Bacon Drippings

Allow the drippings to cool somewhat after you've cooked bacon. Pour them into a container such as a screw top jar and store in refigerator for future use.

They can also be stored in the freezer in a plastic baggie, etc. Bacon grease will last for months in the fridge, much longer in the freezer. Just make sure your container is tightly sealed.

Using a jar or baggie is fine to store your bacon grease, but it's not a pretty sight, and you also have bits of bacon or other food in there...eww!

But this Bacon Grease Container is perfect for storing in plain sight. It even has a built in fine mesh stainless-steel strainer to keep the nasties out your drippings.

Baked Potatoes
Rub a little on russet potatoes before baking. Makes flavorful, soft skins.

Bread
Use bacon drippings as the shortening in yeast bread.

Breakfast
Use drippings in the skillet to fry your breakfast eggs. Can also be used as the shortening for pancake batter too.

Old Fashioned Popcorn
Bacon drippings make popcorn taste oh-so-good! Heat 1/4 cup drippings in skillet; add 1/3 cup popcorn. Cover and shake constantly over stove to make it pop. No other oil or butter necessary! Add a bit of salt.

Or you can add a little bacon drippings to hot butter and pour over dry popped popcorn. Great with a little parmesan cheese too!

Soups, Stews, and More
Use bacon drippings to flavor and brown potatoes or to fry fish. Brown meat in bacon drippings when making your stew. Sautee celery and onions in it before making stuffing or soups.

Ingredients:

1 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. chilled bacon drippings (solid)
½ tsp. salt
2 to 3 tbsp. cold water

-Mix flour with salt; add in bacon drippings until particles are fine. Gradually add water, tossing with fork until dough is just moistened.
-Form into a ball.
-Roll out in a lightly floured surface to a circle one inch larger than inverted 9" pie pan.
-Fit into pan; trim and flute edges.
-Makes one 9" pastry.

The 'Gravy' part of biscuits and gravy demands bacon grease for authentic flavor!

5 tbsp. Bacon Drippings
5 tbsp All-Purpose flour
2 ½ to 3 c. of Milk
Salt and pepper

Heat bacon drippings in a skillet, add flour and stir until mixture is slightly browned.
Add milk gradually while stirring. Continue to stir until thickened.
Salt and Pepper to taste.

You can also add bits of bacon, country sausage, or small dices of ham to 'jazz up' your gravy and make it really delicious.

Nobody would consider bacon a healthy food, it contains fat, cholesterol, and artificial preservatives. But here are some things to consider:

*Bacon drippings have about 1/3 the amount of cholesterol as butter does. (And it takes a lot more butter to flavor your food!)
*The "artificial" Nitrates and Nitrites used to preserve bacon actually are present naturally in many vegetables and in our bodies. More information about that.
*Bacon has no trans-fat.

If you are still concerned about artificial preservatives, try uncured, no artificial ingredients added bacon. There are several major companies that produce this.I buy it and think it's at least as good, if not better tasting than your standard bacon!

Did you know you can make an emergency candle with bacon fat or drippings? Read here for more information.

And it makes your place smell real good too!