Bacon Grease Uses (and Photo Gallery of your Bacon Grease Jars!)
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Oh the wonders of Bacon Grease!!!
Southerners are known for our love of bacon grease and the zeal with which we save this “Liquid gold” but I’ve found that a lot of folks are saving bacon grease without really knowing what to do with it so I decided to write this post in hopes of giving you some ideas and letting you know how it was used in days gone by – and can still be used today.
I’d love for you to chime in on the comments thread if you have other uses not listed here and I’ll come back and add them in with credit to you of course!
Interesting facts about Bacon Grease
*Bacon grease is one of the most flavorful oils.
*Bacon grease is used as an all purpose flavoring as well as a base for many recipes.
*One teaspoon has 38 calories.
*It’s Green! By reusing Bacon Grease, you save money, avoid waste by not using store bought oil when you don’t need it, and have more flavorful results than by using other cooking oils.
*I did a series of posts entitled “Oh My Bacon Grease!” when my husband threw an ENTIRE jar of bacon grease away. I posted recipes using bacon and replenished my stash by week’s end.
How To Use Bacon Grease
Substitution For Oils In Recipes And In Frying – Bacon Grease can be used in place of oils in recipes and in frying.
Greasing Muffin Tins or Cast Iron Skillets for breads - Before you put your cornbread or hoe cake batter in that skillet, grease it with a little solidified bacon grease. To make this mess free, fold a paper towel in fourths and cover your index and middle finger with it. Dip your covered fingers into the bacon grease and wipe the inside of your skillet. Toss paper towel away when done.
Make Milk Gravy - Milk gravy begins with a base of two tablespoons bacon grease. Heat them in a large skillet, add two or three tablespoons of flour and cook until flour is browned. Slowly add milk while stirring constantly and continue cooking until gravy is thickened over medium heat. For photos on making gravy, click here.
Cornbread - Many cornbread recipes call for a tablespoon or so of melted bacon grease added to the batter for extra flavor. This makes such a big difference that it’s worth it to save your baking grease for cornbread alone! Click here for my recipe.
Seasoning Dried Beans - Traditional beans are seasoned with a ham bone or bits of ham to add flavor. If you find yourself without any of these, just add two or three tablespoons of bacon grease to the cooking water and they’ll taste just as good. Click here for my recipe.
Fried Corn- Fried corn is often called Creamed Corn. No matter what you call it, adding a tablespoon of bacon grease makes it better than ever! Click here for my recipe.
Green Beans - Whether they’re from the can, garden, or freezer, green beans taste just like Grandma’s when you add a tablespoon of bacon grease! Click here for my recipe.
Any Other Vegetable You Can Think Of! - Just about any type of vegetable can be made better with 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of bacon grease added while cooking. Try it with cabbage, greens, I’ve even seen folks fry green tomatoes in it!
Wilted Greens - Fry up some bacon and set it aside. Pour a little bit of the hot grease over fresh dark greens and then top with crumbled bacon for a wilted lettuce salad like we had in the old days.
Frying Eggs – I really and truly will not make fried eggs without bacon grease. I place a tablespoon or so in my skillet and let it melt, then fry my eggs in it.
Delicious oven fries - Spread some bacon grease into the bottom of a jelly roll pan. Cut potatoes into long wedges with the skin still on them and sprinkle with kosher salt. Place on top of the bacon grease and put in a 400 degree oven until browned, about 45 minutes to an hour. Turn every fifteen minutes to get evenly browned and allow the bottoms to oven fry in that delicious grease.
These are just SOME of the countless uses for bacon grease and I’d love to hear more ideas fro you in the comments section at the bottom of this post!
How to store bacon grease:
Allow to cool slightly and then pour into a container. It is important to have one specific container for just bacon grease and make sure not to put any other type of grease in it. Many people strain theirs but my mother and I don’t. I enjoy all those little yummy bits of bacon and since I store mine in the fridge or freezer, they’re fine in there.
My grandmother always kept a metal soup can on the back of her stove with her grease in it.
Counter Top or Refrigerator?
Bacon grease is traditionally stored on the stovetop or next to the stove, but nowadays we don’t use it nearly as often as folks used to so it is best to store it in the refrigerator. If left on the counter indefinitely, bacon grease will go rancid. This used to not be a problem because it was used and replenished so often back in the old days. If bacon grease goes rancid, you WILL know it and you will Not want to use it. The refrigerator guards against this and your bacon grease will last for months and months and months!
Having said that - If you prefer to keep your bacon grease on the counter, more power to ya! Your kitchen = your rules.
