How to Save and Reuse Bacon Grease - Fed & Fit (2024)

FAQs

How to Save and Reuse Bacon Grease - Fed & Fit? ›

Whether you cook your bacon on the stovetop or in the oven, you can save the grease for future use. "Pan-frying gives little room for error with collecting bacon grease, because even a few burned solids will impart a burned flavor and dark color to the grease," says Chavez.

Whether you cook your bacon on the stovetop or in the oven, you can save the grease for future use. "Pan-frying gives little room for error with collecting bacon grease, because even a few burned solids will impart a burned flavor and dark color to the grease," says Chavez.

How Long Does Bacon Grease Last? Store your container in the fridge where it will last for three months, or in the freezer where it will last indefinitely. Storing the grease in the fridge is the best for easy access to soft fat whenever you want it.

To store it, let the grease cool slightly, then strain it through a fine mesh to remove any bacon bits. Pour the strained grease into a glass jar or container and seal it tightly. Then, store your container of bacon grease in the refrigerator or a cool, dark pantry.

Refrigeration is optional for Bacon Up.

Bacon Up will change from solid to slushy to liquid (and back again) as its temperature rises (and falls). That's normal and does not reduce its quality. For long-term storage, we recommend keeping Bacon Up at temperatures below 80°F.

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.

Place a coffee filter or cheesecloth over the mouth of a glass container, like a Mason jar, or a container made for bacon drippings. Press the filter down so that it fits snugly inside the mouth of the jar. Slowly pour the warm (not hot!) bacon grease into the jar—don't rush this step.

You can tell if your bacon grease has gone bad by checking the smell or color. 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.

After cooking a big pan of bacon, DO NOT throw out that leftover bacon grease. That rendered fat is liquid gold and can be used to season greens, beans, rice dishes, saute vegetables, make dressings, etc. But you'll need to clean it first to filter out any extra pieces of meat or fat.

Once the fat hardens, wrap the foil around the fat and toss it in the trash. Strain the warm grease into a container left over from frozen juice, a soup can, a coffee can, or a coated beverage/take-out carton. Label the container with the date and “cooking grease – not for recycling” and store it in your fridge.

What not to do with bacon grease? ›

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.

Pretty much the same as you would any other fat in your kitchen. It's, of course, great for frying. I often use it in combination with a neutral oil, such as canola or vegetable, to fry chicken, because I don't have enough to just use bacon drippings and want to make sure I have some for other uses.

Pouring hot grease into plastic is a bad idea, but a re-purposed glass jar – I like a pickle jar – or a metal or ceramic container will work well.

A nutritional comparison between a tablespoon of bacon grease, butter and canola oil is kind of surprising. The grease has slightly less cholesterol than the butter, and only 2 more milligrams of saturated fat. It has the same number of calories as the oil, but tons more saturated fat and sodium.

So a lot of the unhealthy stuff associated with bacon isn't necessarily in bacon fat. And surprisingly, it does has some healthy qualities. Like canola and olive oil, bacon fat is high in oleic acid, which is thought to reduce inflammation and cholesterol levels, Quinn said. Also, bacon fat simply tastes great.

Many home cooks store their extra bacon grease in jars at room temperature, but food safety experts don't recommend this method if you intend to reuse the grease. The best place to safely store bacon grease is in the refrigerator.

Dab a bit of bacon grease on a rag and rub it into your shoes, belts, and equipment straps to condition and nourish the leather. Waterproofing: You can use bacon fat as a water-repellent on boots, tents, waders, rain gear, and most other types of leather and canvas equipment.

After you are done making bacon, just strain the leftover fat, and save it in the fridge. Use it to cook everything that will taste better with bacon flavor And really, what doesn't taste better with bacon flavor?