Bacon rendering

[Cofisher]

I know this is not ‘modern’ cooking. But, do any of you still cook using bacon grease?

I buy a pound of bacon, spread it out on a baking sheet, and cook it in the oven for 40 minutes at 300. This gives about 1/4 cup of grease. A run through the microwave gives another 1/8 cup.

After the effort, I save the grease in the fridge. It is the best for frying many things. Potatoes are the best,obviously. Anything else? Oh yeah.

Am I the only one that remembers this?

The bacon strips are 2/3 done. And, can be added to any recipe you like.

[markiver54]

Bacon in any form...bad for Ya, maybe, but I love it!

[BigAl52]

We have one of those grease kettles that has a strainer in the top. We keep it in the fridge and use the bacon grease out of that. We dont use alot of it but we do use it

[JEBar]

same as AL

[GunnyGene]

If you can get pork belly use that instead of packaged bacon. It's about 1/3 the price, just as good and without all the crap that commercial bacon has in it. You can slice it yourself for bacon or have your butcher do it. We bake slices in the toaster oven on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Cut the thin strip of hide off each slice first. Set the oven to Convection 375* for about 15 minutes. Doesn't curl up and is nice and crispy.

[brm4450]

Always keep a jar in the fridge, wife uses it in corn bread

[Ernie]

Keep in the fridge for frying potatoes mostly. Mother and grandmother used to save it so I do too.

[CT_Shooter]

I keep a jar of fat in the fridge, too. I used to do a lot more elaborate cooking than I do now that I'm alone, but I still save the drippings whenever I use bacon even though I rarely use it anymore. I store bacon in the freezer in two-strip packages wrapped in plastic and in a ziplock bag. It thaws quickly when needed.

[ChefDuane]

There are a number of recipes that we use bacon fat with. Even used in it cakes. After rendering the bacon (chop it raw into lardons <1/4"x1/4"> pieces and render in a rondeau. You get better rendering and when you're done you have bacon bits to use on other stuff. -> I do dessert with strawberries and vanilla whipped cream topped with bacon bits. Guests go nuts over it!!

[Dahliathemeh]

I use it for popcorn! Leaves a slight bacon taste, then I would put cheddar cheese popcorn seasoning. Mmmmmm