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Mmm, Bacon fat. We all love the delicious taste and aroma of rendered bacon fat. It’s perfect as an addition to many dishes, such as scrambled eggs. So it’s no surprised someone would want to store bacon grease for long-term use, But how to store bacon grease? How long can bacon grease be unrefrigerated? What about storage methods, can you freeze bacon grease? This article will answer all these questions as well as give you the best method for preserving bacon grease.
Saving bacon grease has never been so easy!
1. How to store bacon grease, Method One, Storing bacon grease at room temperature
Storing fresh bacon grease at room temperature is one of the most common methods people tend to use. Mostly because they forget it on the counter after they pour bacon fat to cool down out of the pan.
But actually, it’s a fairly decent way to store bacon grease for cooking at a later date without causing too much fuss or having to warm it up every time you use it.
You might be thinking, Can you store bacon grease at room temperature for a long period of time? The answer is yes! Leftover bacon grease is room temp stable for up to six months without going rancid, assuming the bacon drippings have been strained properly and placed in an airtight container (glass jar preferably, such as a mason jar).
And if you love bacon as much as I do, That means you always want it right at your side, ready to go without any prep.
The method itself is pretty straightforward:
- Throw some bacon strips on the stove at low heat on your usual pan or cast-iron skillet. This prevents the grease from burning or smoking, keeping the taste fresh. It also makes sure all the fat gets rendered out when you cook bacon.
- Remove the finished bacon, and scoop out the crispy delicious bacon bits. Set them aside for later snacking. The solid bit’s are the best part after all.
- While the grease is still a bit hot (be careful!) pour it through a very fine mesh strainer, or cheesecloth into a mason jar. Don’t use plastic. be sure to strain it very well, it’s important to remove as many particles as you can. Let the cloth cool for a few minutes and squeeze out the remaining fat, or just dispose of it.
- Let cool completely, then seal the jar with a lid. Store bacon fat on the counter at room temperature for up to 6 months before it starts to become rancid.
And that’s it! Easy to access bacon grease whenever you need it. Bacon fat at your fingertips! Just take a spoon, scrape out a small amount and add it to anything! There are drawbacks to storing your oil at room temperature. Mainly rancidity. You lose about 3-4 months of storage time compared to say, freeze bacon fat, or leaving it in the fridge.
But the pro here is obvious, It won’t be hard to scoop out and use on the fly, and it’s always at arms reach.
But let’s say you want extra months, then you have the option to freeze bacon fat to keep that bacon flavor goodness even longer.
2. Method Two, Storing bacon grease in the freezer
This method is also relatively easy and more suited for very long-term storage. Up to a year to retain freshness, And over a year as it slowly starts to break down. Although it won’t go rancid in the freezer.
It’s an excellent storage method if you’re frying a lot of bacon and need a place to store all the cooked fast. While it’s not as convenient for cooking applications without letting it warm up first, It will last much longer and you can have a ton of it ready to go for recipes that require it.
The way it’s done is much the same as the counter method:
- Throw some bacon strips on the stove at low heat on your usual pan or cast-iron skillet. This prevents the grease from burning or smoking, keeping the taste fresh. It also makes sure all the fat gets rendered out when you cook bacon.
- Remove the finished bacon, and scoop out the crispy delicious bacon bits. Still important to get rid of those solid bits.
- While the grease is still a bit hot (be careful!) pour it through a very fine mesh strainer, or cheesecloth into a mason jar. Don’t use plastic. be sure to strain it very well, it’s important to remove as many particles as you can. Let the cloth cool for a few minutes and squeeze out the remaining fat, or just dispose of it.
- Let cool completely, then seal the jar with a lid. Store bacon fat in the freezer for up to 6 months before it starts to become rancid.
You definitely want an airtight container for this, a mason jar will do fine! You can even put the cover on a little bit before it completely cools and it will make an airtight seal. Just be sure to wipe any debris off the lip of the jar first or the seal could break.
The flavor will last up to a year before degrading.
Now you’ve got plenty of bacon grease to save for future recipes. Add it to some vegetables, or meat. A bit of bacon gravy for your steak etc.
3. Method Three, Storing bacon fat in the refrigerator
The refrigerator method is the best of both worlds whole simultaneously being the worst. It will last only 9 months, 3 months more than the counter method, and 3 months less than the freezer method. It will be cold and hard to use without allowing it to warm up in prep first.
It’s about as annoying as leaving the butter in the fridge when you use it every day to spread on toast. So if you never knew how to save bacon grease, This has always been a safe and reliable solution most people would use.
The steps are about the same as the others:
- Throw some bacon strips on the stove at low heat on your usual pan or cast-iron skillet. This prevents the grease from burning or smoking, keeping the taste fresh. It also makes sure all the fat gets rendered out when you cook bacon.
- Remove the finished bacon, and scoop out the crispy delicious bacon bits. It’s important to get rid of those solid bits.
- While the grease is still a bit hot (be careful!) pour it through a very fine mesh strainer, or cheesecloth into a mason jar. Don’t use plastic. be sure to strain it very well, it’s important to remove as many particles as you can. Let the cloth cool for a few minutes and squeeze out the remaining fat, or just dispose of it.
- Let cool completely, then seal the jar with a lid. Store bacon fat in the fridge for up to 9 months before it starts to become rancid.
Warnings
Never ever pour bacon grease down the drain! It damages your pipes and septic system.
Bacon grease hardens when it cools, and a clog forms when the cooled drippings thicken inside drains, trying to go down.
Grease also sticks to the insides of your pipes, causing rust and constriction. Eventually, this can cause your drain to become completely blocked by solidified bacon fat.
When pouring hot bacon grease from the pan into the jar, pour it slowly to avoid splatters. Use oven mitts when appropriate, and do NOT hold the jar while you pour the grease.
The glass will heat up to the same temperature as the grease, It will also increase the risk of burning yourself.
