I always save the grease from bacon to use for cooking and baking (even my teenagers and husband will save it!). Put the fresh hot liquid grease into a glass jar (a plastic containers will melt) and place a lid on it and stick it in your fridge.
When frying raw or cooked potatoes put some in the frying pan first, don't bother adding much more salt because the bacon grease has salt in it already. When cooking potatoes or vegetables the little bit of bacon grease I put into the water helps the foam from developing and boiling over and once again I don't add any more salt. When frying meat that doesn't have any "inside" fat such as chicken, deer or rabbit I use the bacon grease to coat the frying pan.
Any time that I make pancakes or waffles, I take my bacon grease out of the fridge and warm the jar in the microwave for 30 seconds or so, just enough to liquify the grease and use it instead of melted butter or margarine. Anytime that I need melted butter or oil in cooking or baking I ask myself whether the bacon grease would work.
When using it, you don't need to add any salt to your cooking or baking, it also gives a nice flavor to whatever dish you are preparing. It took about 15 years but I have finally about a year ago persuaded my sister-in-law that potatoes when boiling do NOT have to boil over each time and make a mess on her stove. A tsp. of bacon grease (she uses margarine) keeps the boiling in the pot only. Also, my mother-in-law grew up using the pure fat that comes when you cook a chicken in the oven. You need to freeze this fat. She would make cookies from it. I have also done so and you would never know that margarine was not used but rather chicken fat was.
It used to be that everything was fried in bacon grease. My in-laws used to keep a coffee can with the grease they got from frying bacon every morning. They boiled potatoes for one meal and fried them for the next, in bacon grease. I always liked fried potatoes with onion, slow fried in bacon grease. Of course the eggs were fried in it too. Some chopped raw bacon can be put in with fresh green beans when cooking. My in-laws kept the grease in the side of there stove, but I refrigerate mine.
By chml
Bacon grease is great for frying potatoes, eggs, flavoring muffins and cornbread, and for greasing pans, so save your bacon grease!
By Robin from Washington, IA
I have used bacon grease for frying the usual - potatoes, eggs and of course, in green beans. But I also use some when frying onions, mushrooms and green peppers for any reason (from sausage subs to a side for a steak meal).
I go to my market and purchase what is considered "bacon ends" (irregular slices from the ends of the slab) at about half price.
I then cut the slices in half. I fry the entire package which is usually about 2 lb.. all at one time, in batches. After the bacon has cooled, I wrap the strips in waxed paper and then in a freezer bag. When I need some bacon for blt's etc., it is already done.
The grease is first put into a glass bowl to cool down and then, when cool enough, I put it into a quart size freezer bag and sit it upright in my freezer so it freezes into a "log". When I need a tsp. or two, I slice it off and away I go.
By Norma
A great use for bacon grease. Add it into cream cheese and use it as a sauce to pour over vegetables. I like to use yellow squash.
By Sharon
If you're on a low carb lifestyle, like I am, you'll probably end up with a lot more bacon grease than you'll know what to do with.I keep it in a tin by the stove, like others suggested. I also drizzle a small amount on my dogs' food every day. Just mix it in. The dogs love it and I'm sure it gives their bland boring dog food a great bacon flavor. As well, the oil is great in keeping them regular and keeping their coats shiny.
By pookie
If you make your own popcorn on the stove, It tastes great popped in bacon grease. My grandmother always made it like this and we gobbled it up. Also pour a small amount on your dog's dry dog food. It's very good to keep their coat shiny.
By Jean Donahue
I use about two tablespoons of bacon grease in a cast iron skillet and "fry" my steaks in it. Yum! I'm talking about t-bones to strip steak. It gives them a great flavor.
By Lynn Thomas
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I don't normally use bacon grease for frying, but it is the only thing to use when frying fresh trout--it just does not taste the same without it!
All those ideas are mouth watering, but do you realize how much cholesterol is in even a teaspoon of bacon grease? I can feel my arteries closing just thinking of it! Please be careful in the use of such.
