After cooking up a tasty batch of bacon, you’re left with delicious rendered bacon fat. But what should you do with that liquid gold? It may be tempting to pour the hot grease directly into a glass jar for storage. However, this isn’t recommended.
In this article, we’ll cover whether it’s safe to put hot bacon grease in a glass jar, the potential risks, tips for safe storage, and how to use your saved bacon fat for flavorful cooking.
Is It Safe to Put Hot Bacon Grease in a Glass Jar?
The short answer is no – you should never pour hot bacon grease directly into a glass jar. The extreme temperature change from hot to room temperature can cause the glass to expand rapidly, potentially leading it to crack or shatter. This can result in a serious injury from the broken glass or hot grease.
Instead, it’s safest to let the bacon grease cool down significantly before transferring it to a glass jar for storage. Allow at least 30-60 minutes for the grease to come towards room temperature. Warm is fine, but you want to avoid grease that is still hot or even very warm.
Glass jars are not designed to withstand such rapid heating and cooling. Save yourself the mess and potential harm by waiting for that bacon grease to cool off first
Dangers of Putting Hot Grease in Glass
To understand why it’s unsafe to pour hot grease into glass, it helps to consider how glass reacts to extreme temperature changes:
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Expansion – When glass is heated rapidly, it expands at a faster rate than the inner material can properly adjust. This mismatch in expansion can cause stress fractures.
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Weakened structure – Exposing glass to thermal shock weakens its physical structure by putting stress on the molecular bonds. It becomes more prone to breaking.
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Trapped steam – Any moisture or steam present when hot grease is added can also cause pressure buildup inside a tightly sealed jar. This increases the chances of an explosion.
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Burn risk – Hot glass looks just like cold glass. The jar could easily be picked up with bare hands before cooling, leading to serious burns.
To avoid these risks, always let grease cool down significantly before adding to a glass jar. Never pour piping hot grease into glass containers.
Tips for Safe Bacon Grease Storage
To safely save that bacon grease for later use, follow these tips:
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Use heat-safe tempered glass jars that can withstand extremes Or choose stainless steel or ceramic instead
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Allow grease to cool on the counter for 30-60 minutes after cooking.
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Strain out any bacon bits with a mesh sieve before transferring to the jar.
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Fill the jar only halfway to allow for expansion as the grease cools and solidifies.
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Seal the jar tightly before refrigerating. Freeze for longer storage.
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Label the jar with the contents and date to track freshness.
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Discard grease after 1 month (fridge) or 1 year (freezer) to prevent rancidity.
Following these guidelines will allow you to safely save that bacony goodness for future cooking adventures.
Creative Uses for Leftover Bacon Fat
Once you’ve safely stored your cooled bacon grease, how can you use it for flavorful cooking? Here are some delicious ideas:
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Sauté vegetables like Brussels sprouts, green beans, potatoes etc. for a smoky essence.
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Fry eggs in bacon grease for an extra savory morning meal.
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Use as the fat for making roux in gumbos, stews, and gravies.
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Brush on meats before grilling or roasting to keep them moist and infuse bacon flavor.
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Add a spoonful when baking cornbread, biscuits, scones etc. for extra richness.
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Toss with roasted root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and potatoes.
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Sizzle sliced new potatoes or home fries in it for breakfast or a side dish.
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Flavor the oil for making homemade salad dressings and vinaigrettes.
With so many uses, you’ll be happy you safely stored that bacon fat for cooking later on!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about storing bacon grease in glass jars:
What kind of glass jar is best for storing grease?
Use tempered glass jars made to withstand heats for canning or mason jars. Never use thin delicate glass.
How long does bacon grease last in the refrigerator?
Stored in an airtight jar in the fridge, bacon grease will keep for 2-3 months before going rancid.
Is it OK to put warm bacon grease in a glass jar?
It’s fine to put warm (not hot) grease in a glass jar. Allow it to cool on the counter for 30-60 minutes first before transferring.
Can bacon grease be stored at room temperature?
No, bacon grease must be kept refrigerated and used within 1-2 months for food safety and to prevent rancidity.
What happens if you put hot grease in the refrigerator?
Putting hot grease in the fridge can also crack or shatter glass. Always allow grease to come to room temp before refrigerating.
Key Takeaways on Storing Bacon Grease
Here’s a quick summary of the top tips for safely saving bacon fat:
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Never pour hot grease into a glass jar – allow it to cool first.
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Use heat-safe tempered glass jars made for canning or mason jars.
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Strain out any bacon bits before transferring to the jar.
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Fill jars halfway and seal tightly before refrigerating.
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Discard old grease after 1-3 months to prevent rancidity.
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Enjoy your chilled bacon fat for savory cooking in moderation!
With proper storage methods, you can safely save that delicious bacon grease for flavoring all kinds of recipes. Just be sure to let it cool down first before transferring to glass jars. Follow these tips, and you’ll be frying up skillet after skillet of bacon in order to stock up on that liquid gold.