25 Survival Uses for Leftover Bacon Grease (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with leftover bacon grease? ›

The chefs recommend using bacon fat for a variety of dishes, including fried eggs, refried beans, roasted and sauteed vegetables, and vinaigrettes. "I especially like using it for a warm salad dressing on top of a classic bistro frisee salad, which includes bacon lardons and a poached egg on top," says Chavez.

Line a cup (or even the sink drain itself) well with heavy-duty foil. Carefully pour the hot fat into it and let it harden (or, if using a cup, place the cup in the freezer). Once the fat hardens, wrap the foil around the fat and toss it in the trash.

It's generally recommended not to use fats, oils and grease in your compost because they can create odor problems and attract rodents. Some people say you can add small amounts of fats, oil and grease to your compost, especially if it's plant-based oil rather than animal fat.

They always said you couldn't throw grease down the sink because it would mess up the pipes. This may be true, I don't know. But the real reason they saved the bacon grease is this: because it is the number-one secret ingredient you can use in certain dishes.

While lard is a safe alternative to rendered suet, avoid using bacon drippings. The chemical preservatives in commercial bacon become more concentrated once cooked. While this doesn't pose a health threat to humans, it can be harmful to birds. Bread and table scraps should be avoided, too.

It turns out that cooking eggs in bacon fat (or "liquid gold" as we like to call it) allows the edges to become crispy and ensures the yolk stays soft and tender. The grease also infuses the eggs with a salty and smoky flavor, eliminating the need to add tons of salt afterwards.

If you want to do oil and bacon grease disposal properly, you can't pour it outside. Dumping cooking oil in the ground causes clogs in the sewer system. Additionally, animal fats and vegetable oils create issues for wildlife when left outside, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Although many of us grew up with relatives who stored their bacon grease in a jar or can set on the counter or on the back of the stovetop, food safety experts don't recommend storing it that way now. Instead, store bacon grease in the refrigerator (up to 3 months) or freezer (indefinitely).

Improper disposal of bacon grease can lead to significant environmental issues, including water pollution and harm to aquatic life. The grease can create “dead zones” in waterways, severely affecting biodiversity.

Pour it down the drain

Don't put bacon grease down the drain. It's about the fastest way to clog it up. If you pour even one batch of bacon grease down the kitchen sink, you'll likely be on the phone with a plumber before the week's over. Grease solidifies when cool and can ruin your plumbing.

Are bugs attracted to bacon grease? ›

While it's a less obvious problem, greasy surfaces in your kitchen are another thing that attract ants. Whether it's bacon grease on the stove or syrup on the counter after a pancake breakfast, these things and more encourage ants to visit your kitchen.

When you toss your bacon grease, you're throwing away a cheap, easy-to-use, and oh-so versatile ingredient that's full of smoky flavor. You can use your drippings to fry breakfast favorites like eggs and hash browns, add meatiness to sauces and gravies, lend moisture and flavor to savory baked goods, and so much more.

Sure, bacon fat gets a bad rap for its cholesterol level compared to “healthier” fats like olive oil, but calorie for calorie, they're virtually the same. And while olive oil likes to boast that it's more heart healthy, bacon fat is fine with that, because it brings loads more flavor to the table.

We may refer to bacon grease as liquid gold, but if you notice your stored bacon grease turns from white to yellow, it's time to throw it away! Also, if it has a sour, fishy, or unpleasant odor, it needs to go in the trash. Not only will it make your food taste bad, but it'll make your stomach feel a lot worse.

Where To Store Bacon Grease. Although many of us grew up with relatives who stored their bacon grease in a jar or can set on the counter or on the back of the stovetop, food safety experts don't recommend storing it that way now. Instead, store bacon grease in the refrigerator (up to 3 months) or freezer (indefinitely) ...

Even after straining and cleaning, you should only reuse frying oil a limited number of times. If you're frying meats, you can reuse it up to three or four times. For vegetables or dough, you can reuse it as many as six or eight times.

Bacon grease has slightly less cholesterol than butter and only 2 more milligrams of saturated fat. It has the same number of calories as the oil, but more saturated fat and sodium.

The kitchen staff transport the used grease to the dumpster on a daily basis. The danger of grease dumpsters is that the containers can crack and allow grease to seep out. Rainfall can then wash down the uncontained grease into storm drains—which causes environmental issues.