can you mix bacon grease and vegetable oil

The Great Bacon Grease Debate: Should You Mix It with Vegetable Oil for Cooking?

If you’re like me you love saving that delicious bacon grease leftover from cooking up a tasty batch of bacon. But what’s the best way to use and store it? One popular suggestion is mixing the rendered bacon fat with vegetable oil to use for frying and cooking. But does adding bacon grease to veggie oil really work? Or will it just make a greasy bacon-y mess?

In this article, we’ll explore the pros, cons, and tips for mixing bacon grease and vegetable oil As an enthusiastic home cook and bacon lover, I’ve tried it both ways Read on for the results of my tasty kitchen experiments!

The Potential Benefits of Bacon-Veggie Oil

Here are some theorized advantages of blending bacon fat with vegetable oil:

• Adds bacon flavor to dishes. Who doesn’t love a hint of smoky, salty bacon goodness? Mixing in just a bit of bacon grease can infuse its iconic flavor into veggies, potatoes, eggs and more.

• Makes use of leftover bacon grease. No more discarding extra bacon fat down the drain or letting it go to waste. Stirring it into oil provides an easy way to use it up.

• Provides a cooking fat blend. Bacon grease has a lower smoke point than oils like avocado and grapeseed. Combining it with a veggie oil allows for higher-temp cooking.

• May have health benefits. Bacon grease is rich in compounds like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) that may offer health benefits. Adding small amounts to vegetable oil allows you to get these bonuses.

• Adds richness and texture. The saturated fat in bacon grease contributes richness and crispiness when used for sautéing and frying.

These potential pros make mixing bacon and vegetable oils sound like a tasty cooking hack. But how does it work in practice? Let’s look at some concerns and trial results.

Potential Drawbacks of Bacon-Veggie Oil

While the idea of bacon-infused oil may sound amazing, there are a few possible pitfalls to watch out for:

• Can impart overpowering flavor. Bacon grease has a very strong, distinctive taste. Even small amounts may make veggies or other foods taste too bacon-y.

• Risk of burning and smoking. The low smoke point of bacon grease makes the blend more likely to burn if heated too high.

• Food safety concerns. Like any meat product, bacon grease left at room temperature can go rancid and become a food safety risk. Proper storage is key.

• May impart cloudiness. Whisking bacon fat into oil can cause cloudiness from the bits of bacon solids suspended. This may not impact flavor but affects appearance.

• Doesn’t fully emulsify. Since fats don’t truly dissolve into each other, the bacon grease and veggie oil may separate over time. Vigorous whisking is required to blend.

These potential issues made me hesitant about putting bacon grease in my go-to stir-fry and sauté oils. To get first-hand experience, it was time to test it out.

Experimenting with Mixing Bacon Grease and Vegetable Oil

To see if combining bacon fat and oil is cooking genius or kitchen disaster, I decided to conduct some skillet experiments. I saved the grease from a batch of maple bacon, then tested mixing ratios of 2 tablespoons bacon grease per 1 cup of canola oil. Here is what I tried:

Test #1: Sautéing onions and peppers

• 1:4 bacon grease to oil ratio
• Cloudy appearance, strong bacon flavor
• Veggies tasted too smoky and salty

Test #2: Frying potatoes

• 1:8 bacon grease to oil ratio
• Still somewhat cloudy, less intense bacon taste
• Potatoes were greasy with odd aftertaste

Test #3: Scrambled eggs

• 1:12 bacon grease to oil ratio
• Much less cloudy, hint of bacon flavor
• Eggs tasted rich but not overpowered

Test #4: Stir fry with 1:12 ratio

• Stayed blended during stir-frying
• Pleasantly smoky without excessive bacon taste

The Verdict: A Little Goes a Long Way

Based on my test batches, I learned that a very small amount of bacon grease to vegetable oil can work, but the ratio matters. Too much rendered bacon fat, and food takes on an overly salty, smoky bacon taste. But blended sparingly at 1:12 or less, it adds just enough rich flavor without overpowering other ingredients.

I also found whisking vigorously is key to emulsify the bacon grease, and continued stirring is needed during cooking to prevent separation. And as expected, smoke points dropped a bit compared to plain oil.

While using very small amounts of bacon grease with vegetable oil can be an tasty cooking hack, I don’t think I’ll make it a regular thing. The hassle of whisking and potential strong flavors outweigh the benefits for me. I’d rather use just a bit of pure bacon grease for dishes where the pork flavor will really shine through.

For stir-fries, eggs, and general sautéing, I’m sticking with pure vegetable oils. But for bacon lovers who really want that hint of meaty flavor infused into meals, a super diluted bacon-veggie oil blend may be worth experimenting with. I suggest starting with no more than 1-2 tablespoons of rendered bacon fat per cup of oil to avoid overwhelming your food.

Tips for Cooking with Bacon Grease and Vegetable Oil

If you want to try mixing small amounts of bacon grease into oils for cooking, here are some tips:

• Stick to a 1-2 Tbsp bacon grease per 1 cup oil ratio to start.

• Whisk extremely thoroughly until fully combined. The mixture should be creamy looking, not separating.

• Add bacon grease to oil when it’s room temp or slightly warm – this helps blending.

• Start with milder oils like canola or avocado to let the bacon flavor come through.

• Store oil blends in fridge to prevent rancidity and separation over time.

• Don’t use for high-heat cooking like deep frying. The slightly lowered smoke point can burn.

• Stir frequently when cooking to maintain the emulsion and prevent burning.

• Add fresh bacon grease in small amounts each time rather than reusing oil.

• Adjust ratios based on your taste preferences – less grease for milder flavor.

The Bottom Line: Bacon Grease and Veggie Oils Can Work Well When Used Wisely

While it may sound a little odd, mixing small amounts of bacon grease into vegetable oil can be a unique way to impart a touch of smoky bacon flavor into meals. For bacon enthusiasts, it provides a method to use up leftover grease. But tread carefully – a heavy hand with the bacon fat can make dishes greasy and overwhelmingly pork-flavored. Moderation and the right vegetable oil match are key.

I suggest starting with no more than 1-2 tablespoons grease per cup of a milder oil like canola or avocado. Vigorously whisk them together when both are fluid. Use the blend only for low-to-medium heat cooking, and add fresh grease each time rather than reusing. Adjust the ratio based on your taste and cooking results.