How Long Can You Keep Bacon Grease On The Counter (Finally Explained!)

Have you ever asked yourself or your friend how long you can keep bacon grease on the counter or how long does bacon grease last? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

Bacon on its own is absolutely delicious. The grease that is left behind is delicious as well. That is why some of the best home-cooked meals are made with bacon grease specifically.

The good news is that bacon grease can be stored for quite a while before it goes bad.

So, how long does bacon grease last? On average, bacon grease can last up to three months if stored in the fridge or even it will last indefinitely if stored in the freezer. However, it’s best to consume the bacon grease within a week if it has been stored directly on the counter. If you want your bacon grease to last longer, you can store it in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer instead.

Store your container in the fridge where it will last for three months, or in the freezer where it will last indefinitely.

Keep reading to learn more about how long you can keep bacon grease on the counter, in the pantry, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer.

How Long Can You Keep Bacon Grease On The Counter?

It seems that grandmas and country cooks have been storing bacon grease on their counters for years. Today, fewer people are storing bacon grease on the counter because food safety experts do not recommend it due to safety reasons.

However, you can still store bacon grease on the counter. If you store bacon grease in this way, it’s best to eat it within a week.

Whenever it is placed on the counter, you expose it to changes in temperature and light, which will make the bacon grease go bad faster.

With this in mind, you should only store bacon grease directly on the counter if you anticipate using it quickly. If you want it to last for a bit longer, you should look for other ways to store your bacon grease to extend its lifespan.

Read also: Who Makes Great Value Bacon? (Products For Walmart)

What Are Other Ways You Can Store Bacon Grease?

Even though bacon grease stored on the counter should be used within a week, there are other ways that you can store bacon grease so that it lasts as long as possible.

These three other methods will help to extend the lifespan of the grease so that you can use it at a later date.

Pantry

Storing bacon grease in the pantry is one of the best ways to go. If you store the bacon grease in an airtight container and then place that container in a cool, dry pantry, it can last up to six months.

The reason why bacon grease will last longer in the pantry than on a counter is that it is exposed to fewer changes in temperature and light.

If you specifically want to keep your bacon grease in room temperature areas, place the bacon grease in a pantry.

Select a pantry that is as far away from the stove and oven area as possible so that the pantry stays cool.

Refrigerator

If you don’t anticipate using the bacon grease for a long time, you could always place it inside the refrigerator instead. Bacon grease stored inside the refrigerator can last a very long time, especially if you put it in an airtight container.

The bacon grease will taste best if you use it within a couple of weeks, but it can last anywhere from three months to a year inside the refrigerator.

The only downside of putting bacon grease in the refrigerator is that the bacon grease will start to take on the other smells and flavors from the refrigerator.

To help avoid this, store the bacon grease in an airtight container and place it as far away from smelly food as possible.

Freezer

Storing bacon grease in the freezer will extend its life span the most. Bacon stored in this way is also less likely to take on other smells since smells are kept to a minimum in the freezing cold temperatures of the freezer.

Bacon grease stored in the freezer can often last up to one year.

We don’t necessarily recommend waiting a whole year to eat your bacon grease, but it certainly can last a long time in the freezer, making it the best method for those who don’t know when they’ll use the bacon grease next.

What Are Signs That Bacon Grease Has Gone Bad?

The time frames given above are just estimations. For this reason, you always want to double-check any stored bacon grease before you use it.

This will prevent you from consuming any bacon grease that has gone bad. Here are signs that it’s time to toss your bacon grease in the trash:

Smell

The first sign that bacon is bad is the smell. Once bacon goes bad, it will have a rancid smell that is pretty obvious. If your bacon grease smells funky, it has gone bad.

Appearance

If you see any mold on your bacon grease, do not eat it. This is the most obvious sign that your bacon grease has gone bad.

Consuming the bacon grease can be dangerous if mold is on the top or anywhere else in the jar.

Throw It Out!

If your bacon grease smells weird or you see mold in the container, throw it out immediately. Even if you aren’t quite sure if what you are seeing or smelling is a sign of bad bacon grease, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Toss the bacon grease and find another alternative instead.

Final Thoughts

Once again, only store bacon grease on the counter if you anticipate using it pretty soon. As a rule of thumb, only keep bacon grease on the counter for one week before you toss it out.

If you need your bacon grease to last longer than a week, there are many other storage options you can select instead.

For example, you can place the bacon grease in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer. All three of these methods will allow the bacon grease to last for months at a time, ensuring you can use your bacon grease right when you need it.

No matter which storage method you select, make sure to double-check the bacon grease before you start cooking with it. If it smells rancid or has signs of mold, toss it out immediately.

References

https://dailydelish.us/faq/does-bacon-grease-go-bad/