It tastes hearty and rich because of the sausage, bacon, and heavy cream fat that has been rendered. It goes well with flaky biscuits, potatoes, or even chicken fried steak.
This gravy recipe is a rich, smooth cream gravy, which is very different from my Chili Gravy with the Tex-Mex Enchiladas recipe. It makes a white gravy instead of a brown gravy.
That’s a hearty breakfast on its own if you serve this savory gravy with Angel Biscuits. You can also serve it with other breakfast recipes like Migas or Crustless Spinach Quiche. [feast_advanced_jump_to].
Bacon grease and sausage grease are both beloved cooking fats that impart delicious flavor to many dishes But can you safely combine these animal fats to create an uber-savory cooking fat? Let’s take a look at the pros, cons, and best practices for mixing bacon grease and sausage grease
The Benefits of Mixing Bacon and Sausage Grease
There are a few potential benefits to blending bacon grease and sausage grease together
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Enhanced flavor complexity – Bacon grease has a smoky, salty, umami taste while sausage grease often boasts savory, meaty, herby notes. Combining the two can create a cooking fat with layers of mouthwatering flavor
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Versatility – Mixed bacon-sausage grease can be used anywhere you’d use either fat alone. Fry eggs, sauté veggies, roast potatoes, baste meats, and more. The blended grease amplifies flavor in any dish.
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Efficiency – If you happen to have both bacon and sausage drippings on hand, mixing them together consolidates your cooking fats into one handy jar/container and saves fridge space.
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Savings – Like most cooking fats, bacon and sausage greases are free leftovers from cooking meat. Blending them together makes the most of your byproduct ingredients and saves money on buying other fats/oils.
So in terms of convenience and added flavor, there’s definitely incentive to mix your leftover bacon and sausage greases. But there are a few things to keep in mind too.
Potential Drawbacks of Combining Bacon and Sausage Grease
While mixing bacon grease and sausage grease can provide perks like enhanced flavor and efficiency, there are a couple potential drawbacks as well:
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Difficult to strain – Bacon grease and sausage grease solidify at different temperatures. This can make a blended grease challenging to strain since the fats may solidify at different rates.
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May go rancid faster – Both bacon and sausage grease can go rancid over time. Combining them may shorten the shelf life vs storing them separately. Use mixed fats within 1 month.
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Can impart overwhelming flavor – In some more delicately flavored dishes, a heavy dose of bacon-sausage grease could overpower. Best reserved for robust dishes.
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Health concerns – Like most animal fats, both bacon and sausage grease are high in saturated fat. Limit intake of mixed grease for heart health.
With proper storage and use, these drawbacks can be minimized or managed. Overall, the benefits seem to outweigh potential downsides for most home cooks.
Best Practices for Mixing and Storing Bacon Grease and Sausage Grease
If you do wish to blend your bacon drippings and sausage drippings into a single cooking fat, follow these tips for safety and maximum flavor:
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Mix greases while both are still hot and liquid for easier blending.
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Start with a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio of bacon grease to sausage grease as bacon has a stronger flavor. Adjust ratio to taste preferences.
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Optionally add aromatics like garlic, rosemary, thyme, smoked paprika, etc. for extra flavor dimension.
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Strain blended grease through a fine mesh strainer to remove any meat bits orseasoning chunks.
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Store cooled, strained mixed grease in an airtight glass jar or container.
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Keep mixed grease refrigerated and use within 1 month for best freshness.
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When grease starts to smell rancid or “off”, discard and make a new batch. Don’t taste questionable grease!
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Use mixed bacon-sausage grease for sautéing veggies, frying eggs, roasting potatoes, stir fries, stews, baked beans, and more.
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Limit to 1-2 tablespoons mixed grease per serving. Too much can overpower other flavors.
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Discard unused grease once dish is cooked rather than returning to storage container.
Following these best practices will yield a delicious blended cooking fat that makes the most of your bacon and sausage drippings.
Handy Recipes That Use Mixed Bacon and Sausage Grease
Looking for recipe inspiration that will make tasty use of your blended bacon-sausage grease? Here are some flavorful ideas:
Savory Breakfast Potatoes
- Dice 2 lbs russet potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
- Toss potatoes with 1 tbsp mixed bacon-sausage grease, 1 tsp mincedrosemary, salt and pepper.
- Roast in a 450°F oven for 25-30 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Sausage, Kale and White Bean Skillet
- Cook 8 oz Italian sausage in 1 tbsp mixed grease until browned.
- Add 3 cups chopped kale and 1 can cannellini beans, drained. Sauté until kale is wilted.
- Season with garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
Smoky Baked Beans
- Sauté 1 cup chopped onion and 2 cloves minced garlic in 2 tbsps mixed grease.
- Add 3 cans baked beans, 1 cup barbecue sauce, 1 tbsp mustard.
- Bake at 325°F for 1 hour.
Green Bean Amandine
- Steam 1 lb fresh green beans until crisp-tender. Keep warm.
- In a skillet, sauté 1/4 cup sliced almonds in 1 tbsp mixed grease.
- Toss green beans with almond mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
The Final Verdict on Mixing Bacon and Sausage Grease
While blending bacon drippings and sausage drippings isn’t necessarily traditional, the end result can be a flavor-packed cooking fat that adds a savory boost to all sorts of dishes. With proper storage and use, mixed bacon-sausage grease is a tasty way to get the most out of your meat byproducts. Just be mindful of the potential drawbacks and limit intake for good health. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal cooking style and preference. So give it a try and see if this quirky combo has a place in your kitchen!
What To Serve With Bacon And Sausage Gravy
Serve this bacon and sausage gravy with breakfast foods like fried or crispy potatoes, mashed potatoes, flaky biscuits, egg-based casseroles or omelets, or even chicken fried steak!
You can also add this gravy to other recipes, like biscuit and gravy casserole, gravy stuffed biscuits, and gravy biscuit cups.
Why You’ll Love This Gravy
- Brighten Breakfast. Adding bacon and sausage gravy to different breakfast foods makes them taste better!
- Adds Flavor. Adding bacon to regular sausage gravy raises the amount of fat, which makes the dish taste better.
- Easy. It only takes a few simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes to make this bacon and sausage gravy.
5-Star Sausage Gravy with Ree Drummond | The Pioneer Woman | Food Network
Can you mix Bacon and sausage grease?
Yes, you can mix bacon and sausage grease together. Both bacon and sausage grease can add flavor to dishes and can be used interchangeably in recipes. However, it is important to note that bacon grease tends to have a stronger and more distinct flavor compared to sausage grease.
Is sausage grease the same as bacon grease?
Both bacon and sausage grease can add flavor to dishes and can be used interchangeably in recipes. However, it is important to note that bacon grease tends to have a stronger and more distinct flavor compared to sausage grease. Therefore, when using the mixed grease, the resulting flavor may be a combination of both bacon and sausage.
Can you make homemade gravy with bacon grease?
For generations, Appalachian families have fried bacon, then used the “grease” to create homemade gravy. This milk gravy with bacon grease can also be made with sausage and black pepper, depending on your preference. Follow along to learn how to make white gravy. You can make homemade white breakfast gravy from bacon, flour and milk!
Can you cook bacon & sausage at the same time?
Yes, you can cook bacon and sausage in the same pan at the same time on a stovetop. Start by cooking the sausages first, as they generally take longer to cook than bacon. Once the sausages are almost done, add the bacon to the pan and cook them together until both are cooked to your desired level of crispiness.
Can a dog eat bacon grease?
Eat it, feed it to the dog, make some colcannon or a batch of potato soup with it, whatever. We don’t need it. Next, pour the bacon grease into a separate container and immediately spoon about 5 Tablespoons worth back into the skillet. Then add in about 4 Tablespoons of flour. All-purpose is fine.
How long does it take to grill bacon & sausage?
The cooking time for grilling bacon and sausages can vary depending on the thickness and type of meat. As a general guideline, bacon typically takes about 8-12 minutes to grill, flipping halfway through. Sausages usually require around 15-20 minutes on the grill, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking.