Many of you will agree that bacon, in any form, has power to make anything and everything taste better. So, when you have some bacon grease leftover, why not put to delicious use rather than throw it away? Tastessence gives you 21 mouth-watering ways to use it that’ll leave you speechless.
“Bacon is so good by itself that to put it in any other food is an admission of failure. You’re basically saying, ‘I can’t make this other food taste good, so I’ll throw in bacon.'”
― Penn Jillette
Often times, amateur cooks get intimidated by recipes that ask them to “render the bacon”. Simply put, you cook and crisp up the bacon strips in a cast iron skillet. In the end, what happens is that the fat on the bacon melts and turns into grease.
Okaaay, you overcame the tough part. Now what do you do with the grease that’s left behind? First of all, DO NOT, under any circumstances, throw it out. And second of all, to find out how you can use leftover bacon grease, read the rest of this Tastessence article.
Whether you purchased the grease by the tub or have rendered it yourself, it is essential to store it properly in order to keep it fresh for as long as possible. Traditionally, people used to keep the grease on their stovetops and would use it on a regular basis. But nowadays, cooking with bacon grease everyday doesn’t sound too healthy, and if kept outside for a longer time, it will become rancid. Which is why, you should follow these guidelines that will keep the grease usable for months to come.
1. Once you’re done cooking, leave the grease inside the pan so it comes down to room temperature.
2. Pour the grease in either a glass or ceramic jar that can be sealed properly.
3. Now, you can store the jar in the refrigerator, which will keep it fresh for about 6 months.
4. Or, you can keep the jar in the freezer to keep the grease fresh for at least 6 – 9 months.
If you have stored the grease in the refrigerator, you will have to melt it in a saucepan and cool it down till room temperature before using in any of these recipes. Also, you can adjust the quantities of any ingredients to adjust the flavors to your liking.
Prep time – 10 min
Cook time – 20 min
Serving size – 2
Ingredients
♨ Brown sugar, 4 tbsp.
♨ Milk, 4 tbsp.
♨ Bacon grease, 2 tbsp.
♨ Orange juice, 2 tbsp.
♨ Butter, 2 tbsp.
♨ Sugar, 1 tsp.
♨ Vanilla, ½ tsp.
♨ Bread slices, 4
♨ Eggs, large, 4
♨ Banana, sliced, 2
♨ Salt, to taste
♨ Cinnamon, pinch
Directions
First, preheat the oven at 350°F. Take a bowl to whisk milk, orange juice, sugar, vanilla, and salt with the eggs. Soak each slice of bread in the egg mixture for a minute to coat evenly on both sides. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the bacon grease. Cook each slice of bread one by one on both sides until it turns golden brown. Place the cooked bread slices on a baking sheet and place it in the oven until we prepare the banana-caramel sauce. Wipe the same skillet clean and add butter with brown sugar in it. Use a wooden spoon to combine the ingredients until the sugar melts; add the banana slices in. Cook until both sides of the bananas turn slightly brown. Take the bread slices out, place them on two plates, and add the caramelized bananas on top. Garnish with cinnamon powder and some fresh whipped cream.
Prep time – 2 min
Cook time – 5 min
Serving size – 2
Ingredients
♨ Eggs, large, 4
♨ Milk, 2 tbsp.
♨ Bacon grease, 2 tbsp.
♨ Salt, to taste
Directions
In a bowl, combine milk with eggs, season the mixture, and beat it with a fork. Take a nonstick frying pan and coat the bottom of with bacon grease. Add the egg mixture, and let is set on the pan. Using an inverted spatula, gently pull the eggs across the pan so that it starts to form soft lumps. Keep cooking the eggs until the mixture thickens and there is no more liquid left in the pan. Remove the pan from heat, and serve the scrambled eggs immediately.
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 5 min
Serving size – 2
Ingredients
♨ Bacon grease, ¼ cup
♨ Golden balsamic vinegar, 3 tbsp.
♨ Brown sugar, 2 tsp.
♨ Dijon mustard, 1 tsp.
♨ Garlic clove, minced, 1
♨ Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
In a saucepan, combine vinegar and grease with brown sugar, garlic, and mustard over low heat. With a metal whisk, stir the mixture till the sugar dissolves properly and the dressing emulsifies. Add salt and black pepper, and do a taste test. Empty the vinaigrette in a small bowl, and serve it immediately with your favorite salad.
