food safety guidelines and using bacon grease in moderation, you can enjoy its rich, smoky flavor while minimizing the risk of foodborne illness.
Saving bacon grease is a great way to repurpose leftover fat from cooking and add delicious flavor to your meals.
Bacon grease is a type of lard, the animal fat that has been rendered for cooking.
Unlike some other types of lard, bacon grease has a distinctive smoky flavor that can add depth and complexity to a variety of dishes. By straining and storing your bacon grease properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, you can extend its shelf life and use it in your cooking and baking for up to several months. So don’t let that delicious bacon fat go to waste – save it for later and add a savory touch to your favorite recipes.
Please Note: It’s important to strain the grease through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any solid bits before pouring it into the container.
The best containers for storing leftover bacon grease!
When storing leftover bacon grease or rendered bacon fat, choosing the right container is crucial. Glass jelly jars or other small jars with tight-fitting lids are a great option, as they are heat-proof and won’t absorb any of the flavors or odors of the grease.
If you don’t want your bacon fat to cool, pour the hot bacon grease into a glass jar. To help prevent splattering, use a mason jar funnel to make it easier. When I pour hot grease from my large cast iron pan, that’s when I use the funnel to make it for easy pouring.
Choose your Storage method wisely.
Plastic containers should be avoided, as they can melt or warp when hot grease is poured into them.
Once the grease has cooled and solidified, the lid should be tightened securely to prevent any air or moisture from getting in. With the proper container, you can store your rendered bacon fat in the refrigerator for several months and use it to add delicious smoky flavor to your cooking and baking.
Do you cook with bacon grease? What are some of your favorite recipes you use bacon grease? Let me know in the comments below!
Make it a great day y’all 🙂
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I’ve never saved grease but have used the grease from bacon I just cooked to cook something else in it. It’s good to know how to store it to keep it from going bad!
People have been doing it for generations 🙂
Dusty, I’m a southern girl too, and I also save my bacon fat! I love the extra flavor it gives foods. We only have bacon a couple times a month, so I put it in a mason jar and keep it on the counter top and use it up within a day or two. It doesn’t last long enough to go bad! But if we ever have an abundance of it, that’s a good idea to put it in the fridge. 🙂
That is awesome! If I thought I would use the grease within a day, I would leave it on the counter too. I just worry that I won’t & it would go rancid. 🙂
I know so many folks that have done this, but I’ve never actually seen it done! Thank you so much for sharing this great post!