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Is Cooking with Bacon Grease Healthy?

Is Cooking with Bacon Fat Healthy or Not? Bacon drippings are commonly used in Southern cooking, in recipes from cornbread to green beans to popcorn. In moderation, bacon grease can add flavor like nobody’s business. According to the folks at Fitbit, a teaspoon of bacon grease has 38 calories and zero carbs.

Is bacon grease healthy to eat?

Yes, bacon contains quite a bit of fat, but 50% of it is monounsaturated and mostly oleic acid, the same fatty acid that makes olive oil so good for your heart and health. So, much of the fat in bacon is relatively healthy. And I’d argue that all of the fat in bacon may be healthy, including the saturated stuff.

Is frying in bacon grease healthy?

The fats in bacon are about 50% monounsaturated and a large part of those is oleic acid. This is the same fatty acid that olive oil is praised for and generally considered “heart-healthy”.

Is bacon grease worse for you 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 bacon clog arteries?

The idea that saturated fats clog up arteries and therefore causes heart disease is “plain wrong”, experts have claimed. Writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), three cardiologists said that saturated fats – found in butter, lard, sausages, bacon, cheese and cream – do not clog the arteries.

Why do people save bacon grease?

Sure, saving bacon grease might sound strange, but it has its fair share of perks. Not only does it keep food from sticking to your pan, but it also pumps up the flavor when added to eggs, potatoes, greens, cornbread and other recipes. You can even bake chocolate chip bacon grease cookies.

How do I use leftover bacon grease?

10 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.
  9. Cornbread.
  10. Spread on BLT toast.

How many calories are in a tablespoon of bacon grease?

A tablespoon of bacon fat, on the other hand, has 115.7 calories, 12.8 grams of fat and 19.4 milligrams of sodium. So if you’re watching your sodium intake, bacon grease is actually the lower sodium alternative to salted butter.

Is it OK to cook eggs in bacon grease?

Can you cook eggs in bacon grease? You can cook eggs in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon grease (whether scrambled or fried) will add a salty, smoky flavor to the eggs. The bacon grease will also help prevent the eggs from sticking to the pan.

Should I save bacon grease?

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 can I substitute for bacon grease?

The 5 best substitutes for bacon grease:

  1. Beef fat. Beef fat is another popular substitute for bacon grease.
  2. Butter. If you are looking for a substitute that will add some of the same fats and flavors as bacon grease, butter is an ideal choice.
  3. Lard.
  4. Olive Oil.
  5. Peanut Oil.

Is bacon grease a lard?

Bacon grease is functionally the same thing as lard. It’s rendered pork fat and you can use it in so many different ways. The main difference between lard and rendered bacon fat is the taste.

How long is bacon grease good for in the fridge?

The shelf life for refrigerated bacon grease is approximately three months. To be safe, always smell the grease before using it because it can turn rancid during storage.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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