20 Best Bacon Fat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a lot of bacon fat? ›

The chefs recommend using bacon fat for a variety of dishes, including fried eggs, refried beans, roasted and sauteed vegetables, and vinaigrettes. "I especially like using it for a warm salad dressing on top of a classic bistro frisee salad, which includes bacon lardons and a poached egg on top," says Chavez.

If you ask us, the most delicious sunny-side up eggs aren't fried in butter or oil — but rather an unexpected ingredient: bacon grease. It turns out that cooking eggs in bacon fat (or “liquid gold” as we like to call it) allows the edges to become crispy and ensures the yolk stays soft and tender.

You can use your drippings to fry breakfast favorites like eggs and hash browns, add meatiness to sauces and gravies, lend moisture and flavor to savory baked goods, and so much more.

Saving bacon grease provides a lot of benefits when it comes to cooking. The rich flavor that bacon fat offers elevates and enhance many dishes. Known for its savory and smoky taste, it is an excellent addition to various recipes.

Cover and refrigerate: Secure the grease container lid and keep it refrigerated for food safety. The shelf life for refrigerated bacon grease is approximately three months. To be safe, always smell the grease before using it because it can turn rancid during storage.

“The saturated and trans fats in bacon can also cause arterial plaque buildup, further narrowing blood vessels and exacerbating high blood pressure,” Best added. Since bacon is a type of processed meat, it may increase your risk of cancer.

A nutritional comparison between a tablespoon of bacon grease, butter and canola oil is kind of surprising. The grease has slightly less cholesterol than the butter, and only 2 more milligrams of saturated fat. It has the same number of calories as the oil, but tons more saturated fat and sodium.

Scoop the Bacon Up® Bacon Grease into a deep skillet, or deep fryer, and heat it to 350°F. Add chicken thighs and legs, and cook for several minutes. Add other chicken pieces, being careful not to overcrowd skillet. Continue cooking, turning once, until chicken pieces are golden brown and cooked through.

Compared to bacon fat, vegetable oil contains significantly less saturated fat and no cholesterol. It also contains monounsaturated fats, which can help reduce bad cholesterol levels and promote heart health.

Sure, saving bacon grease might sound strange, but it has its fair share of perks. Not only does it keep food from sticking to your pan, but it also pumps up the flavor when added to eggs, potatoes, greens, cornbread and other recipes. You can even bake chocolate chip bacon grease cookies.

Why is restaurant bacon better? ›

Diner and restaurant chefs usually position the strips on a rack atop a baking sheet and place it in the oven to effectively drain the excess fat. Unlike cooking bacon in a pan where the fat accumulates and leads to soggy, uneven-cooked strips, this method ensures the most desirable results.

Fat = Flavor

When you cook bacon and break down the bacon fat to combine with the sugars and amino acids in the meat, it creates a flavor profile that is sweet, buttery, and salty, with a serious punch of umami and smokiness.

Pour fats, oils and grease after they have cooled into a container, such as an empty glass jar or coffee can. Once the container is full, secure the lid and place it in the trash.

While lard is a safe alternative to rendered suet, avoid using bacon drippings. The chemical preservatives in commercial bacon become more concentrated once cooked. While this doesn't pose a health threat to humans, it can be harmful to birds. Bread and table scraps should be avoided, too.

Bacon, Ham and Fat Trimmings

Bacon, bacon grease, ham, and fat trimmed off meat or bones contains a lot of salt and/or fat and at the least can cause indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea in both dogs and cats. These foods can also cause pancreatitis, a serious, potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas.