Fat Can

The Fat Can. It doesn't have the most pleasant of titles, but it is a cheap and easy way to keep oil on deck for sauteing foods, plus a great way to add in the smokey taste of bacon to whatever food you're cooking. The Fat Can is something my parents started a long time ago. It is a simple concept (though some may be grossed out by the idea) that I have found has come in handy lots of times, giving my food that extra "oomph!" The best part is; anyone with a tin can and some bacon can easily start a Fat Can. All you do is: after cooking up some bacon, rather than tossing out the leftover bacon fat that is left in the pan, pour the hot fat (while it's still liquidy) into a clean tin can.--I just used an old can from some green beans, washed it out, and pealed off the label. Simple as that!--Allow the Fat Can to sit at room temperature until the bacon fat has started to solidify. Then transfer it into the fridge to cool. That's it. Now you have a Fat Can!

The next time you go to saute some onions or mushrooms, rather than use up any cooking oil; add in a spoon full of the bacon fat and saute the onions or mushrooms in that. Not only does it work great as a substitute for cooking oil when sauteing things, but it will add a hit of delicious bacon flavor to the food as well. Whenever I am cooking up hash browns or veggies to add into a breakfast frittata, I always go for the Fat Can to add in a little of that delicious bacon taste. It's a great way to get a hint of the flavor without having to cook up any bacon on the spot.

The Fat Can can store in the fridge for months too! I have never had it go bad! And each time you cook up more bacon (whether it's a day later or a month later), you can simply pour the hot grease in with the bacon fat that is already in the can. It will cause the older bacon fat to melt and mingle with the new, so you don't have to worry about all the old stuff sitting forever on the bottom.

So there you have it! The Fat Can. Try not to be put off by it's name. Besides; in the old days before hydrogenated oils, what else do you think they used to fry things up with?....Fat! It's a great way to use up what you would otherwise have thrown out, it adds great flavor to cooked foods, and it's inexpensive.

[To the Batman theme song] Nana Nana Nana Nana FAT CAN!!!