Saturday, July 20, 2013

Use it Up! Bacon Grease

Many things are tossed into the garbage can when they still have lots of good life left in them. Use It Up is a section on how to use this "trash" to make new, useful items for your home or to re-purpose items to avoid a purchase.

One of the great disappointments in life: frying up a huge package of bacon and ending up with a couple of bacon bits and a pan full of bacon grease. Don't despair! You can use that grease in place of oil in cooking to save money over buying oil, and to add that incredible bacon flavor to other foods.

I save bacon grease in a glass jar in the refrigerator so that it lasts a good amount of time (can't say exactly how long because I've never had any go bad). If you keep it on the counter, you should use it fairly quickly, just to be safe.

Note: I suggest using a wide-mouthed jar for storage so you don't spill hot grease all over. Not that I have any experience in that area.



Here are some ways to use bacon grease. You'll be glad you did.

* Spread on bread in place of butter for grilled cheese sandwiches. Honestly the most decadent lunch ever.
* Fry greens and onions in it. This may be an effective way to get picky eaters to get their greens.
* Add to ham and bean soup or baked beans for a bit more oomph.
* Fry or scramble eggs in it.
* Use in place of lard in homemade refried beans.
* Make fried potatoes or the most awesome french fries ever.
* Make hashed browns.
* Rub on the outside of potatoes before baking.
* Use to grease pan for making a savory corn bread.
* Grease pans for casseroles.
* Grease pans for savory breads and muffins.
* Make white gravy and eggs (brown a couple tablespoons of flour in a heaping tablespoon of bacon grease, then add milk and small amount of additional flour, whisk and cook until it starts to thicken. Add chopped eggs and serve over sourdough toast. A family favorite!)
* Use to season steamed or boiled veggies.
* Pan fry squash, onions or other veggies in it.
* Fry green tomatoes.
* Make a candle. Yes, you read that right. Ehow has a great article oh it.
* Rub under the skin of a whole chicken or turkey to roast.
* Caramelize onions to use on everything.
* Use to pop popcorn on the stovetop.
* Use for cooking hot dogs.
* Use to grease a pizza pan to make a homemade pizza a more decadent affair.
* Make fried rice.
* Use as a warm salad dressing with a bit of vinegar.
* Make pancakes or waffles.
* Use to season cast iron.
* Make fire starters.
* Fried cornbread.
* Saute mushrooms.
* Add to mashed potatoes in place of butter.
* Use to grease a panini press.
* Add to dog's food. Just be reasonable about the amount.
* Add to hearty soups such as potato soup. It is also great to add a bit more flavor to veggie soups.
* Fry chicken.
* Use in place of butter in mac n cheese.
* Render it into lard to use in pie crust or other recipes using lard.
* My friend found an old cookbook that called for bacon grease in a cake. She said it turned out well, but interesting. :) I've also heard of people using it in cookies.
* Make soap (Thanks, Miss Nifty Thrifty!) http://sustainablescientist.net/2013/03/04/making-bacon-soap/
* Make paleo mayonnaise (Thanks, Stella!) http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/2013/07/05/paleo-mayeo/
* Make liver and onions. (Thanks, Lora!)

And if after all of these fun ways to use bacon grease, you use it all up? Do like one of our readers suggested and buy packages of the ends and pieces. They have lots of fatty bits and will yield a lot of grease for your jar.

                                                   Youtube: Jim Gaffigan on Bacon


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20 comments:

  1. Great post - I'm a firm believer in bacon grease - my g-ma had a jar by the stove all the time and food was delicious!

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    Replies
    1. It really does make everything taste better. :)

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  2. I don't think I saw making soap using bacon grease! But you can!

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    Replies
    1. Wow! Thanks! I'm adding this to the list. That's definitely got to be a project...soon.

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  3. You can make homemade mayonnaise with it! http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/2013/07/05/paleo-mayeo/

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    1. Thanks, Stella! I'm adding this to the list!

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  4. Made chicken liver & onions using bacon grease just the other night ... was awesome. Mom always saved bacon grease, my husband thought I was nuts to save it, until the first time he tried something made with it ...

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  5. omg I used to be on a self suffiency forum and I got absolutely BLASTED by all sides for writing a thread on saving and using bacon grease instead of the more expensive butter esp.when just greasing a pan. Yikes you thought i was killing puppies or something by suggesting we reuse bacon grease let alone eat bacon to begin with.

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    1. That's a shame. Unfortunately, they'll never get to experience the awesome delight of cooking with bacon fat!

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  6. It's not a kitchen without a big ol' pickle jar full of bacon grease!

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  7. We use bacon grease for lots of purposes but I just learned a lot of new ideas from your post! Great list!

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  8. At the top of my today's to-do list was "cook bacon". It is "that time of year" again, when lighting the oven to bake and take the chill off sounds like a splendid idea. I cook only for my elderly mother and myself. Neither of us are bacon and eggs people, but we love bacon. To get that flavorful grease, I buy bacon "ends and pieces", which are mostly fat and slowly cook it in a covered skillet over low heat, pouring off the grease periodically. I cut the big pieces of fat so every bit of the grease can fry out. When I make cornbread, it is bacon grease that I use instead of oil. Diced potatoes and onions are great fried together in drippings. Add a spoonful to cooked green beans, and of course, in greens and peas. Yummy! BTW, there is usually enough bacon from the ends and pieces for two or three BLTs and many small bits of bacon to use in addition to the drippings.

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    1. That's a great idea! I'm going to have to start searching for the ends and pieces. My bacon grease jar is a little low.

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  9. I use most of these ideas for my bacon grease. My hubby's favorite saying is: "Is there anything bacon can not do?" LOL We have 14 grand children, many of them are here quite a bit and they all LOVE bacon. It is also great in the cold winters here in IL. to add some warm bacon grease (about 4 to 5 Tablespoons) to your dogs food every day. They love it and it is helps prevent dried out skin and keeps their coat shiny. :)

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  10. Grandmoms did it, mom did it but I just can't bring myself to use it. Just the thought makes my arteries squeeze tight. Bacon is a rare treat and I like it but I just can't add grease to my food. That's just me, though. I know most enjoy it.

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  11. My mom always made "ice box cookies" using bacon grease - they taste like "Windmill" cookies - delicious!

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    Replies
    1. Oh wow. I've never tried that, but may have to eventually.

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