Bacon grease...Have you seen that stuff cold? I'm with Bonnie. Please be careful and then just stop it. That is what is going straight to your arteries. We live in the south and I work at a senior center. The damage of that sort of cooking will hit you sooner if not later.And then, your taste buds will absolutely rebell at any attempt to cut back on the fat.
www.cooks.com/
one example of dog biscuit recipes that call for grease
google dog biscuit recipes to find MANY more
use any meat grease to substitute for the shortening or other fat
Well, I agree with Doris.....as my husband says "That grease clogs up my artieries just me thinkin' about it"..ahahaha!!! He's so right and so is Doris.I don't care how good it tastes it's FAT, it will make you FAT and your dog FAT.A vet would never suggest this, your dog and you will end up very sick!!!
Here is my suggestion for using bacon grease; heat it up if it's cold then pour on ant hills, those ants don't know what hit em!!!
Any kind of fat is bad for dogs. Unlike humans, their bodies do not metabolize fat well. A friend of mine learnt this the hard way when her dog almost died. The vet warned her against feeding the dog "scraps" from meat, which is usually the fat. Also no-no for dogs is hot dogs and other fatty meats. Dogs do best when left to their normal dog food. sometimes I add hot water to the dry kibble, but I would never "kill" my dog with bacon grease.
I won't even eat bacon grease myself. I like my arteries clean. -Carol
Actualllly no! This is dead wrong and has been prove by many newer cardiologist studies at Harvard and many other prestigious schools!! The real killer is carbs and trans fats. Back in the day medical studies hadnt proven all this out. Eat ur bacon grease!! Everything in moderation!
Actualllly no! This is dead wrong and has been prove by many newer cardiologist studies at Harvard and many other prestigious schools!! The real killer is carbs and trans fats. Back in the day medical studies hadnt proven all this out. Eat ur bacon grease!! Everything in moderation!
YOU are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, Dickie5!!! It has been proven for quite a while now that it is NOT fat that causes fat. Dr. Atkins was pilloried for his low carb diet, NOW you'll find that diabetic diets have incorporated much of what he taught.
It is "old" thinking that fat causes fat. If I follow a low-carb or keto diet I lose weight without exercising and am never hungry and my lab results are phenomenal. I once lost 80 pounds in about six months without exercise, and I felt great, looked great and my labs were super. My dermatologist said I look ten years younger than my age.
I URGE people to really read up on the subject and if you need to lose weight, give it a try. CAVEAT: Unlike a calorie diet, you cannot cheat on a low-carb diet because it will put you out of ketosis and it will take days to get back into it. You cannot mix counting carbs and counting calories.
LOVE my bacon grease!
Wow, this site is really frugal. Some things are OK to throw away, like bacon grease.
And since dogs are carnivores, isn't some meat OK for them? I typically give my dog 4 small bites of whatever meat we are having for dinner and mix it with her dry food, she loves that.
Just my thoughts, thanks
wyokrista
Ever tryed bacon grease on Biscuits just pour some bacon grease in a baking pan and dip the biscuits in it then bake yummy or spead on bread and fry it goes good with eggs
I keep an empty soup can in the freezer and pour my bacon grease in it. When the can is full, I put it in a plastic bag that the newspaper comes in and throw it away on trash day. Being in solid frozen form, it doesn't mess up my trash can.
My mom always used the bacon grease to make milk gravy . I don't do that anymore but I sure remember how good it tasted as a kid.
I use bacon grease in lieu of lard for making beans, and left over homemade spaghetti tastes great on day two when it's warmed up in the pan with a little bacon grease
You people need to EXERCISE. Just because you're overweight or otherwise unhealthy, doesn't mean you need to criticize people's suggestion on the use of a type of fat. Buy a treadmill.
Actually, all the talk about bacon grease clogging up arteries is bogus. Folks, please reeducate yourself on cholesterol and what causes it. Why is it that people on low carb diets have better bp, ldl and hdl readings and triglycerides? It is not a fluke of the diet, it is the way your body was meant to be. carbs are the killer, not your bacon or fat. Low fat diets cause most of the health problems of the past 20 years. Before anyone wants to crucify me do some research about the benefits of protein and fat.
To bacon grease or not to bacon grease? To each individual their own opinions, to each religion their own beliefs and to each scientist their own deductions. My opinion: MMmmMm pork fat!! As we've all been told, even too much of a good thing is bad for you. I think we each have to listen to our own bodies and instincts. You know if you've consumed too much of something, haven't had enough of something or haven't excersiced enough, etc., etc. Just as everything else in life, it's all about balance.