Another bonus to storing bacon grease in the fridge: Room temp bacon grease remains a little on the liquid side. Refrigerated bacon grease solidifies and becomes the consistency of shortening, making it super easy to measure and scoop out whatever you need for recipes.
Did you know that you can freeze bacon grease?
Every now and then a jar will fill up and I just seal it and put it in the freezer. Then, I start another jar in the fridge. It never hurts to have extra Bacon Grease can last indefinitely in the freezer if sealed well.
Interesting Bacon Grease History
During WWII, Housewives were encouraged to save their bacon grease and turn it in to help with the war effort. Disney even got on board with a propaganda movie to help promote this. You’ll notice Minnie about to pour the bacon grease over the dog food – many people still swear by this. I wouldn’t reccommend a whole skiletful but a tablespoon or so is said to help give them a shiny coat. It is also neat to note that in the film the government suggested keeping bacon grease in the refrigerator to keep it from going rancid, as we discussed above. This wouldn’t have been a problem if it was being used every day, but since it was being stored up for a longer period of time, it was needed, much like we store it today.
Photo Gallery of YOUR Grease Jars!
I asked if anyone would like to send me photos of their grease jars from home and WOW, what an exciting response! I’ve spent about two hours going through them and uploading them to this post. More keep pouring in so I’ll try to add more as time allows later. Thank you so much! I have really enjoyed getting to see these and hope you will too!
Okay so I’m going to start with two of my photos and then I’ll move on to the ones y’all were so kind to send.
This is an example of a range set from the 1930′s – 1950′s. The center piece is the grease jar, but I use it for a salt crock because it is too rare for me to be pouring hot grease into it when I can just as easily use a mason jar. The salt and pepper shaker beside it are reproductions, and not very good reproductions at that, but I don’t have the originals and I wanted to show you what a typical range set looked like.
This is my current grease jar. I have more in the freezer
Now on to yours!! I loved getting to see all of these and know you will, too!
When it comes to storing up bacon grease, Becky Young doesn’t play around!
Alicia from gatewaytosaving.com keeps it simple in a half pint canning jar. Notice all those yummy bits!
Amanda Kornegay is another canning jar gal See that fresh layer on top?
Angie Blake uses an old jelly jar
See how we recycle?
Angie Gilchrist has an old spaghetti sauce jar plum full!
…and now we know that Beth Hamilton uses the same spaghetti sauce as Angie Gilchrist I love her list behind the mixer!
Kat Norman’s used to belong to her grandmother.
This is my Mama’s grease jar. it is designed for a soup can to fit inside to hold the grease.
Brenda Parker with her red lid topped Ball canning jar
Carolyn Berryhill has a vintage model with a convenient pouring spout!
Charlene Pinke keeps it simple with a coffee cup
As does Cynthia Brandon. Nothing like using what you have on hand and what works!
Jenny Hester uses an old pickle jar
Jenn Preble looks to be using a spaghetti sauce jar as well.
I’m with y’all, I just hate to throw those things away because they’re such good jars!
Heather Dedeaux has a handy dandy bowl to scoop out of
Ginger Grayson looks to be using an old Cheez Whiz jar (perhaps) but I love the short fat size of it and wide mouth opening for scooping!
Donna Gordon has one of the vintage grease cannisters
Dianne Ledet doubles up!
Debbie has another vintage grease pot with a spout and strainer
Jill S has a nice jar of refrigerated bacon grease with a lovely scoop missing that likely made a yummy breakfast!
Rowena Giddings and her well used jar.
Some good cookin’ going on in that kitchen…
Ross Jordan has a cute jar with a reminder from whence it came… 
Rose Daily has a beautiful little ceramic container.
Renee HS Calls hers the “Bacon Bliss Bowl”
I love this container Paula Papen!
Melissa Jensen keeps hers in gladware containers – and I LOVE how she has two of them! One filled up and she kept on going! lol
Lisa V shows us the inside of her fridge, with the bacon grease center stage!
I’ve often thought about photographing the inside of my fridge and showing y’all but I’m afraid it would cause nightmares for all of the neat and organized folks…
Laura Morris with another fridge shot. Hey! I have that same salad dressing!
Laura Bailey’s jar looks kinda like a candle
You can actually use bacon grease to make candles ….or you can fry your veggies in it. I’d choose my stomach any day. You can buy candles
Kathy Malphrus posed her big old jar of grease right next to some actual bacon! Now that is a sight for sore eyes!
Sandy Rooks has a pretty stainless grease pot
How could you not love Tom Miller’s “Bacon Butter” pitcher?
Tinnah N Has another well used recycled jar. Way to go, Tinnah!
Teresa Leonard has several jars proudly posing behind some fresh bacon
I buy those big old packages, too!
