How to Store Bacon Grease

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: June 12, 2022 References

Nothing beats the taste of freshly-cooked bacon in the morning, but what can you do with the leftover grease in the pan? Rather than tossing it, you can save all the grease to add a yummy bacon flavor to another dish. With the right storage, you can enjoy the bacon grease for up to a year after you prepare it. Just keep reading to learn the best ways to preserve bacon grease so you can incorporate it into any meal!

1

Cook your bacon over low heat.

Lower heat renders more of the fat from your bacon. Put your bacon into a cast-iron pan or skillet and set it on your stove over low heat. Cook the bacon for about 10–12 minutes to get the most fat off of the meat. Take the strips of bacon out of the pan and let any excess grease drip back into the pan.^{[1]
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- A 12 oz (340 g) package of bacon will make about ¹⁄₂–²⁄₃ cup (120–160 ml) of grease.
- Avoid using any bacon with added seasonings or flavoring since they’ll change the flavor of the grease.

2

Find a heat-safe, airtight container for your grease.

Glass or metal containers work best for warm bacon grease. Since the bacon grease will still be warm when you pour it, avoid using plastic that could melt or deform. Use a wide-mouth mason jar or an old metal coffee can with a lid to keep your bacon grease safe from bacteria.^{[2]
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- You could also buy a metal bacon grease holder that has a built-in strainer and lid.

3

Strain the grease into the container.

Leaving bacon bits in your grease could give it a bitter flavor. Set a fine-mesh strainer on top of the container you’re using. When the bacon grease is warm and still a liquid, slowly pour it through the strainer to collect all of the leftover bacon pieces. Once you pour all of the grease through the strainer, throw the bacon bits in the trash.^{[3]
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- If you want to filter out even smaller residue, pour the grease through a coffee filter.^{[4]
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- Press the bacon bits with the back of a spoon to squeeze out all the extra grease.^{[5]
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4

Label and date the container.

Labeling the grease helps you remember when to use it. Use a marker to write “Bacon Grease” on the container somewhere where it’s easy to see. Then, write down today’s date so you remember when you made the grease and can easily track how long you’ve had it.^{[6]
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- If you ever make more bacon grease, put it in a different container to keep it separate.

5

Keep the grease in your fridge or freezer for up to 1 year.

Refrigerating or freezing bacon grease increases its shelf life. You may have seen some people keep bacon grease at room temperature on their counter, but that can make it spoil quickly. Store the jar in your fridge or freezer in a spot where you can easily see it so you remember to use it before it spoils.^{[7]
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- If you’re able to cleanly strain out all of the bacon bits from the grease, it could last in your freezer indefinitely.

6

Scoop out bacon grease when you want to use it in recipes.

Your bacon grease will add a salty, smoky flavor to any dish. Bacon grease has a rich and salty flavor, so a little bit can go a really long way.^{[8]
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Research source} Take a small scoop of the grease from the container and stir it in with whatever you’re cooking to give it a hint of bacon flavor. Just avoid using it as a direct substitute for oil in your recipes since it could taste a little overpowering. Some easy and delicious things ways to incorporate bacon grease into your meals include:^{[9]
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- Sautéing vegetables
- Caramelizing onions
- Rubbing it on chicken before roasting it
- Frying potatoes
- Cooking scrambled eggs

7

Toss the grease into the trash once it goes bad.

Your bacon grease will smell sour and darken in color when it spoils. If you don’t need to save the container, then toss it in the trash. Otherwise, you can try scraping out the grease into the trash with a spoon. Wipe out as much grease as you can with a paper towel before washing the container.^{[10]
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- Bacon grease can clog pipes so avoid rinsing it down your sink.^{[11]
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