My grandma saved bacon grease, as did my mom as do I. I use it in and on vegetables, meats and sauces/gravies of all kinds. It's just one of those substances that is unique to itself, adding its own little distinction to flavor. My taste buds are happy =)
Just so you know this sight really helped me find some things out and I thought bacon grease was all bad but I guess it can be used for some things and in some cases it can be almost good for you. ALMOST good for you ^^
I don't eat bacon often, but when I do, I save the grease in the fridge in a coffee cup. If I don't have vegetable or chicken broth for my dogs food, a teaspoon of bacon grease does the trick & adds variety. Moderation is the key, just like anything else. I also use a tablespoon to fry rice & cook eggs in for breakfast, again.....in MODERATION. This is not a daily or even weekly occurrence. YUM!
iI haven't tried this yet, but I read you can make bird suet with bacon or any other meat grease. See this link:
www.kersteins.com/
By far the best use for bacon grease is to cook your scrambled eggs in it after the bacon is done. No storage necessary.
And all you OMG it's FAT! people should chill out. You do realize that your body converts all unused calories to fat, right? Consuming more than you burn = weight gain. In other words, keep your lifestyle active and eat in moderation and enjoy some bacon grease now and again.
It is dangerous to use bacon grease on dog food. Too much fat can cause pancreatitis in dogs. I know people have used bacon grease for ages but it is deadly when used every day. Consult your vet.
Why can't people use a product such as bacon grease on special occasions such a deer, fried potatoes, etc? By the way, bacon grease is a great tradition if used properly, like anything else.
I advocate putting bacon grease in you dog or cats food. These animals are carnivores and their bodies are meant to eat animal flesh including the fat of an animal. People on the other hand should limit the amount of fat in their diets. Dogs don't live as long as humans. Their systems tolerate fat, cholesterol, proteins much more so than humans.
Carnivores in the wild do not cook their food, do not use chemical products to sell it, and do not keep it in nitrates and salt.
Burnt or over heated fat, meat, bread, like for example burnt butter are carcinogenic. Pet food is already dangerous enough there is no need to make it worth. Your argument "dogs don't 'live as long as humans" doesn't make sense. Dogs or cats life can be shorten by overweight or cancer just like humans. The difference is that it is the humans who feed dogs and cats and should not have the right to shorten their pet's lives.
"Well, I agree with Doris; as my husband says "That grease clogs up my arteries just me thinking about it", ahahaha! He's so right and so is Doris
At 98 degrees (you know, your body temperature!) bacon grease remains a liquid. Trying to compare solid grease that has been sitting under the sink or the fridge to bacon grease being pumped and digested throughout a body that remains 98 degrees is pretty ridiculous. Eat healthy. Eat in moderation. Take jogs or go to the gym after work.
It's terrible when some of you folks express your opinions as if they were facts.
Bacon, like most foods today, comes in different forms. Most is full of preservatives and flavor enhancers (hickory smoked, sugar cured, etc.), so if you do save the grease, you should stay with the same brand or type for the consistency of flavor. This is for those that do use it for baking or frying of any bland food.
As far as the health concerns, those too are choices made by the individual. Some people metabolize fats better than others. Some of it may be genetics, but they are usually more healthier and physically active than the couch potatoes that claim that it is bad for you. If you are one who cannot metabolize it well, please do not express your opinion that it is bad for the rest of us. It's a given that most of the chemical additives are not good for the body, at least in the long haul, but meats and fats in moderation are a necessary part of the human diet. I use the grease in a lot of the ways described here. My grandmother did. My grandmother lived to 85, died from an accident. My mother does. My mother is almost 80.
And to the dog issue: Who said dogs do not metabolize fat. YOU? Just because you had a friend that "learnt" the hard way. On the contrary, it is a necessary part of a "working" dog's diet, particularly in the colder climates. (Don't get me going about the commercial crap they call dog food, which you are probably feeding your dog on a chain or in a very small yard.) Just like in humans, moderation is necessary for normal activity.
I always save bacon grease and put in my refrigerator because I hate to waste anything. These posts about the use of bacon grease was wonderful. I have finally register to give my input about the wonderful tips I have enjoyed from Thriftyfun. I especially love reading about the frugal life.
