Can You Fry Chicken in Bacon Grease? [If, Yes. How Do I Do It?]

Frying chicken in Bacon grease is a practice that goes quite a few centuries back, way before refined oils were even introduced. Frying chicken in bacon grease imparts flavor as well as fat for cooking. So, it is not unusual to fry chicken in bacon grease although as unusual as that may sound.

It is not unusual to fry chicken in bacon grease. In fact, bacon grease will impart a smokiness and make the chicken even more delicious. Chicken can be fried perfectly in bacon grease by heating it to 350-375 F which will ensure that the chicken retains its crispiness and remains moist from within.

Is It Safe to Fry Chicken in Bacon Grease?

Absolutely it is safe to fry chicken in bacon grease. In fact, it is a good addition to the oil of your choice. It imparts a smoky as well as a salty flavor to the chicken. Chicken fried in bacon grease is tastier. The viscosity and the density of the bacon grease stop the chicken from drying out during the frying process.

Also, bacon grease is lower in cholesterol than butter. Like canola and olive oil bacon fat is considered high in oleic acid thus it lowers inflammation and does not increase cholesterol. Also, it is cheaper and thus saves cost.

However, there are a few risks as bacon fat is high in nitrates and sodium which increases salt levels in the and might not be healthy for people with higher blood pressure levels. Also, cooking at higher temperatures than usual can turn nitrates carcinogenic increasing the risks of cancer.

Benefits of Frying Chicken in Bacon Grease:

1. Imparts a smokiness as well as saltiness to the chicken.
2. The chicken turns out to be more flavourful.
3. Stops the chicken from drying out.
4. Is lower in cholesterol and reduces inflammation.
5. Saves cost.

Risks of Frying Chicken in Bacon Grease:

1. Bacon Grease is high in nitrates and sodium, which can be a cause for concern.
2. Also, if higher temperatures are used the nitrates in bacon grease turn into carcinogens which can lead to cancer.
3. Higher salt levels may not be good for people with an affinity to rising blood pressure levels.

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How To Fry Chicken in Bacon Fat?

Frying chicken in bacon grease is pretty similar to frying it in oil. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Cut or scoop some bacon grease
2. Add it to the pan, skillet, or deep fryer.
3. Heat it up to 375 degrees.
4. Add the chicken pieces and fry.
5. Do not overcrowd the pan.
6. Fry till the pieces are crisp and brown.

Suggested Reading: Pan Frying vs Deep Frying Chicken [The Differences Debate!]

Is Bacon Grease Better Than Oil To Fry Chicken?

Chicken is fried in various types of oils such as sunflower oil, peanut oil, and canola oil which are neutral flavor oils. However, they do impact the texture of the chicken to a great extent while frying. Adding bacon grease while frying or frying in bacon grease itself imparts a great flavor to the chicken.

Bacon grease can be added to the oil of your choice or chicken can be fried in the grease itself.

Things To Know Before You Start Frying Chicken in Bacon Grease:

Bacon fat has a fairly good shelf life, however, exposure to heat, light, or improper storage will make the fat rancid and thus you will not be able to cook with it. The other main factor that shall impact the quality of bacon grease and lead it to spoil quickly is improper straining of the fat. If you have used the bacon grease and there are some remnants left then your fat will spoil at a much faster rate than expected.

What Temperatures Can You Fry Chicken with Bacon Grease?

Bacon Grease has a fairly good smoke point of 375 – 400 degrees which is quite high compared to many other fats thus it can be easily used to cook chicken. The ideal temperature to cook chicken is 375 degrees.

Depending on the quality of the bacon fat and also if you are using fresh fat or reusing it, bacon grease can sustain higher temperatures. However, you shouldn’t use bacon grease higher than 400 degrees or for searing meats this fat is unable to withstand the higher temperatures and is prone to burning.

How Long Is Bacon Grease Safe to Fry Chicken With?

Bacon Grease has a shelf life of about 90 days however, there are many factors that might affect its quality and make it go rancid much sooner than expected. Thus, always check the fat if it is good to use. Outside temperatures, humidity, the jar in which the grease is stored as well as how the grease is stored all affect the quality and the shelf life of bacon grease.

Can You Reuse Bacon Grease To Fry Chicken Grease?

Frying chicken with reused bacon grease is not uncommon and it is done quite often. However, it affects the taste and texture of the chicken. Generally, once the bacon grease has been used it should be thrown out but there is no hard and fast rule against using it.

However, once you have collected the bacon grease just ensure that it has been stored properly and hasn’t turned rancid.

There are a few measures that can be taken to ensure that bacon grease has been stored properly.

1. Use a strainer to strain the grease or a cheesecloth. Ensure that there aren’t any bits of bacon left in it.
2. Store the grease in a clean, airtight container while still warm.
3. Always store the bacon grease in the refrigerator for reusing again.

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