Saving Bacon grease ?

[Kellili]

I don't drink coffee, so I snagged a small coffee can from work before it got trashed. I got it with the intention of sparing my drain the bacon grease, but then I thought, Dummy...keep the grease for cooking! Do you have to keep it in the fridge, and how long is it "good" for?

[ladytoysdream]

Yes on keeping bacon grease in the frig. I use one of those bigger metal cans like tuna fish comes in. Not the little size one. It should be good for awhile. I like it for frying pototoes. And it gives a nice flavor when pan frying meat. I would also use some of it instead of margerine, in home made scalloped potatoes in the oven.

Please don't put it down your drain. It will clog things. If you want to throw it out, let it get cold, and then put it in your trash. I have used one of those rubber spatulas to get it out of the pan. Then wipe the pan out, with a paper towel, so less grease will go down your drain when you wash the dishes.

[Kellili]

Oh don't worry I won't put it down the drain! But we just replaced the disposal and I think the previous owner of the house did...YUCK on those pipes! I got tired of waiting on the grease to solidify to clean up and hubby likes to cook his eggs in a little of it.

[sinopa27]

I have known some to save the bacon grease and put a little in their pinto beans and greens.

[onencgirl]

My Granny always had a can of bacon grease sitting on her stove. She used it for everything. lol

[Josephhgoins]

hmm....I feel old....

We always save our grease and a jar on the stove. I use it for a little bit of anything.

When I accumulate a lot I boil it with water to gid rid of any strong odors and use it to make lye soap.

I don't keep it in the fridge.

[trying to be frugal]

I keep mine in a mason jar in the fridge. I use it for cooking but also to season my cast iron pans. It is amazing at that!

[NikoSan999]

In green beans...really good

[nuisance26]

~I keep a small jelly jar of it in my fridge but use it rarely. I use it for greens, beans, an occasional fried egg, greasing corn muffin tins and as a starter for corn chowder. As T2BF mentioned, it is great for seasoning cast iron!
I used to save it and use more(because it was free!). I love the flavor but not the saturated fat so I've cut back to rarely. ~

[Libby]

I agree with the added flavour but grease isn't all that healthy.

[frugalfranny]

My grandmother NEVER put hers in the fridge.

I do keep mine in the fridge. I don't use it that much but it sure can add some good flavor to things........like fried eggs if you haven't made bacon with them. It isn't all the great for you but sometimes you just GOTTA have bacon grease. I keep it in a little pint jar.........recycled mayo jar.

[mamamia]

My mom always kept an old cup filled with it in the fridge, but stopped after all the bad reports on bacon. But I do remember her fried eggs being the best. And my dad who was a "creative" style cook, would use it in place of oil to make popcorn in the pot. I guess he was ahead of his time in making flavored popcorn, because it was unheard of at the time. I guess the "plus" side of it, is it was all natural flavoring too. Really unlike the flavored to stuff we buy now. I think I'll save my grease next time and try to make some that way. I can't remember the last time I did popcorn the old way! Gee...I wonder what the kids will say....lol!

Theresa

[Palooka]

My parents always keeps bacon grease in a tin in the fridge. Gross! Isn't it just lard??

[McD]

Zac acquired one of my nice pyrex containers with a lid and uses it to store bacon grease. He keeps it on the stove.

Among other things, he uses the bacon grease to cook....bacon.

[marlas1too]

yes keep the bacon grease i use cast iron skillets and the grease is better in them than butter or margarine aqnd i love it in great northern beans-my mother kept it on hand and her mother and so forth it is great seasoning