# Bacon grease: I saved it. Now what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474 "2017-04-01T02:11:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/61 "2017-04-04T13:45:51Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > My parents knew a guy who was a health food fanatic. But he did have a fondness for ginger snap cookies. However, he could never find any that were as good as his mother used to make. My mother took this as a challenge, and tried every recipe she could find, but without success. > > My father mentioned that his aunt had always made the best ginger snaps he knew. Mom called the aunt. “Oh, I just use the recipe in the Betty Crocker cookbook, but instead of shortening, I use bacon grease.” > > Mom tried it, and the friend said that these tasted just like his mom’s cookies! He asked what was the secret? Mom smiled and said, “You don’t want to know.” My sister likes to bake, and last year she made ginger snaps with bacon fat, and another batch with lard. I prefer butter, personally, but they were good and I imagine some people would prefer the bacon fat. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/62 "2017-04-04T14:01:49Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > Make a pack of bacon in the morning, save the … leftover bacon “leftover bacon” ? Wha?! The words you write are in English, but I do not understand. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/63 "2017-04-04T14:15:07Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > “leftover bacon” ? Wha?! The words you write are in English, but I do not understand. 😃 Yeah, I know. But I do try! Also, not all bacon is a pound package–we sometimes get the “Ends and Pieces” which are several pounds and have lots of interesting bits for various usage. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/64 "2017-04-04T14:19:15Z")
What if I add some to a crock pot of home made beans? Sounds good, right? And it will be 4 weeks old now sealed in the fridge. Still good, right? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/65 "2017-04-04T14:19:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I use it mostly the same way I use lard: to fry the onions in that start off about half the recipes I make. But it depends on what I’m in the mood for. Right now, I’m out of bacon grease and all I have is lard and chicken schmaltz in the fridge. (ETA: Actually, just checked and this is wrong. It’s schmaltz I’m out of; I have bacon fat.) All are delicious for any type of stewy application. How long does schmaltz keep? Because I’ve been keeping it by the stove. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/66 "2017-04-04T14:20:39Z")
Wrong post to edit. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/67 "2017-04-04T14:33:32Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > What if I add some to a crock pot of home made beans? Sounds good, right? > > And it will be 4 weeks old now sealed in the fridge. Still good, right? As far as I know, bacon drippings are one of those things that you can judge by smell whether it’s still edible or not. So take a sniff. And yes, it would be good with beans. I assume you are going to fry up some aromatics as a base, no? Onions, celery, carrot, bell pepper? Then use bacon fat for that, and put it into your bean pot without draining. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/68 "2017-04-04T14:36:58Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > As far as I know, bacon drippings are one of those things that you can judge by smell whether it’s still edible or not. So take a sniff. > > And yes, it would be good with beans. I assume you are going to fry up some aromatics as a base, no? Onions, celery, carrot, bell pepper? Then use bacon fat for that, and put it into your bean pot without draining. Something like that, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/69 "2017-04-04T16:14:18Z")
Bacon grease stored in the fridge (a cold fridge) keeps for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/70 "2017-04-04T16:51:37Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > It’s good for frying bacon, too. > > No, really! > > Sometimes a given pound of bacon is just a little too lean for its own good, and won’t fry up properly. A few healthy dollops of bacon grease and Bob’s Yer Uncle. Yes, but this is rare, What is common is steaks which are too lean. Put some bacon grease in there and let it get hot, then fry. Bacon grease is also perfect for the last step in cleaning seasoned cast iron. 1. Pour boiling water in pan. Let soak. 2. Scrub with soft brush. 3. wipe clean with paper towel. 4. Heat on stove to finish dry, then add a teaspoon of bacon grease. When fully melted, spread around with paper towel. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/71 "2017-04-04T17:34:40Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > As far as I know, bacon drippings are one of those things that you can judge by smell whether it’s still edible or not. So take a sniff. > > And yes, it would be good with beans. I assume you are going to fry up some aromatics as a base, no? Onions, celery, carrot, bell pepper? Then use bacon fat for that, and put it into your bean pot without draining. That’s how I judge all the fats and oils. Usually, the first sign of deterioration is a slight odor of rancidity. I’ve ditched bottles of canola oil and a tub of goose fat because I could smell they had begun to turn rancid. I guess someone upthread said that bacon grease can mold if it’s contaminated with stuff other than fat. But you’d be able to see that. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/72 "2017-04-04T18:25:23Z")
My mom had (has?) a set of salt and pepper shakers like [these](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Collectible-Silver-Metal-Milk-Jug-Salt-And-Pepper-Shaker-Set-/152490886472?hash=item23812a4548:g:LgEAAOSwdGFY3NBE) with a matching grease canister that says ‘Grease’ on it… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/73 "2017-04-04T19:28:29Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Cook greens in it. Any greens, though spinach is best. Greens, yes, definitely. I would list spinach at the back of the pack, through, behind mustard greens, kale, turnip greens, swiss chard, and broccoli rabe. Other vegetables to put bacon grease in: beans in particular: pinto beans, black beans, lima beans, green beans; yellow summer squash or zucchini squash or spanish grey squash; rutabagas; regular white turnip roots; blackeyed peas and similar (crowder, bigboy, purple hull, spring, etc peas); also good for frying potatoes in, and you can grease your cornbread pan with the stuff for a nice dark crispy edge on your cornbread. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/74 "2017-04-04T19:58:43Z")
A friend of mine puts some sort of pomade(?) in his hair. I’ve told a number of our mutual friends that if you are ever really close to him you can smell bacon, because he uses bacon grease in his hair. The amazing thing is that everyone believed me and the story has spread to other friends. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/75 "2017-04-04T20:10:20Z")
“I don’t want _FOP_ goddammit! I"m a bacon grease man!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/76 "2017-04-04T20:57:46Z")
A gumbo recipe I’m looking at calls for 3/4 cup of bacon grease. I’ve got me some bacon to cook. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/77 "2017-04-04T21:38:02Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > Get some sodium hydroxide and learn how to make soap. It’s pretty easy and by choosing additional oils (coconut oil, shea butter, etc…), you can make some pretty interesting soaps. There are plenty of websites that will help you get the right proportions and combinations of ingredients. > [@Girlundone](#): > > This is what I was going to say. Render the fat first by boiling it with about twice the amount of water to grease for about 10-15 min. Put that in the fridge and when it’s cool, lift the firm grease off the top. Do that like 3-4 times. After that, melt it and strain it through a coffee filter. Voila…nice clean fat for soap making. \<3 Or, skip the tedious part, and just make bacon-scented soap. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/78 "2017-04-04T23:46:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > How long does schmaltz keep? Because I’ve been keeping it by the stove. Until it doesn’t smell good, taste right. That’s all I got to go on. In the fridge, I don’t think I’ve ever had it spoil on me, and I’ve occasionally forgotten about it for several months. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/79 "2017-04-05T02:21:02Z")
Mold grows on schmaltz. Use the good parts and throw the rest out. ---
**Author:** ![SOJA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SOJA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SOJA)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474/80 "2017-04-05T07:12:44Z")
Once it solidifies, I typically cut it up into cubes and freeze them. It’ll last maybe up to eight months in the freezer if you keep a tight lid on it. I use it when I’m sweating onions that’ll go with beef. I love to use it to make the ground beef in lasagna. I use it when frying veggies for soups or for big frittatas. I’ll sometimes “chop” in the fat/lard when I’m making bread though, and it ends up being really tasty. Works well if you melt a few cubes of the stuff into oil when you make french fries. Sometimes I’ll use it in place of butter for mashed potatoes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacon-grease-i-saved-it-now-what/783474.md?page=5)