How Long Does Bacon Grease Last (And Why)?

Exact Answer: Three Months

Bacon grease is the leftover fat obtained after the cooking of bacon. It happens that after preparing a good batch of tasty bacon, there are loads of fat left in the cooking pan. This leftover fat is known as bacon grease and has immense potential to be used in the future preparation of dishes.

Bacon grease is a better option as compared to butter. In addition to being healthier, it is also economical as no extra expenses have to be incurred in its preparation. It is ready as a byproduct of the preparation of the bacon. However, there is always the option of buying packaged bacon grease as available to consumers in the market.

How Long Does Bacon Grease Last?

As described earlier, bacon grease is available for use as a homemade substance and as a commercially packaged saleable product. The bacon grease taken from different sources has different safely edible periods. Nonetheless, by a large, commercial bacon grease tends to last for a longer period than those produced in the home.

Bacon grease can be stored in three conditions, namely, over the counter in the open, in the fridge, or in the freezer.

Homemade bacon grease stored in over-the-counter conditions away from heat can last for as long as three months. However, it can last for nearly a year, if stored in a fridge. It is safe to eat period boosts drastically if kept in a freezer and it can last for more than two years.

In contrast to that, commercial bacon grease has a significantly long edible period. When kept in open conditions away from heat, it is good to consume for six months. If stored in a fridge, it can last for a year and when stored in a freezer, it can last for a couple of years.

Why Does Bacon Grease Last So Long?

Bacon grease is essentially the fat from a pig’s stomach. Fats are expected to last longer, in general line with substances like lard, butter, and ghee. Thus, bacon grease also tends to last longer as would any other form of fat.

In addition to being kept away from the sources of heat, Bacon grease can be stored perfectly at room temperature below 26 degrees Celsius or 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In such cases, the bacon grease is perfectly edible for a few months as it prevents liquefication of the grease. This helps to maintain quality which is instrumental for the bacon grease to last longer.

When the bacon grease is kept in a refrigerator, the cooler and darker conditions further increase the life of the bacon grease. Lower temperatures discourage liquefication while promoting faster solidification of the fat enabling it to last for longer. Cool conditions delay the process of wearing out of the grease.

However, if the bacon grease is stored in the freezer, it can last for a very long period. The extreme cold temperatures bring a near-complete stop in the process of wearing out of the grease by freezing it. However, when taken out of the freezer again for use, it should be defrosted by keeping it in the refrigerator for a few days before use.

The commercially available bacon grease contains a lot of preservatives and other additives. This helps to boost its life considerably as compared to the homemade bacon grease.

Conclusion

Bacon grease is a very useful ingredient to be used in the preparation of many other dishes. It can be obtained as a homemade byproduct of the preparation of bacon. Bacon grease is pig fat and it has a very long shelf life.

Bacon grease lasts for approximately three months in open conditions. The same can last for nearly a year when stored in the refrigerator which is cold and dark. Moreover, it has the potential for lasting for a few more years, if kept in the freezer.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174002002152
2. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/jf60232a052