Let your bacon grease cool on a counter until it is room temperature and then store either in your fridge or freezer. If you are going to use your bacon grease immediately, like for frying eggs to go with your bacon, there is no need to strain the grease at all. Just use it as you would butter or oil.

Besides, How long can you leave bacon at room temperature?

If it smells off or rotten, toss it. As painful as it is to throw bacon away, it’s definitely better than getting sick. The general, culinary school rule of food safety for raw meat is that you don’t let things sit out more than four hours. For raw mass-produced bacon, that’s probably a good rule of thumb.

Keeping this in mind, How do you store bacon grease after cooking? To store bacon fat, pour the still warm (but not hot!) liquid fat into a heatproof container through a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter and place it in the fridge or freezer.

Does bacon fat have to be refrigerated?

Like Crisco, you don’t need to refrigerate bacon grease. Storing it in the pantry or the kitchen is perfectly fine. Make sure the container is closed tightly when not in use and doesn’t seat near any sources of heat, e.g., the stove. At above 80°F (or 26°C) bacon grease starts to liquefy.

How can you tell if bacon grease is rancid?

The biggest sign that your delicious bacon grease has gone bad is when it is producing a rancid odor, which means that the product has gone bad, and you should throw it away immediately. When it has been kept at room temperature, it is likely to go bad much more quickly than if it were in the refrigerator.

How long can you leave uncooked bacon out?

As painful as it is to throw bacon away, it’s definitely better than getting sick. The general, culinary school rule of food safety for raw meat is that you don’t let things sit out more than four hours. For raw mass-produced bacon, that’s probably a good rule of thumb.

How can u tell if bacon is bad?

When spoiled, the signature red hue of your bacon may start to become dull and fade into a grey, brown, or greenish color. Spoiled bacon may also be slimy or sticky rather than soft and moist. Bacon that has a sour smell or rotting odor should also be thrown out, as this is another sign of spoilage.

Can you leave bacon out overnight to thaw?

You’re asking for trouble. Never leave the frosted bacon out at room temperature for longer than two hours. To stay on the safe side, you should refrigerate it immediately. There is always the danger when frozen bacon is left out at room temperature that the exterior might thaw while the interior is still frozen.

What can you do with leftover bacon grease?


20 Ways to Use Bacon Grease

  1. Roast vegetables. Instead of drizzling your vegetables with olive oil before roasting, plop some bacon grease in the pan. …
  2. Fry Burgers. …
  3. Pop popcorn. …
  4. Fry grilled cheese. …
  5. Biscuits. …
  6. Fry hash browns. …
  7. Spread on pizza crust. …
  8. Use as a gravy base.

Where do you put left over grease?


The Best Way to Dispose of Cooking Oil and Grease

  1. Let the oil or grease cool and solidify.
  2. Once cool and solid, scrape the grease into a container that can be thrown away.
  3. When your container is full, place it in a plastic bag to prevent leakage and then throw it in the garbage.

How do you store pork fat?

Avoid fat from commercially raised pigs. Lard was used and stored for centuries before refrigeration was invented. It will keep at room temperature for a long time (traditionally many kept it for up to a year). Nevertheless, today most recommend storing it in the fridge.

Is bacon grease worse than butter?

Bacon fat is higher in monounsaturated fat (the good fat) than butter. … Bacon grease has slightly less cholesterol than butter and only 2 more milligrams of saturated fat. It has the same number of calories as the oil, but more saturated fat and sodium.

Does fat go bad?

Fat doesn’t spoil like other foods. No bacteria can live in fat. Going rancid is a chemical reaction in which the fat molecules break down. So “leaving out” is not a problem.

Does bacon grease go bad in the fridge?

Although many of us grew up with relatives who stored their bacon grease in a jar or can set on the counter or on the back of the stovetop, food safety experts don’t recommend storing it that way now. Instead, store the grease in the refrigerator (up to 3 months) or freezer (indefinitely).

What happens if you eat spoiled bacon?

If you eat bacon that has gone bad, you may symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chest pain, and dehydration, which can ultimately lead to hospitalization. Food poisoning from pork may come on quick, or take weeks to surface.

What does bad bacon smell like?

Smell. Fresh bacon will always have its natural meaty smell. Your bacon is spoiled if it smells sour, fishy, rotting or just really unpleasant. Bacteria growth and rancidity can make bacon smell nasty.

What happens if you eat bad bacon?

If you eat bacon that has gone bad, you may symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chest pain, and dehydration, which can ultimately lead to hospitalization. Food poisoning from pork may come on quick, or take weeks to surface.

How long does bacon stay good in the fridge?

You can keep bacon in the refrigerator at 40 ºF or below for one week. Bacon can also be frozen at 0 ºF for four months (for best quality). For more information about bacon and storage of other bacon products, go to Bacon and Food Safety.

Can I eat expired bacon?

Bacon Bits last for

But remember, bacon, like a lot of other proteins, usually has a sell by date and not a use by date or expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use bacon to compliment your favorite meals even after the sell by date has lapsed.

Is it safe to thaw bacon at room temperature?

Here’s what they say about bacon: “There are three safe ways to thaw bacon: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave. Never defrost bacon on the kitchen counter or at room temperature.” … Unless you have time to stop for a fresh package from the store, it’s okay to use COLD water, not warm.

How do you thaw frozen bacon?

package of frozen bacon will usually defrost in tap water in under 30 minutes. Simply fill your sink with cold water. Add the bacon in its original packaging or in a sealed zip top bag. Allow bacon to sit in the water until it is defrosted, flipping it over every now and then so that the defrosting is even.

How Long Does Frozen bacon take to thaw in fridge?

It takes 12 to 24 hours to thaw a pound of bacon in the refrigerator. It takes about 8 to 10 minutes to thaw a pound of bacon on the defrost setting of your microwave. It takes about an hour to thaw a pound of packaged bacon in a sink full of cold water.

Is bacon grease good for plants?

A few things we know: bacon grease is not compostable. … A residential compost bin or pile doesn’t get hot enough to sufficiently break down meat, bones, oils and fats. A small amount would be fine, but a whole can of grease wouldn’t really work. We’ve also never heard of using it as a plant fertilizer.

Is it OK to fry eggs in bacon grease?

Frying your eggs in bacon grease will not only save you time standing over the sink, it will also take your typical, rather boring sunny-side up egg and turn it into a savory masterpiece. Those charred, salty bits sprinkled on top of your egg really adds a dimension of flavor that you won’t be disappointed with.

What is bacon grease good for?

Bacon fat is such a flavorful fat to cook with. … Bacon fat is fabulous for sautéing brussels sprouts. You can also use bacon fat to brown rice for a rice pilaf or for making scrambled eggs. Basically you can use bacon fat for frying anything that would benefit from having the bacon flavor!