The only problem I have with bacon is the additives they put in it. Some natural bacon products are not cured or smoked so they don't have good flavor. I am looking for bacon without sulfites etc. that has a good hickory flavor.
I am a widow and therefore I'm cooking for one. I do not get much bacon fat so I don't have much call to save it.
I do place slices of stale bread in the frying pan while I eat. By the time my meal is over, the bread has absorbed the fat and cooled. I then tear the bread into pieces and toss it out the door for the birds. Most times it is gone before the dishes are done.
Why feed your pets bacon grease on their foods? Don't you know that many pets are over weight, like their owners. The health problems are too. Consult your vet on this one if you think bacon grease is ok for fluffy, of fido. In the winter I mix hot bacon fat with peanut butter, add sunflower seeds and let it go into a heavy mix. I put this mixture in onion bag (mesh type) and hang it outside. The extra i keep in the freezer in a ziplock bag. Keep the chunks in serving sizes.
I like bacon but eat it in moderation (sparingly, actually) and fry it crisply. I blot bacon with paper toweling to absorb the grease. Animal fats contain saturated fats that can combine with cholesterol to form plaque deposits which clog our arteries so we probably should not consume too much of them.
Black flies chew up the base of my horse's ears and high up under their bellies. Bacon grease gets rubbed in, giving immediately relief, helps with healing and the bugs don't like anything greasy.
OMG! I cannot believe the negative comments about bacon grease. Some of us love bacon. It is versatile and a good source of protein. Do you eat Jello? Dry gravy mixes? Medicine? James/Jellies?... and even beer? Why don't you research how gelatin is made and what it is used for! How much bacon grease are you eating? Sheesh, to make gravy (from scratch) you are only using a couple tablespoons (at most). it's not like we are adding a cup of grease to everything we eat. And on the topic of dogs, Dogs like bacon! If I need to add something to their food to get them to eat, I would much rather it be a natural fat than some chemically enhanced by-product. Any dog no matter what they eat can have health problems. As with humans to much of anything can be bad. Lack of exercise and excess is bad. Bottom line here is we are trying to be frugal! Waste not, want not.
How long will bacon grease keep in the fridge before it goes rancid?
In Germany, when I was there, they served bacon grease as a spread for bread, sometimes, instead of butter, or sometimes added it to noodles, instead of butter. I found it a bit overwhelming in flavor, actually, but I assume they liked it!
I like to season my Black Eye peas with bacon grease and a tiny (match head) amount of rubbed sage.
A word of caution about pouring hot grease into a glass jar. Hot grease can break a glass jar, causing a huge mess and the risk of burns. Always 'temper' the jar by pouring the first couple tablespoons in, very, very slowly.
Best of theses foodie comments on bacon: add bacon grease to hot spinach with salt and pepper. Yummy!
I grew up in England, I remember my Mother using bacon grease for so many different foods she cooked. We did not eat a lot of fried foods, she used the bacon grease when she baked chicken, nothing tastier than left over vegs fried in bacon grease. When I moved to America, I noticed my mother in law, put raw bacon in in with her green beans and cook for a while. I cannot believe that we could afford bacon when I was young. Now it is almost a luxury.
The one thing I love to do with bacon grease, has to do with clean up. You've already got a couple of paper towels with bacon grease on them, from blotting. Take the paper towels and wipe out your pans. After that throw them wadded up into the fireplace. Makes a really good fire starter which won't burn up in an instant. The heat will bring out the bacon scent again. I mean who doesn't love bacon smell?
Hmmm, any kind of bacon is my favorite food. When I eat it I get so excited... Heart probs run deep in my family, but I still eat it well done for a special treat. My two dogs get sick from it so I throw the grease away. I have tried bacon in sweets, but did not care for it. I do not want bacon flavor or bacon little pieces... I want the real thing in slices and well done. To those of you who can eat it often and use the grease Good for yall. My two sissy dogs can not stomach it...
Everything in moderation, folks! I remember my grama saving bacon grease, my mother doing it, and I do it on occasion as well (to be kept in the fridge). I like a little when scrambling eggs or pan-frying potatoes, maybe once a month. Moderation is the key! :-)
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