Can You Use Bacon Grease to Make Bird Suet?

Bird suet is an energy-dense treat that helps wild birds survive cold winter months. Typically made from rendered beef fat or vegetable shortening, suet provides vital calories to birds. But if you happen to have leftover bacon drippings can you use bacon grease to craft homemade suet for your feathered friends? Let’s explore the possibilities of this savory substitute.

What is Bird Suet?

Suet is a high-fat bird food usually composed of rendered animal fat seed and other ingredients. The fat comes from sources like beef, mutton, or lard. The dense fat calories provide birds with the energy they need to maintain body heat and survive frigid temperatures.

Commercially, suet is sold in solid cakes or doughy bundles stuffed into mesh bags. It’s convenient to slip a suet cake into a hanging feeder. But it’s also very easy to DIY suet at home using things you likely have in your pantry and fridge.

Why Use Bacon Grease for Bird Suet?

Leftover bacon drippings seem like a perfect way to add extra flavor to suet, Here are some benefits of using bacon grease

• Infuses suet with savory bacon essence that birds find appealing

• Provides a purpose for leftover bacon fat instead of discarding

• Adds smoky, salty flavor from the bacon

• Utilizes an animal fat like traditional suet recipes call for

• May be more accessible than locating raw beef suet or fat

Bacon grease is basically already rendered and ready to be shaped into suet. As long as you follow proper proportions and recipes, it can make an enticing and energy-dense winter treat for birds.

Potential Drawbacks of Bacon Grease Suet

However, there are a few potential drawbacks to keep in mind:

• Very high in saturated fat and sodium

• May spoil faster than beef suet due to salt content

• Strong bacon flavor may overwhelm other ingredients

• Does not form as firm/solid as beef fat suet

• Fatty acid profile not as nutritionally beneficial as beef suet

• Needs straining to remove bacon bits to prevent spoilage

While bacon grease can provide calories, relying on it exclusively may not be the healthiest choice for birds. Combining bacon grease with rendered beef fat may help balance the nutritional profile.

Best Practices for Making Bacon Suet

If you want to craft suet from bacon drippings, here are some tips:

• Choose unsalted or low-sodium bacon when possible to limit sodium levels.

• Mix bacon grease with rendered beef fat or vegetable shortening for best texture and firmness. A 50/50 ratio is ideal.

• Strain the grease through a sieve or cheesecloth to remove bacon bits before mixing into suet. Bits can cause spoilage.

• Limit bacon grease to 1/4 to 1/3 of the total fat content. Use beef fat or shortening as the bulk fat source.

• Add extra powdered milk or cornmeal if your suet is too moist or soft. This helps bind it.

• Refrigerate or freeze suet promptly since the salt and moisture content make bacon grease suet more prone to spoiling.

• Place suet in a mesh bag or wrapped in cheesecloth rather than a full cake if using bacon grease. This prevents messes if it melts.

With smart practices, bacon grease can successfully be part of your bird suet recipe without compromising quality.

Sample Bacon Grease Suet Recipe

Here is a simple sample recipe to try:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rendered bacon fat, strained
• 1 cup rendered beef fat
• 2 cups yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 2-3 cups wild birdseed
• 1 cup rolled oats
• Dried fruit, chopped nuts, or mealworms (optional)

Directions:

1. Gently melt the bacon grease and beef fat over low heat in a saucepan. Allow to slightly cool.

2. Stir in the peanut butter until fully incorporated.

3. Mix in the cornmeal, then the birdseed, and oats. The oats help bind if needed.

4. Add any optional dried fruit, nuts, or mealworms for extra nutrition.

5. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap. Press suet mixture firmly into the pan.

6. Refrigerate until solid, about 2 hours. Invert pan to release.

7. Cut into portions and wrap in cheesecloth or place in mesh suet bags. Hang outside and enjoy watching birds feast!

The cornmeal, oats, and birdseed balance the rich fats. The peanut butter packs extra protein and flavor. This hearty suet will energize your birds on cold days!

Storing and Preserving Bacon Grease Suet

Proper storage is key to prevent bacon grease suet from spoiling early. Follow these tips:

• Refrigerate suet for up to 1 month. Keep pure bacon grease suet towards the colder back.

• Freeze suet for up to 6 months. Allow to thaw in the fridge before using.

• Wrap suet tightly in plastic wrap then foil or place it in an airtight container. Exclude air exposure.

• Use cheesecloth or mesh bags since they allow moisture to evaporate rather than trapping it against suet.

• Discard any suet that smells rancid or shows signs of mold, bubbles, weeping, or sliminess.

With closed packaging and cold storage, homemade bacon grease suet can stay fresh for extended periods.

Alternative Bird-Friendly Uses for Bacon Grease

If bird suet doesn’t appeal, consider these other bird-approved ways to use leftover bacon grease:

• Coat pine cones or wooden bird feeders – Helps birdseed adhere while adding a protective coating.

• Mix into melted candle wax – For bacon-scented candles to add ambiance to your home!

• Make birdseed ornaments – Roll fat-coated seeds in suet then hang outside for birds to nibble.

• Fill a birdbath – Add a bit of grease to the water to help insulate birds when bathing.

• Create a feeding platform – Pour grease on a plate or platform feeder and sprinkle seed.

Repurposing bacon grease reduces waste while giving your feathered pals a fun treat!

Should You Make Bacon Grease Suet for Birds?

Offering homemade suet is certainly a tasty way to supplement bird diets in winter. While bacon grease can be used, it may be healthier to use beef fat or vegetable oil as your prime fat sources. Limit bacon grease to a quarter or less of the total fat content. Combining it with nutritious ingredients like peanut butter, cornmeal, and birdseed helps balance the nutritional profile.

Monitor your suet closely and discard it if signs of spoilage appear. And as always, provide birds with a diverse buffet of food like seeds, fruits, and nectar to meet all their needs. With mindful moderation, a dash of bacon essence can add a crave-worthy flavor dimension to suet that birds will flock to all season long. Just be sure to store it properly in the fridge or freezer to maximize freshness.

Yes, you can use small amounts of bacon grease to create tasty suet cakes for wild birds. For best nutrition and texture, limit the bacon fat ratio and combine it with rendered beef suet, shortening, and other wholesome ingredients. Follow smart preparation, storage, and monitoring procedures to prevent premature spoilage. While an occasional bacon-infused suet cake can provide a savory winter treat, continue offering birds a balanced mix of food sources for optimal health. With responsible use of this flavorful fat, bacon grease can find purpose in bringing joy to both your breakfast table and your feathered friends.