How Long Is Bacon Grease Good For? An Expert Weighs In
Don't waste a drop.
Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Is there anything better than the smell of bacon frying in a pan? Well, sure—the bacon itself. But when you fry up a pan of bacon, you’re not just left with salty, smoky pieces of pork; you also have bacon grease, and for many home cooks, this fat is a precious commodity.
How long does bacon grease last, you might be wondering as you eye that sack of potatoes waiting to be fried. Well, that depends. It could be weeks or months depending on the storage method.
We connected with Vi Nguyen, the director of culinary operations at Thompson Restaurants, a restaurant group with 13 concepts around the country, for his guidance on bacon grease storage and shelf life. Oh, and we also got him to give us some top tips for putting that delicious fat to use.
Meet The Expert
Vi Nguyen is the director of culinary operations at Thompson Restaurants.
Related: 17 Tasty Ways Southerners Use Up Bacon Grease
How Long Does Bacon Grease Last?
Bacon grease has a fairly long shelf life, according to Nguyen, who says, when the fat is refrigerated, it can last anywhere from three to six months. On the other hand, bacon grease stored in a container and placed in your cupboard or pantry will only stay good for up to four weeks.
Because the pantry and cupboard are darker and cooler than the countertop, if you choose not to store the bacon grease in the fridge, do consider moving it onto a shelf in your pantry or food cupboards.
Related: Your Grandmother Treasured This Essential Southern Ingredient, And So Should You
How To Tell If Bacon Grease Is Bad
There are a few ways to tell if bacon grease has gone bad. Nguyen advises smelling the bacon grease, looking closely at it, and feeling it. Here are Nguyen’s rules of thumb:
If it smells bad or rotten, don’t use it.
If the color is off, it’s got to go.
If the texture is sandy / or you notice solid little particles in the grease, toss it.
Can You Freeze Bacon Grease?
Nguyen says the rule of thumb most chefs follow is to leave bacon grease in the freezer for up to a year. But if you’re someone who uses bacon grease often (and we’ll get to some of the ways it can be used to flavor dishes a little later), the freezer may not be the most practical choice since you’ll have to wait for the fat to thaw.
Related: How To Safely Store Bacon Grease
Should You Strain Bacon Grease Before Storing?
Not only is it a good idea to strain bacon grease before storing it for later use, but to strain it twice. Nguyen says straining the grease can help create a longer shelf life, allowing you to reuse your bacon grease over again.
“Adding new strained grease to reused grease is super common”, notes the culinary director; however, he says the best practice is to make sure the grease passes through a fine chinois or cheesecloth. “I find that straining the bacon grease while it's warm works best as it gets most of the particles out,” adds Nguyen.
What Can You Use Bacon Grease For?
Nyugen says most home cooks or chefs would use bacon grease for flavoring dishes. “My go-to is for roasting potatoes and basting a slow-cooked prime rib,” says the culinary director. Nyugen says he is also a fan of using bacon grease in hearty beef stews and chili in the fall and winter seasons.
Other uses: Brussels sprouts, collard greens w/ turkey neck and bacon grease, savory cornbread, any type of fried potatoes, and baked beans. But Nyugen’s personal favorite is using bacon grease in New England clam chowder.
The possibilities are practically endless, making a strong case for properly storing any leftover bacon grease each and every time to cook bacon.
Related: We Tried The Most Popular Bacon Brands–These Are 10 Of Our Favorites
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Read the original article on Southern Living.