Can You Put Hot Bacon Grease in a Glass Jar? A Guide to Proper Storage

As a bacon lover you likely find yourself with leftover bacon grease after cooking up those delicious strips of pork belly. But what’s the best way to save that liquid gold? Can you pour the hot grease directly into a glass jar? Or will it crack or shatter your container?

Proper storage is key for preserving your bacon fat for future use So let’s look at the dos and don’ts of working with hot bacon grease and glass jars.

The Benefits of Saving Bacon Grease

Before diving into proper storage methods, let’s overview why you’d even want to save bacon grease in the first place Here are some of the top benefits

• Adds flavor – Bacon grease imparts a smoky, salty, umami taste to recipes. It’s a flavor boost for all kinds of dishes.

• Natural cooking fat – Pure rendered bacon fat makes an excellent cooking oil replacement. It’s natural and free!

• Versatile – Use bacon grease for sautéing, frying, roasting, baking, etc. It’s a workhorse fat.

• Saves money – No need to buy other fats like butter or oil when you have bacon grease on hand. It’s a free cooking byproduct.

• Biodegradable – Bacon fat is much more environmentally friendly to use or dispose of vs bottled vegetable oils.

Clearly saving your bacon drippings is a smart cooking strategy. But it’s only helpful if you can store the grease properly.

Dangers of Putting Hot Bacon Grease in Glass

While pouring hot grease into a glass jar may seem like an easy storage solution, there are a few risks with this approach:

• Glass cracks – Hot grease can cause glass to expand rapidly, resulting in cracks or even shattering. Bacon grease can reach temps of 400°F+!

• Grease splatters – If glass breaks from hot grease, the spilled fat can cause burns and make a huge mess.

• Limited uses – Glass is not oven or microwave safe. It limits how you can use the stored grease.

• Food safety – Glass is prone to breaking into shards, posing a physical hazard to food.

For these reasons, it’s not recommended to pour extremely hot bacon grease directly into glass jars or containers. But with a few precautions, glass can still be a safe vessel for storing cooled grease.

Best Practices for Putting Bacon Grease in Glass

Here are some tips for safely working with bacon drippings and glass storage containers:

• Let grease cool first – Let it cool for at least 15-30 minutes post-cooking before transferring to glass.

• Use tempered/treated glass – Choose jars designed to withstand high temps, like canning jars.

• Heat jars gradually – Warm jars briefly in hot water or oven before adding warm (not hot) grease.

• Leave headspace – Only fill jars 2⁄3 to 3⁄4 full to allow for expansion as grease cools.

• Strain first – Pour through a mesh strainer to remove bacon bits and impurities.

• Seal tightly – Secure lid for storage in fridge or freezer.

• Label and date – Note contents and date to track freshness. Discard after 1-3 months.

• No oven or microwave – Do not reheat glass bacon grease jars; transfer grease to a pan first.

With these precautions, you can safely get your cooled bacon drippings into a glass container. But is glass the absolute best choice? Let’s look at some other options too.

Alternate Bacon Grease Storage Containers

While glass jars are a popular choice, other containers may be better suited for handling hot grease and high-heat cooking uses. Some other options include:

• Metal coffee cans – Durable, metal won’t crack. Most won’t leach chemicals like plastic.

• Stainless steel – Withstands very high temps. Stainless won’t leach or impart flavors.

• Silicone – Flexible silicone is naturally heat resistant. Withstands oven and freezer temps.

• Ceramic – Glazed ceramic is more durable than glass when hot. Usually inexpensive.

• Grease keeper – Specialty metal cans with strainer allow for easy grease pouring.

Any of these alternatives can safely handle hot bacon drippings without the risks of glass cracking or breaking. Just be sure to let extremely hot grease cool for a few minutes before transferring into any vessel.

Handy Uses for Bacon Grease

Once you’ve properly stored your cooled bacon fat in a container of your choice, what are some tasty ways to use it? Get creative with these ideas:

• Sauté base – For veggies, onions, mushrooms, etc. Adds smoky flavor.

• Fry eggs – Adds richness to fried, poached, scrambled, etc.

• Roast potatoes – Coats evenly and crisps up spuds.

• Popcorn topping – Drizzle on popcorn along with salt for a snack.

• Baked goods – Sub for butter or oil in cookies, cakes, pie crusts.

• Gravy and roux – Whisk in flour to make savory gravy or roux.

• Brussels sprouts – Toss halved sprouts in grease before roasting.

• Meat rub – Mix with herbs and rub onto meats before grilling or smoking.

• Cast iron conditioning – Rub on cast iron pans to season and condition.

As you can see, saved bacon grease is endlessly useful in the kitchen. Get into the habit of storing it properly, and you’ll have a go-to cooking fat on hand at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions About Glass Bacon Grease Storage

To summarize key points about glass storage containers and hot bacon grease, here are answers to some common questions:

Can I pour hot bacon grease into a glass jar?

It’s best to allow extremely hot grease to cool for 15-30 minutes before transferring to glass. Quick temperature changes can cause glass to crack.

What kind of glass is safe for bacon grease?

Use specially tempered glass like Mason jars or other canning jars designed to withstand high heats for hot liquids.

Should I strain the grease first?

Yes, always strain out any bacon bits or impurities through a mesh strainer before pouring into your storage vessel.

How full should I fill a glass jar with grease?

Only fill your jar 2⁄3 to 3⁄4 full to leave room for the grease to expand as it cools and solidifies.

How long does bacon grease last in the fridge?

Stored in a sealed glass jar in the fridge, bacon grease will keep for 2-3 months. For longer storage, freeze for up to 1 year.

Can I reheat bacon grease in a glass jar?

No, don’t reheat jars in the oven or microwave. The glass could crack or shatter. Instead, scoop out grease and melt in a pan or dish.

Get Cooking with Your Bacon Fat!

Now that you know the ins and outs of working with hot bacon drippings and glass storage, you can start saving this flavorful fat to elevate all kinds of dishes. Although glass does carry some risks when handling extremely hot grease, with proper precautions it can be a suitable storage vessel for your cooled leftovers.

Always let the grease cool first, choose durable tempered glass jars, leave headspace, and handle reheating carefully. Follow these tips, and your saved bacon fat will keep for months, ready to impart smoky, savory flavor to all your cooking any time a recipe calls for a tasty cooking fat. So get cooking with your bacon grease and save money while amplifying flavors!