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Farm Kitchen:  Bacon Grease Unrefrigerated??  |
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CrunchyMama
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Christina
Portland
OR
USA
4 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 6:26:00 PM
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Does anyone out there leave bacon grease on the counter, or any other kinds of rendered animal fats? and if so at what point do you throw it out, or what if your only using the top portion and never seem to get to the bottom of your jar of fat? Is the bottom stuff preserved with the stuff on top or is it going rancid and spoiling all of it???? I'm trying to use the refrigerator less and hopefully do away with it soon, so wanting to learn how these things were handled in the past.
Thanks!! |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 6:29:35 PM
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I don't, and I can't remember if my mother did...It sure seemed like it was under the cabinet, but I was little :). I keep my bacon grease (horrors!) in a mug in the fridge. It's never around long enough to consider throwing out because we melt it over the dogs food, use it for eggs, or for sauteeing onions for burgers, or my husbands favorite (not mine!) frying Tortino's pizza rolls in it--as it they weren't unhealthy enough :)
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
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melanie47601
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Melanie
Boonville
IN
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 6:41:15 PM
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My mom always kept hers in a coffee can by the stove. She still does. I don't know if she's ever had to throw any out.
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart." Helen Keller
http://wheelsarealwaysturning.blogspot.com/ |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 7:05:39 PM
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I remember my grandma doing that..but it wasn't around long for sure. I keep mine in a pint canning jar in the fridge when I have some.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 8:07:55 PM
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my grandmother would keep ours in a sealed crisco container on the counter..but... and this is merely my opinion..a lot of the grease drippings would have bits and pieces of left over meat..me personally I would keep something like that refrigerated due to the fact that there just "might" be meat pieces left in it.
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Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 8:39:36 PM
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| Anything from cured meats will go rancid in time, especially in hot weather. Even if frozen, ham and bacon can go bad in time, much faster than uncured meats. I'd keep it in the fridge if not using it all the time. I don't use much bacon, so try to keep a little bit on hand for flavoring. |
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CrunchyMama
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Christina
Portland
OR
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 8:44:18 PM
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| Thanks everyone. What about things like lard that don't have any meat flecks in them? If it's pure fat, like butter seems fine on the counter for as longs as it's capable of not being eaten! |
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Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 8:50:19 PM
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| In my opinion, anything in the 'grease' category, including oils, will go rancid. Some sooner than others. Lot depends on the temp in the kitchen, too. The cooler it is, the longer it will keep. I keep my butter in a butter bell and change the water daily. Look up Butter Bell online, you could improvise with dishes you already have most likely. The water seals it from the air and keeps it fresher. |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 10:34:11 AM
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My grandma kept her bacon grease in a can next to the stove for as long as I can remember, it had a little strainer that strained out the pieces of meat. Mom kept lard on the shelf. I keep butter and margarine on the counter. I wouldn't have a problem keeping bacon grease on the counter, I just don't use enough of the grease often enough to warrent keeping it.
Farmgirl #208
What are you doing with your dash? |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 11:06:44 AM
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I always kept mine in the fridge, but my mom and grandma always kept theirs out. In fact, my mom always kept her margarine in the cupboard, so it would stay soft. I don't condone that, but we never got sick and it always tasted fine. When we are staying at the cabin, I keep my bacon fat in a cup in the warming oven of my wood cook stove. I use it almost every meal, for one thing or another and it never goes rancid. We don't have refrigeration over there, so I have pushed the limits, without any bad results so far.
Farmgirl Sister #98
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 11:18:04 AM
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I always keep my drippin's in a can in the fridge. We use old peanut cans. When one gets full it gives us an excuse to buy some more cashews so we can have a can. Lol.
May God bless those who love the soil,
Patsy
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Hideaway Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1553 Posts
Jo
Virginia
USA
1553 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 12:07:05 PM
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I have always kept mine in the fridge, too. I like the idea of the Butter Bell suggeted by Ronna. I'll have to check that out.
Jo
"Wish I had time to work with herbs all day!" |
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QueenofQuiteAlot
True Blue Farmgirl
865 Posts
Dalyn
Milk 'n Honey Ranch
Central, WA
USA
865 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 12:51:23 PM
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I keep mine (bacon drippings) in the fridge. My Olive oil goes into a dark cool cupboard, and coconut oil is really safe and will stay good waaaaay long. Those are the only three oils I use for cooking. All the others I use for soapmaking get stored in a cool, dark, dry place. Oils that taste bitter or smell "off" are rancid and no longer any good.
Dalyn
Muckboots 'N Aprons Chapter
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2350 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 4:23:37 PM
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I keep mine in a little covered crock in the fridge. Mom always had hers in a coffee can by the stove. She didn't keep mayonnaise in the fridge, either, and none of us got sick or died :-)
Happiness is Homemade |
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 4:44:47 PM
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I can't fathom not keeping mayo in the fridge!  Wow...
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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CrunchyMama
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Christina
Portland
OR
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 7:03:15 PM
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| Thanks so much for everyone's comments! This group is amazing! I think I'm going to try leaving it out in a jar with a filter to get the bits out. I'm curious about doing some research on the mayo. I've never heard of that and would love to learn how it was dealt with in the past. I wonder if having fresh farm eggs might be a key ingredient on making that safe... |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2350 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2008 : 09:59:45 AM
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We did live in a cooler climate when I was little so maybe that makes a difference. Mom used to seal her jams and jellies with parafin, too. I did that at first when I moved to a warmer climate and they grew mold so I had to hot seal the jars.
Happiness is Homemade |
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Sandra K. Licher
True Blue Farmgirl
1106 Posts
Sandra
Horseshoe Bend
Arkansas
1106 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2008 : 10:16:06 AM
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I keep bacon drippings in a mayo jar in the frig but my butter sits out all the time and has never gone bad....does that mean I am eating too much butter??? I LOVE my butter! I tried some of that Smart Balance a while back trying to be "healthy" and it wouldn't melt and I threw it out....hated to waste it but I couldn't deal with that stuff just sitting there on my food without melting...YUCK!
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226 |
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Sagewood
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
South Carolina
106 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2008 : 4:37:43 PM
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They key to keeping mayo unrefrigerated is, NEVER put it in the fridge. Once you open it, it has to stay at room temp. Once it goes it the fridge, it must stay in the fridge.
I keep my butter on the counter (can't stand hard butter) and my bacon grease in the cabinet..neither in the fridge
Sage,
The Hedgewife
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Edited by - Sagewood on Jun 28 2008 4:39:39 PM |
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Farm Kitchen: Bacon Grease Unrefrigerated?? |
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Bacon Grease Unrefrigerated??
