Is Bacon Grease Good For You – And What Can You Do With It?

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Have you ever thought about if bacon grease is good for you?

When you cook bacon, you always have leftover fat.

You can dispose of it, store it, use it immediately, or keep it for later use.

If you store it, you can either get rid of it later or use it.

And if you decide to use it, there are plenty of good ways.

These are all things we will discuss.

So, let’s get started.

Is Bacon Grease Good For You?

I don’t know if I would go as far as to say bacon grease is good for you, but some experts say cooking in bacon grease is better than in refined oils. Bacon grease is often compared to salted butter. According to CalorieFriend, 1 Tbsp. of bacon grease has 115 calories, 13 grams of fat, and 19 mg of sodium. Compare that with butter which has 100 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 90 mg of sodium. Bacon fat has quite a bit less sodium but is slightly higher in calories and grams of fat.  

1. You Can Dispose of Bacon Grease

Not everyone who makes bacon uses the bacon grease. 

So, what is the best way to dispose of it?

First, let me tell you how I do it and then a few other ways.

When I make bacon and eggs, I pour some of the grease into a glass jar after cooking the bacon and before adding the eggs. I do not wait for the oil to cool.

I put the bacon grease in an old pickle jar and put it in the refrigerator. When the jar is full, I throw it in the trash. My way may be overkill since I never use it for anything. But maybe I will start.

Here are a few other ways:

  • Place a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil in a bowl and pour in the grease. Let the oil harden in the refrigerator or freezer, and throw it in the trash.
  • Pour the grease into a can, let it solidify, and throw it in the garbage.
  • Let the grease cool and harden in the pan, then scape it into the trash.
  • Make it into a birdseed ball for birds in winter: Mix bacon grease, peanut butter, cornmeal, and birdseed. Solidify, then roll into one or more balls and set it out where birds will find it.

Just remember, if you plan to throw the bacon grease in the trash, let it harden first.

And don’t throw it down the drain because the grease will solidify in the pipes and clog them. It will also smell bad after a while.

2. You Can Store Bacon Grease

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Now that you know a little about bacon fat, you can decide whether you want to store it to dispose of later (like I do) or keep it for future use.

If you plan to use it for cooking, there are two ways to keep it: strained or unstrained.

Some people like the crusty bacon bits in the grease for flavor, so they don’t strain it. These people normally keep the fat in the refrigerator (or freezer) in a lidded, heat-proof container–for example, glass, ceramic, tin, or stainless steel.

Others want only pure fat, so they pour the grease through a filter or mesh and into a container.

I’ve heard of using coffee filters, cheesecloth, or buying a container with a strainer designed for bacon grease. The ones on Amazon look interesting. 

3. You Can Use Bacon Grease

There are many ways people use bacon grease in their cooking. Here is a list I came up with:

  • Hash Brown or skillet potatoes
  • Fried or scrambled eggs (or any eggs)
  • Green beans 
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Vegetable medley – roasted or steamed
  • Stir Fry
  • Fried Rice
  • Popcorn
  • Chex Mix
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Cauliflower Mash
  • Pancakes or French Toast
  • Cornbread or Biscuits
  • Pie Crust
  • Gravy
  • Vinaigrette dressing
  • Steak or Burgers
  • Seasoning cast iron

Bacon fat seasons and adds deliciousness to the food.

However, don’t overdo it. It is a fat and you should only use it to replace butter or oil.

What to Do With Leftover Bacon Grease

For Your Information

  1. A pound of bacon will render approximately 1/4 cup of fat.
  2. The best way to render the fat is to cook it in the oven or over medium-low heat on the stove.
  3. Cast iron is a favorite pan for cooking bacon and will give you the best bacon grease.
  4. The more pure your grease is, the cleaner it will taste and the longer it will last.
  5. If you leave your bacon grease sitting out, make sure you strain it or use it immediately.
  6. The fat (strained) will last a month on the counter, two months in a dark cupboard, six months in the refrigerator, and a year in the freezer.
  7. Bacon grease is a natural fat that hasn’t been processed (however, the bacon has been).
  8. According to Fitbit, one teaspoon of bacon fat has 38 calories and zero carbs.
  9. Bacon grease is lower in saturated fat than butter and higher in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
  10. Bacon grease has Omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the heart and brain.
  11. As a fat, bacon grease is said to be healthier.
  12. Bacon grease is often called liquid gold.

However, first, you must make the bacon or maybe bacon and eggs.

RELATED > > > > > How Do I Cook Bacon and Eggs in the Same Cast Iron Skillet?

Final Thoughts

As you can see, bacon grease has a lot of uses. If you didn’t save it before, you might want to start.

Although I won’t claim that bacon grease is good for you, it does have some benefits over other fats. And it makes delicious-tasting eggs.

It’s lower in saturated fat than butter and considered healthier than some oils such as vegetable and canola.

However, not everyone uses it for cooking. Some people just throw it away. 

And I only use it for cooking my eggs.

On the other hand, many people store and use bacon grease for making various foods. They think of it as liquid gold that adds luscious flavor to whatever they are making.

How about you? Do you use bacon grease or throw it away? 

If you use bacon grease and are looking for a container that will also strain the grease, check out my Talisman Designs Bacon Grease Strainer Review.

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