Should you be keeping your leftover bacon grease?
The short answer is yes, at least a small container of it.
There are so many things you can do with leftover bacon grease; I recently saw it referred to as liquid gold.
Did you know that you can actually buy bacon grease in the store?!
My story
Growing up, my mom always had a coffee can full of leftover bacon grease stored above the stove. It was a staple in our home that I simply took for granted.
However, as an adult, keeping bacon grease wasn’t a habit I adopted.
In fact, I had never given keeping bacon grease a thought until I wrote a post about the easiest way to fix bacon.
As I was writing about how to dispose of the grease, it occurred to me that there was a reason that my mom kept a can of bacon grease on hand.
And while I knew what we used it for at home, I have to be honest, I was surprised at how many uses there are for bacon grease.
I’ve been missing out!
And you have too if you aren’t keeping any of your leftover bacon grease.
Here are some of the best uses for bacon grease.
Bacon grease makes a great seasoning.
Bacon grease has a rich savory flavor and works great for seasoning a wide variety of food.
Especially beans, which is one of the primary ways my mom used bacon grease.
Add a small amount of bacon grease to green beans or navy beans to ramp up the flavor.
Since bacon grease is packed with flavor, only a small amount is necessary when using it as a seasoning.
Replace oil or butter with bacon grease in a variety of dishes.
Eggs
Fix over easy or scrambled eggs in a small amount of melted bacon grease.
Kind of like bacon and eggs without the bacon!
Fried potatoes
Don’t throw out leftover potatoes. Dice them up and fry them in a bit of bacon grease for a great tasting side dish.
Better yet, when making baked potatoes, fix a few extras for the specific purpose of having a ready-made side dish the next evening.
Add some peppers and onions to really jazz things up.
Keep leftover mashed potatoes as well. Make leftover mashed potatoes into potato cakes and fry them in a bit of bacon grease for a delicious side dish.
Roasted or grilled veggies
Toss cut up vegetables in melted bacon fat before roasting or grilling.
When making cornbread, grease the pan with bacon grease instead of oil or shortening.
The bacon grease will add a hint of that rich and savory flavor to your cornbread.
Use bacon grease to brown hamburger or sear steaks.
Melt the bacon grease and brown or sear as normal.
Professional chefs swear by searing steak with bacon grease to add flavor.
Season your cast iron skillet with bacon grease.
Cast iron skillets require seasoning.
Why not season the skillet with something that’s going to add some flavor?
Use bacon grease to make gravy.
Typically, when it comes to making gravy, I opt for a gravy packet.
However, gravy made with bacon grease as the base is incredibly easy to make.
If you choose to adopt the habit of keeping bacon grease, you may have some questions about collecting and storing the grease.
Collecting the grease is pretty straightforward.
After fixing bacon, allow the grease to cool a bit but not solidify before transferring it to a container.
Pour the grease into a container suitable for storing the bacon grease.
Store bacon grease in an airtight glass or metal container.
A pint size canning jar works great.
If you want to strain your bacon grease to remove left behind pieces of bacon, you can purchase a bacon grease container that comes equipped with a strainer.
Where is the best place to store bacon grease?
My West Virginia upbringing clashes with food safety experts.
According to food safety experts, bacon grease should be stored in the refrigerator.
How long will bacon grease last?
Experience says forever but food safety experts say 3 to 6 months refrigerated.
I have to be honest, as an adult, the fact that my mom NEVER threw out the bacon grease is a little disturbing.
Should you be keeping your bacon grease?
Yes, at least give it a try.
You might be surprised at how quickly you become addicted to the many ways which you are able to use your leftover bacon grease!
TAKE ACTION!!!
Comments or questions? Email me at Micki@LivingbyLittles.com
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