Bacon is about 50 percent monosaturated fat, which contains primarily oleic acid– the same fat in olive oil, which many consider the healthiest oil option. The supposed problems with bacon are in its cholesterol level and its effects on the heart. However, most dieticians will tell you that moderation is key—even with something as seemingly terrible for you as bacon grease!
Anything can be bad for you if overeaten. The same idea applies to corn syrups and sugars, as anything in excess is bad for you. So, if you’re looking to indulge and want to show those bacon haters who’s boss, consider these four surprising and delicious ways to use bacon grease in your recipes.
Breakfast of Champions
You can use bacon grease as a butter replacement in many recipes. All you have to do is store it properly and when you’re ready, throw it in the pan!
Make the bacon first as a breakfast treat, allowing it to season the rest of what you cook, including eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, and hashbrowns. This way, you’re not adding any extra salt to your food, and you won’t have to worry about flavoring it either. Using bacon grease for breakfast is a fantastic way to save time and money.
Savory Sides
Bacon grease makes for a delicious soup base, especially if you want to make a delightful and creamy baked potato soup. The fat thickens up the soup, adding to its richness. The grease also provides a deep smokey flavor.
You can deep fry pretty much anything in bacon grease if you have enough on hand. Some people even use it to make their own chips and crackers!
Delicious Desserts
As stated, you can use bacon grease as a replacement for butter, and the general conversion rate is a one-to-one ratio. Use bacon grease to step up your cookie game beyond your wildest salty-sweet dreams.
Whether you keep it savory or sweet, popping popcorn in bacon grease also pumps up the flavor. If you’re feeling fancy, you can throw some caramel melts or maple syrup in there. Better yet, you can make your own caramels with rendered bacon fat and maple syrup for a bacon inception of taste.
Mouth-Watering Vegetables
Lastly, but certainly not the least delicious, you can sauté and season any vegetable under the sun with bacon grease. Cabbage, carrots, celery, and broccoli are great at absorbing the flavor.
You can make any veggie-hater into a veggie-lover by adding the smokey salt that comes with bacon grease!
Be bold and be wild with your food. These four surprising and delicious ways to use bacon grease won’t add to your thighs or heart if eaten in moderation. The only thing bacon grease will add to your life is joy. So go forth and experiment with deliciousness!