Prep time – 2 min
Cook time – 5 min
Serving size – 16
Ingredients
♨ Bacon grease, 1 cup
♨ Lemon juice, 3 tsp.
♨ Egg, yolks, 2
Directions
In a small food processor, add the yolks with 1 tsp. of lemon juice. Combine the mixture properly and slowly, pour the grease into the yolk mixture. Just be sure not to add the grease all at once or too much, or else the mayonnaise will separate. As soon as the emulsion begins to form, start adding the grease quickly in the mixture. After you’re done pouring the grease, add 2 tsp. of lemon juice in. Do a taste test to see if the mayonnaise requires salt or not. Once it’s ready, store the mayonnaise in the refrigerator for later use.
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 30 min
Serving size – 2 cups
Ingredients
♨ Ketchup, 1½ cups
♨ Dark brown sugar, ½ cup
♨ Onions, minced, ⅓ cup
♨ Vinegar, ¼ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 2½ tbsp.
♨ Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp.
♨ Soy sauce, 2 tbsp.
♨ Molasses, 2 tbsp.
♨ Chipotle powder, 2 tbsp.
♨ Chili powder, 1 tbsp.
♨ Mustard, ground, 1 tbsp.
♨ Garlic cloves, minced, 2
Directions
In a saucepan, sauté onions in grease over medium-low heat until they turn translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for about a minute or two. One by one, add all the other ingredients in as you stir the mixture constantly. You can add a little water if the mixture is too thick. Place the cover on the pan, and let the mixture simmer for at least 15 minutes. Once the sauce is thick, do a taste test and turn the heat off. Let the sauce cool down completely, store it in a clean jar, and refrigerate for later use.
Prep time – 2 min
Cook time – 25 min
Serving size – 2
Ingredients
♨ Russet potatoes, 1 lb.
♨ Bacon grease, 2 tbsp.
♨ Chives, minced, 1 tbsp.
♨ Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
Preheat the oven at 450°F and place a baking sheet inside. Wash and clean the potatoes, and cut them in wedges; place them in a bowl of cool water. In another bowl, mix grease with chives, salt, and black pepper. Dry the potato wedges with a clean towel and toss them in the bowl with grease. Use your fingers to coat the wedges properly. Now, take out the baking sheet (carefully), and lay the wedges in a single layer. Place the sheet back in the oven and roast the wedges for about 20 minutes or until they are properly cooked on the inside. Remove the wedges out of the oven and serve them with ketchup or bacon grease mayonnaise (recipe above).
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 30 min
Serving size – 8
Ingredients
♨ Cake flour, 1 cup
♨ All-purpose flour, 1 cup
♨ Buttermilk, ⅔ cup + ¼ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 5 tbsp.
♨ Butter, room temp. 1 tbsp.
♨ Baking powder, 1 tsp.
♨ Sugar, 1 tsp.
♨ Baking soda, ½ tsp.
♨ Salt, to taste
Directions
Preheat the oven at 450°F. Take a food processor to combine all-purpose flour, cake flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and sugar together. Next, add the grease and give it a quick pulse until the mixture is well combined, and the dough turns into a coarse crumb. Now add ⅔ cup buttermilk and combine again. Check the consistency of the dough. If you want, you can add the ¼ cup of buttermilk little by little as the dough combines even more. Remove the dough from the food process and place it on a floured workstation. Knead the dough a bit, and form a long rectangle shape. With a sharp knife, cut 8 (depending on how big or small you want the biscuits to be) squares. Place the squares on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. With a plastic brush, spread some butter over the biscuits before placing them in the oven to bake for 10 – 12 minutes, or until the surface turns golden brown. Once ready, bring the biscuits out of the oven and let them cool down on a cooling rack before serving.
Prep time – 10 min
Cook time – 30 min
Serving size – 10
Ingredients
♨ Cornmeal, 1¼ cups
♨ Buttermilk, 1 cup
♨ Bacon grease, 3½ tbsp.
♨ Flour, 3 tbsp.
♨ Baking powder, ¾ tsp.
♨ Baking soda, dissolved in water, ¼ tsp.