I believe Tammy Bish said this jar was from her mother
Stephanie Carlton has some good looking solid grease in there!
I have MANY more pictures to post but have to get some other work done first so check back later for more of your pics!
Be sure and tell me how you use bacon grease in the comments section below!
“If it can’t be fried in bacon grease, it ain’t worth cooking, let alone eating.”
~ Southern proverb
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Posted by Christy Jordan
on Aug 30 2012. Filed under Heritage Hints, Southern Classics.
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Just wanted to say Hi, I came across your site by accident, copied the Chessy baked Vidalia Dip….can’t wait to try it. Started looking around, had a great time reading the other posts about bacon grease, there are some I will have to try. Thanks I will be back
I also use bacon grease to brush the tops of my biscuits or other short breads before putting them in the oven. It makes the tops nice and crispy!
that would be “quickbreads.” Sorry!
hi! can i keep adding fresh bacon grease to older baking grease, in the same container? Or should I use a new container for each batch of bacon grease as to not mix them? thank you.
You can add the fresh to the older and it will be just fine!
good cause I do! lol
Love the flavour of bacon grease, but healthy isle very bad?
Oops, should be health wise .
As with Vegetable oil, I don’t recommend drinking it. I discuss calories in a tablespoon and such in this post. All things in moderation
I once fried bacon and put the grease in a coffee cup so it would cool down. never will I do that again…. I grabbed the cup with the BG instead of my coffee cup. It was still hot….. UGH!!!!
Oh no!! I bet that was a big surprise.
Bacon grease is the best! I use it for just about everything you posted above in your piece. My favorite is for frying eggs. My husband says my fried eggs are the best because of the bacon grease. And like you I leave all those little wonderful bits of bacon flavor in mine, would be a waste to strain those out. Thanks for reintroducing the many used of bacon grease. A long lost art.
How long can I keep bacon grease in the refrigerator?
I just keep mine sitting on the counter by the stove. I use a half pint mason jar to store mine and it may sit there for awhile because I use it to season my veggies, cornbread and I constantly add to it every weekend when I cook my bacon. Sometimes I do have to get out another jar, but I will use it before the next weekend. I feel bacon drippings is like fine wine, the older the better, but mine never gets old.
I like to pour out my grease right away then put my cast iron back on the stove till it starts to smoke, as soon as I hit the smoke factor into the oven they go! great way to keep them seasoned.
Thanks for sharing the suggestion Adam!!
I use my grease for everything you mentioned and as a mayo substitute in your recipe for “Ten Minute Rolls”. Nice post.
Love your site! Looking for a steak marinade and found yours. Can’t wait to try it! Love love love the Bacon Grease post and jar pictures!
Thanks,
Robyn
Several people have already mentioned pouring a little bacon grease over their dog’s food. Back in 2007 when there were all the problems with pet illnesses (or worse) and pet food recalls due to the bad wheat gluten contaminated with melamine ingredient that came from abroad, I started cooking for my cats and dog so I’d know what they were getting. On google I found several easy to make recipes for homemade dog biscuits using a base of either cornmeal or flour, dry milk, egg, and bacon grease. Sadly our beloved pooch is no longer with us but he loved those bacon biscuit treats and always hung around the kitchen when they were in the oven. He knew what was baking from the smell and he knew that they were for him!
I started out with a cute bone shaped cookie cutter but soon just cut the rolled dough into long narrow strips for baking. He didn’t care and it saved a lot of time.
After experiencing dementia (I’m age 77), I discovered Dr. Newport’s solution to her husband’s Alzheimer’s disease. This lead to the “Guts an Grease” website, which convinced me to slather lard and tallow on everything ! My skin smoothed out. My fingertips are not painfully cracked in the winter dryness. Stop eating vegetable oils, grains, commercial milk and its products (research Dr. Asa) (and Dr. Mercola). Homemade sauerkraut juice(no salt) is a Probiotic (cabbage rejuvelac) everyone should consume (skin, teeth, alimentary canal; all dramatically improve. The older I get the healthier I become.
I used to keep my Bacon grease and use on my biscuits made gravy the way my grandmother did until I wad staying sick about all the time. I realized that it wad my bacon grease that I was using in my cooking after I read an article about the salminites (nnot spelled right I know nut maybe you know what I an talking about) that was in the grease from the bacon. The nitrates used in processed Bacon and other things are not good for you. My grandmother had fresh Bacon that they smoked and it wad not processed with the sodium nitrates. I’m glad that you all are having no .problems with them. When I stopped using my Bacon grease I stopped being sick so much. (it’s also hard on the gall bladder). I just wanted to let you know just in case someone rose having problems and does not realize that may be their problem.
