Free, tasty, easy to keep, flavorful and always ready to use, bacon grease is the perfect accompaniment for a cook’s kitchen. I’ll show you how to save bacon grease and you’ll be so glad I did!
Bacon grease works in so many recipes! It’s great for cooking eggs, vegetables and it makes a grilled cheese sandwich perfectly! Once you see how easy it is to save bacon grease, you’ll be addicted!
How to Save Bacon Grease
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
Makes use of ALL of that expensive bacon
- Adds flavor to so many dishes!
- Is an easy way to be resourceful!
Let’s move on with your questions….
WHY SAVE BACON GREASE?
Bacon is expensive and bacon fat is a terrific oil to cook all kinds of things in. So why not make use of the free oil that the bacon gives?
IS IT GOOD TO SAVE BACON GREASE?
Yes, it is very good to save bacon grease! Bacon used to be a cheap breakfast meat but these days, the thicker meatier cuts can cost as much as a good cut of steak per pound!
Saving the bacon grease saves you money and makes use of ALL of that expensive bacon.
WHAT DO YOU SAVE BACON GREASE IN?
In my kitchen, I use these jelly jars. I like them because…
- The lids fit tightly
- I only put a small amount in so that I am sure to use it up before it goes bad.
- They wash up easily and I can reuse for all kinds of things
You can click the photo of the jelly jar to go straight through to Amazon. I am an amazon affiliate and if you choose to purchase, I will receive a commission (so THANK YOU!). The commission does not affect your purchase price and it helps continue to fund this website.
Of course, you can always just get a specialized jar for this, already has a strainer in it!
WHERE DO I KEEP MY BACON GREASE?
Once you pour the bacon grease off into the jelly jar, simply put the lid on it and put it in the refrigerator.
HOW TO USE BACON GREASE FOR COOKING
We keep our bacon grease in a jelly jar in the refrigerator and then when ready to use, simply dip out with a teaspoon to use.
Bacon grease kept in the refrigerator stays soft and is easy to dip out.
DOES BACON GREASE GO BAD?
Yes, bacon grease can go bad (rancid). This is more likely if there are pieces of bacon in the grease so be as careful as you can with straining your bacon grease.
A jelly jar with bacon grease, blue and white napkin, spoon and cutting board
HOW LONG IS BACON GREASE GOOD FOR?
Make sure to remove pieces of bacon and then keep covered and refrigerated, bacon grease will be good for about 6 months.
CAN YOU FREEZE BACON GREASE?
Yes, you can freeze bacon grease and it will be good for about a year.
WHAT RECIPES CAN I USE BACON GREASE IN?
I fully recommend adding bacon grease instead of butter to many canned vegetables. It adds a ton of flavor.
Try it in…
How to Cook Canned Corn on the Stove
How to Cook Canned Green Beans
Slow Cooker Green Beans and Bacon
If you enjoy this Bacon Recipe, you might also enjoy….
How To Cook Bacon on a Rack in the Oven
Slow Cooker Green Beans and Bacon
HERE’S HOW TO GET A LOT OF BACON GREASE AT ONCE!
Check out this post on how to cook bacon in the oven on a rack! That makes a lot of bacon grease at once. Be careful. Grease is HOT!
LET’S SEE HOW THIS IS DONE.
First cook your bacon. You will be left with grease and bits of bacon. Find something to put the grease in.
how to save bacon grease
Gently pour the bacon grease into your container being careful not to get the bits of bacon into your jar (or as little as possible) because these will go bad first and can cause your grease to become rancid.
how to save bacon grease
Put the lid on the jar and place it in the refrigerator.
how to save bacon grease
YA’LL BE SWEET AND HELP ME OUT, OK?
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THE RECIPE FOR HOW TO SAVE BACON GREASE
How to Save Bacon Grease
Ingredients
- 4 strips of bacon
Instructions
- Cook bacon to desired crispiness in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop
- Allow the grease to cool but not to become fully hard.
- Gently pour the grease out of the pan being careful not to include bits of bacon.
- Wipe off the outside of the jar if any spilled down the edges
- Place jar in the refrigerator
Notes
- Use a fine mesh kitchen strainer to pour the grease through if you don’t think you can pour it without getting pieces of bacon into the container
- If the grease has become thick, you can reheat on the stove top OR scoop out with a spoon and put in your grease container.
- Use the bacon grease within 6 months if keeping in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Cyndi Warren
Monday 15th of April 2024
I saw a video that adds water to the jar and is placed upside down in the refrigerator. When the grease was hard, they dumped out the water and rinsed the grease. Would this method help to get more bits out of the grease before storing/using?
Wendi Spraker
Monday 29th of April 2024
Hmmmm. I'm not really sure. I've never heard of that method before. I guess you could try it and see? You've only lost grease that at one time you were discarding anyway if it doesn't work.
Joyceb
Friday 3rd of March 2023
Just used some of my saved bacon drippings to season canned green beans. Makes them taste like they were cooked from fresh. My favorite green bean style is Italian Cut (flat). Thanks for the recipe.
Wendi Spraker
Friday 3rd of March 2023
Hey there! I love it in beans of all types! So glad to have you! (those are my favs too, my teeth get to feel like they have something to do!)
Jackie Leblanc
Tuesday 13th of September 2022
To make sure I don’t put pieces of bacon in my jar, could I pass it through a strainer.
Wendi Spraker
Wednesday 14th of September 2022
Sure, that is fine!
Sue
Saturday 4th of June 2022
I love onions and fried potatoes in bacon grease, fried in my cast iron skillet, I have never baked with it
Wendi Spraker
Wednesday 8th of June 2022
Cast iron skillets are just great for almost everything except tomato sauces or other vinegary stuff. Bacon grease is like kitchen magic!
ElayneM
Monday 30th of August 2021
Thank you!! Just put in the fridge tax for reminding me to strain it!! I rememberMom keeping this on the stove in the silver container.
Wendi Spraker
Tuesday 31st of August 2021
We had the same silver container at my house growing up! :)