♨ Eggs, beaten, 2
♨ Salt, to taste
Directions
Preheat the oven at 450°F, grease a cast-iron skillet with ½ tbsp. bacon grease, and place it in the oven. In a bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt, and baking powder together. Next, add the beaten eggs and buttermilk in the bowl to prepare the dough. Sprinkle baking soda on top, and keep combining the mixture. Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and pour the mixture in. Place the skillet back in the oven and let it bake for at least 20 minutes. Once ready, remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool down for about 10 minutes. Before serving, invert the cornbread onto a plate, and cut it into pieces.
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 1 hour
Serving size – 12
Ingredients
♨ All-purpose flour, 2¾ cups
♨ Warn water, ¾ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 5 tbsp.
♨ Salt, to taste
Directions
In a bowl, combine flour with grease and salt dissolved in warm water. Combine the ingredients to prepare the dough. If there isn’t enough liquid to form the dough, add a little more water accordingly. Empty the dough onto a floured workstation, and knead it until it turns smooth. Divide it into 12 portions, place them in a plate, and cover with a damp cloth to rest for at least 30 minutes. If you have a tortilla press, then use it to prepare the tortillas. Or, you can use a rolling pin and roll out each tortilla into 7″ circles. To cook the tortillas, heat a bottle-heavy skillet over medium heat and lay each tortilla on it. As soon as you see the surface starting to form bubbles, flip the tortillas over and cook on the other side until golden brown.
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 10 min
Serving size – 2
Ingredients
♨ Mashed potatoes, 2 cups
♨ Flour, 3 tbsp.
♨ Bacon grease, 2 tbsp.
Directions
In a bowl, combine mashed potatoes with flour and form 1″ thick pancake patties. Heat a skillet over medium heat and spread the grease on top. Once hot, place the patties on top to cook on both sides until golden brown.
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 35 min
Serving size – 6
Ingredients
♨ Red potatoes, cubed, 4 cups
♨ Mayonnaise, ¾ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 2 tbsp.
♨ Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp.
♨ Eggs, hard-boiled, 4
♨ Celery stalk, diced, 1
♨ Onion, chopped, 1
♨ Green pepper, chopped, ½
♨ Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
Firstly, boil the cubed potatoes until tender. Once the potatoes are cooked and cooled, place them in a bowl with chopped eggs, celery, onion, and green pepper. In a different bowl, whisk mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, salt, and grease together. Add the dressing to the potato mixture, and do a taste test to adjust the flavors to your liking. Cover the bowl with a cling film and refrigerate the salad for at least 3 hours before serving.
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 15 min
Serving size – 4
Ingredients
♨ Chicken broth, 1½ cups
♨ Heavy cream, 1 cup
♨ Parmesan cheese, ½ cup
♨ Butter, room temp., ¼ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 4 tbsp.
♨ Salt, to taste
Directions
To prepare the sauce, place a pan over medium heat with butter and grease in it. Once the butter melts, whisk the flour in and cook for a minute or two. Slowly, add the chicken broth in as you constantly whisk the mixture from curdling. Next, add the heavy cream with Parmesan cheese and salt. Combine everything together, and do a taste test to adjust the flavors according to your liking.
Boil pasta in a pot of salted water until al dente and drain it. Pour the alfredo sauce over the cooked pasta, stir it to coat the pasta properly, and garnish with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Prep time – 15 min
Cook time – 2½ hours
Serving size – 8
Ingredients
♨ Chicken, 8 pieces, 2 lbs.
♨ Vegetable shortening, 2 lbs.
♨ Nonfat buttermilk, 6 cups
♨ All-purpose flour, 3 cups
♨ Tabasco sauce, ⅓ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 6 tbsp.
♨ Baking powder, 2 tbsp.
♨ Cayenne pepper, 1½ tsp.
♨ Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
In a Ziploc bag, combine buttermilk, salt, black pepper, and Tabasco sauce. Add the chicken pieces, coat them properly, and place the bag in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Preheat the oven at 200°F. Meanwhile, take another Ziploc bag or bowl to combine flour, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and baking powder together. Coat one piece of chicken at a time, properly, and shake the excess off. Place the coated chicken pieces on a plate, and heat vegetable shortening and grease together in a cast-iron skillet. With a cooking thermometer, let the oil heat till 375°F (but make sure that it doesn’t start to boil). Using tongs, place the chicken pieces in the skillet to fry (not deep-fry) until they turn golden brown on the outside. Remove the pieces onto paper towels, and place them on a baking sheet. Until you fry the other pieces, place the cooked chicken pieces in the oven so that they stay warm till serving time. Once all the pieces are cooked, serve them immediately with cool mayonnaise or blue cheese dip.