Hello, I love this site. Whenever I’m in a jam for a southern recipe I run to this bookmark and always find what I need. I like to refer to your site as “down home edible remedies” My family stems from southern states. So I was raised on southern loving. I use bacon grease in my grits instead of butter, bacon grease in my biscuits from scratch (bacon cheddar biscuits), in my pizza dough when making a breakfast pizza, I use it in just about everything I cook for more flavor. Except for my husband who does not eat any type of pork. I render oxtail grease, which saves like bacon grease, keeps lovely in the freezer. And I cook everything for him with that. I strain and pour in Tupperware allow to cool, then pop it out and break into pieces and save in ziploc bags in freezer.
Makes unbelievable refried beans!!
I’ve never used bacon grease and have always thrown it out but I am going to try it because it sounds delicious. This is a dumb question. Do you use the solid part or the liquid part after it gets cold?
When it gets cold it is all solid Pat, or it should be. And you use all of it. Be warned, You are going to be hooked after you try it!!
I’m SO glad we’re not the only family eating this way! We keep ours in coffee mugs, and share with my MIL when she is out. She makes the most awesome biscuts and gravy using round steak instead of sausage.
Ohhh, that sounds so good right now!!
[...] And decided since I now have bacon in the house that I am going to save the grease because of Southern Plate and The Primal [...]
I may have missed it. Sorry if I did. I use bacon grease instead of
oil for popping popcorn. Delicious and no butter is required.
I just love your post and I’m crazy about your wit, you make me smile. I have been going through problems and I’ve looked forward to the brightness in you.
Your recipes are great too, gonna try the cherry pie that bill
sent to you, sounds good. Bless you my dear
I am so glad I found your site. I love using bacon grease but was uncertain as to whether it should be stored in the frig and let on the stove with the salt and pepper. Thanks for answering my question…
I love your blog.
Thank you Kathy, so glad I could help!!
I cook the best pinto beans with NO meat – just a couple tablespoons of bacon grease, minced onion & chili powder, cumin & ginger to taste. Be sure to cook them long enough that they don’t “rattle in the plate” as my mom said.
Sounds wonderful Betty!! Thank you for sharing!
Please, do not ever store or place bacon grease in a coffee cup or tea cup. I am a nurse and had a patient once that poured her bacon grease into a coffee cup and a few minutes later thought she was picking up her coffee and drank the hot grease. Her mouth and throat were terribly burned. Don’t ever put hot bacon grease into a cup! Be safe.
Very good point! Can see how easily that might happen.
FYI saw your grease set including salt and pepper shaker on ebay
You are so right about it being liquid gold. Love bacon grease.
I remember my mom and grandma telling me to always save bacon grease but I never did. Now that I read this article, I am going to use it for some of these fantastic cooking ideas. I especially like the oven baked fries recipe. That just got my mouth watering. Also, I never knew you could freeze bacon grease and it would be good for that long!
You’re not gonna believe this one! Bacon grease cures fungal infections (athlete’s foot, jock itch…) No kidding. Strain bacon grease. No one wants those yummy bits in between their toes (or other places!)
Apply as a salve. In a few days symptoms dramatically improve. Yes, people may wonder at the smell of bacon when none is in sight. Your secret. This is an old cure and one that really works. Not sure what else it cures, but I have seen this work.
It was delightful stumbling onto this site and this entry. I love seeing the various containers and reading the comments. I didn’t grow up in the South but my parents did and my mother had the bacon grease can by the stove my entire childhood. As I came of age it was just the beginning of the whole low-fat craze but I couldn’t give up some bacon grease. I just used it sparingly and kept the jar in the fridge. I seldom cooked bacon anyway and was brainwashed into those stupid refined vegetable oils. Whatever did they manage to say that talked me into oils made under high heat using hexane and then bleached and deodorized (due to rancidity) were better for me than good ol’ bacon fat?
Fortunately many years (of struggling with getting fat and sick on a lowfat diet) I’m all better now. The same poor old hershey’s syrup jar (not likely to ever have another one of those in my life) stands proudly by my stove with a demitasse spoon in it. I make my own bacon since then I know where the pig came from and by dry-curing the nitrites are broken down into healthy substances in the body rather than cancerous. I make bacon nearly every day and I use my bacon fat every day. I’ve lost weight, my skin is brighter, my cholesterol is under control, and no one can believe it is because I eat a clean high fat diet. Viva la bacon!
I looked for a place to comment on the home page, but I didn’t see one. I chose this post cause I put some bacon grease to work for lunch today. We had faux grilled chicken tenders ( known as those delicious ugly chicken tenders at my house), and fried cabbage. I’ve been married 24 years. There are now TWO ways my husband will eat cabbage.