Bacon grease.
It’s the golden nectar left behind after cooking up your favorite breakfast treat. But often, it gets relegated to the waste bin, a forgotten casualty of the deliciousness that came before. But what if I told you this leftover grease could be a culinary treasure waiting to be unleashed, offering a healthy and cost-effective alternative to readily available seed oils?
Turning Trash into Treasure: Saving Money and Reducing Waste
Here’s the secret: bacon grease is a fantastic substitute for oil and butter in many recipes! Not only does it add a distinctive smoky flavor, but it also helps you reduce waste and save money on cooking essentials like olive oil. Additionally, by using bacon grease, you can limit your consumption of seed oils (like canola, sunflower, or soybean oil), which are often highly processed and can offer less flavor compared to other options.
How to Save Your Bacon Grease:
Cook your bacon: Choose your preferred method, whether it’s on a baking sheet in the oven, or in a skillet on the stovetop. I usually bake in the oven, and find this is the easiest way to collect a lot of grease. Although that could just be because I cook with cast iron, which is really freaking heavy to hold and pour from. A baking sheet is lighter. (Additional tip
Strain and store: Once the bacon is cooked, remove it from the pan and pour the grease into a heat-resistant container. You can use a fine mesh strainer to remove any bacon bits if desired.
Refrigerate or freeze: Let the grease cool completely, then store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 months or freeze for longer storage.
Unlocking the Flavorful Potential of Bacon Grease:
Now comes the fun part: using your saved bacon grease! Here are some ideas to get you started:
Savory Breakfast: Elevate your morning scramble or breakfast hash with the rich flavor of bacon grease. It adds a delightful smokiness to potatoes, onions, and peppers.
Pasta Perfection: Sauté your onions and garlic in bacon grease before building your next pasta sauce. It adds depth and complexity to your tomato or cream-based sauces.
Roasted Vegetables: Give roasted Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or asparagus a flavor boost by tossing them with a bit of bacon grease before throwing them in the oven.
Beyond the Basics: Get creative! Bacon grease can be used in various dishes, from adding a smoky note to popcorn to flavoring vinaigrettes for salads.
The Final Sizzle: Embrace the Power of Bacon Grease!
So next time you cook bacon, don’t discard that precious grease! Embrace it as a versatile and flavorful ingredient. By utilizing this simple tip, you’ll be reducing waste, saving money, and limiting your intake of seed oils.