Prep time – 10 min
Cook time – 15 min
Serving size – 2
Ingredients
♨ Rib-eye steaks, 2, ¾”, 8 oz.
♨ Mushrooms, quartered, 8 oz.
♨ Red pepper, sliced, ½ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 2 tbsp.
♨ Blue cheese, crumbled, 2 tbsp.
♨ Butter, 2 tsp.
♨ Steak seasoning, 1 tsp.
♨ Dijon mustard, ¾ tsp.
♨ Worcestershire sauce, ¼ tsp.
Directions
If you have a charcoal or an electric grill, start or turn it on before we begin. Meanwhile, season the steaks on both sides with seasoning. Once the grill is ready, place the steaks on the grill and cook for about 12 minutes on both sides, turning only once. You can cook the steaks for a shorter or longer time, depending on how well you want them done. As the steaks are grilling, take a pan to combine butter, grease, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard together. Over medium heat, let the butter melt and add the bell peppers and mushroom in. Cook the vegetables until they turn tender. Once the steaks are cooked, let them rest for 5 minutes and then transfer them onto 2 serving plates. Top them off with blue cheese and then the vegetables just before serving.
Prep time – 2 min
Cook time – 10 min
Serving size – 1
Ingredients
♨ Popcorn, ¼ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 2 tbsp.
♨ Maple syrup, 2 tbsp.
♨ Smoked salt, ½ tsp.
Directions
Using a mortar and pestle, pulverize smoked salt into a fine powder. In a saucepan, heat bacon grease just until you begin to see some smoke coming out of it. Add the popcorn along with maple syrup. Place a lid over the pan and let the uncooked corn pop. Once ready, remove the cover and sprinkle smoked salt on top. Give it a good shake, empty the popcorn into a bowl, and enjoy.
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 15 min
Serving size –
Ingredients
♨ Rice, cooked, 1 cup
♨ Peas, frozen, ¼ cup
♨ Bacon grease, 3 tbsp.
♨ Scallions, white, 2 tbsp.
♨ Scallions, green, 1 tbsp.
♨ Soy sauce, 1 tbsp.
♨ Egg, large, 1
♨ Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
In a hot skillet, scramble an egg with 1 tbsp. of grease; remove it in a plate. In the same skillet, take 2 tbsp. of grease to cook white scallions and frozen peas together. Season the mixture with salt, black pepper, and soy sauce. Once the peas are tender, add green scallions, scrambled eggs, and cooked rice in. Combine everything properly, cook for about a minute or two, and do a taste test. Once ready, serve it immediately.
Prep time – 5 min
Cook time – 30 min
Serving size – 6
Ingredients
♨ Oat flour, 1 cup
♨ Cocoa powder, 1 cup
♨ Maple syrup, 1 cup
♨ Coffee, ½ cup
♨ Bacon grease, ½ cup
♨ Salt, 1 tsp.
♨ Baking soda, 1 tsp.
♨ Eggs, 2
Directions
Preheat the oven at 300°F. In a bowl, combine grease, maple syrup, and coffee together. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and add it to the first bowl. Add cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and oat flour in. Using a whisk, combine the ingredients properly so that there are no granules. Reduce the oven temperature to 250°F. In a baking pan, pour the batter in, and place it in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes. Using a toothpick, check if the brownies are cooked all the way through. Once done, remove the baking pan from the oven, and let the brownies cool down for about 15 minutes. Cut them into pieces and either serve them immediately with cold milk, or place them in the refrigerator for later.
18. Coat/Grease surfaces
◆ Use it to coat baking pans and sheets, skillets, and saucepans instead of butter.
19. To sauté veggies
◆ Substitute butter, oil, or lard with bacon grease as the base for sautéing vegetables like onions, corn, mushrooms, cabbage, kale, spinach, Brussels Sprout, etc.
20. Coat poultry
◆ Rub the grease on chicken breasts just before you season and roast them an oven.
21. For added flavor
◆ Brush bacon grease over a pizza crust just before you spread the marinara sauce.
Do you have a special technique to store the grease? And what about using the grease in your cooking? Do take a moment to leave us a comment below and share your creative ideas.
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