10 Greatest Bacon Grease Substitutes

There is no better way to start the day than than smelling crispy cooked bacon. These thin slices of pork strike the pinch, and when coupled with bread or any other breakfast dish, you’re guaranteed to receive your morning energy boost.

As if bacon wasn’t already delectable, frying it produces bacon grease, which is luscious and flavorful. Bacon grease is used in a variety of meals, including cornbread and collard greens; it may also be added to other foods to enhance flavor and depth.

If you don’t eat pig for religious or health reasons, or just don’t have any on hand, there are various bacon grease replacements you may use instead. If you do not eat animal products, you may substitute vegan bacon grease.

Olive oil, butter, vegetable shortening, chicken skin grease, coconut oil, sesame seed oil, beef fat, sunflower oil, ghee, and lard are the finest bacon grease replacements.

Let’s learn more about these alternatives and how to utilize them to replace bacon grease!

What is Bacon Grease?

Bacon grease, also known as bacon fat or bacon drippings, is a byproduct of gently frying bacon on the stovetop or in the oven.

Bacon grease is collected after frying bacon; the fats are allowed to cool before being utilized in famous dishes throughout the globe to add depth and flavor.

When left at room temperature, bacon grease solidifies, therefore the best method to keep it is in the refrigerator.

Best Substitutes For Bacon Grease

1. Butter

Because of the comparable extraction process, butter also makes a great alternative for bacon grease. Yet, butter has a considerably softer and creamier physical look than lard.

While butter is not normally a plant-based food, if you want vegan bacon grease, you can substitute some plant-based variant.

Butter has a rich and pleasant taste, an aromatic scent, and a creamier texture than bacon fat without being as decadent.

Butter may be used for sautéing and pan-frying, as well as keeping baked products from sticking to the pan while providing taste. It gives baked items and sweets a superb texture and volume.

Butter contains a lot of beta-carotene, vitamin A, E, B12, and K2, all of which are good for your eyes, bones, and skin.

Nevertheless, you should take butter in moderation since it includes a lot of calories and fatty acids that may be harmful if consumed in large quantities.

2. Lard

Lard has a modest scent but a strong taste that is amplified when sautéed garlic and onions. Lard comes in a variety of forms, ranging from plant-based to animal-based.

It is an excellent substitute for bacon grease, producing a very flavorful and fragrant product. Lard has a solid consistency similar to butter and may be used for roasting, grilling, sautéing, frying, and baking.

You may use a modest quantity of lard to oil a skillet or a cupful for deep frying, depending on your needs.

Lard includes essential healthy fats that aid in the correct functioning of your heart. Lard has around 48% monounsaturated fatty acids, which is significantly lower than olive oil, which contains 77% monounsaturated fatty acids.

These fats assist to decrease blood cholesterol levels and keep cells healthy.

3. Beef Fat

Nothing beats an animal-based substance, such as beef fat, for simulating bacon grease. This substitute for bacon fat may be used in gravies, marinades, and general cooking.

It has a delicious taste and improves the scent of spices. But, while using beef fat, you must exercise caution to prevent burning your steak and seasonings; burned beef fat has a harsh flavor.

By utilizing beef fat, you may elevate your noodles, pasta, or rice recipes to a whole new level of flavor.

4. Chicken Skin Grease

If you don’t consume pig, another animal-based replacement is chicken skin grease. The crispy texture of chicken skin is similar to that of bacon, and the residual fat may be utilized for stir-frying, sautéing, and adding a highly flavorful taste and pleasant scent to any meal.

You may not be able to tell the difference between chicken skin grease and bacon fat if you use it in practically every meal that calls for bacon grease.

5. Vegetable Shortening

Vegetable shortening may be used in lieu of bacon fat to oil baking pans to protect baked items from sticking.

This alternative may also be used in various culinary techniques such sautéing vegetables, frying poultry, and preparing gravy.

Since vegetable shortening is primarily prepared from soybean oil, it has no trans fat and has a high smoke point, allowing you to cook items at high heats without burning them.

Shortening from vegetables should not be confused with lard, which is essentially a large fat, sometimes known as pig tallow. Since it is a non-hydrogenated fat, it is a healthier alternative to bacon grease. It is suitable for high-temperature cooking such as frying and sautéing.

6. Ghee

Ghee is a popular cooking fat in India; it is also known as the elixir of life and has been utilized for hundreds of years in ayurvedic medicine for its medicinal powers.

Ghee is a replacement for bacon grease in many different cuisines across the globe.

Ghee has a long shelf life and may be kept at room temperature for extended periods of time without spoiling.

Vegan/Vegetarian Bacon Grease Substitutes

7. Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is often used in Asian foods; it may be used in soups, stews, rice, noodles, sauces, marinades, toppings, and even desserts; it has a highly delicious taste and can be used as a topping for practically anything.

Sesame oil is obtained from sesame seeds and is an edible vegetable oil that may be used as a cooking oil as well as a taste enhancer. Sesame oil’s nutty taste and perfume enhance the flavor and aroma of your foods.

It is a healthier alternative to bacon grease since it contains antioxidants and other beneficial chemicals that assist your body fight free radicals.

Sesame oil also includes vitamin E and phytosterols, which lower the chance of developing chronic illnesses, as well as important anti-inflammatory characteristics that help keep your heart and bones healthy.

8. Peanut Oil

Another tasty vegetarian option for bacon fat is peanut oil. It has a nutty and rich taste as well as a pleasant scent.

But, you must exercise extra caution while cooking with peanut oil since it has a high burning threshold; burned peanut oil tastes dreadfully unpleasant and may spoil your food.

Peanut oil may be used in marinades, dips, sauces, and to sauté vegetables. Peanut oil is a fantastic alternative for bacon grease since it is high in vitamin E, omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants, all of which have health advantages.

It promotes good cardiac control and keeps your blood glucose levels stable. Peanut oil’s vitamin E presence protects your body from free radicals, which harm cells and may even cause cancer.

Peanut oil is an excellent diabetic option to hog grease and other fatty cooking oils. It may aid in the reduction of LDL cholesterol (commonly known as bad cholesterol) in the body.

9. Olive Oil

Olive oil is another plant-based alternative to bacon fat. It has a faint and delicate scent and is a good choice for individuals who are concerned about cholesterol or trans fat.

You may sprinkle olive oil straight over salad dressings or savory dips. It may also be used to improve the flavor of spices and meat while they are cooking.

Olive oil may be used in a number of recipes, including pasta, curries, and baked goods. It contains vitamin E, K, antioxidants, and monounsaturated fats, as well as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory qualities that may help prevent strokes and heart disease.

Olive oil also assists in weight reduction and lowers the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

10. Coconut Oil

Another vegetarian alternative to bacon fat is coconut oil. It comes in liquid and solid forms and may be used in almost all recipes that call for bacon fat.

This oil fights heart disease and cancer, and it also has antibacterial characteristics that strengthen your immune system.

Coconut oil also promotes weight reduction by improving metabolism and energy levels. These replacements not only work well in lieu of bacon grease, but they may also be utilized as a healthier alternative to typical oils such as vegetable or corn oils.

Coconut oil is made from the edible section of mature coconuts and may be used in both cooking and skincare. It may also be used as a hair moisturizer, making coconut oil a popular cosmetic product among women.