How to store bacon grease
Best place: the fridge. USDA gives bacon grease a fridge time (6 months, from purchase) and no pantry time, so it belongs in the fridge as soon as you get home. The freezer gives 12 months.
No guideline
6 months
from purchase
12 months
best quality within
How to tell bacon grease has gone bad
General signs for condiments, sauces & canned goods, the group USDA lists bacon grease under.
- Dented, bulging or rusted cans, especially at the seams
- Hissing sound or spray when a can or jar is opened
- Mould on the surface of a sauce or condiment
- Separation, discoloration or a sharp off smell from the jar
- Metallic taste or cloudy liquid in canned food
More on condiments, sauces & canned goods. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Refrigerate opened condiments and sauces with their lids on tightly, and use a clean spoon each time to avoid contamination. Store unopened cans in a cool, dry cupboard, and once opened, transfer leftover canned food to a covered container in the fridge rather than storing it in the can.
How to store other condiments, sauces & canned goods
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.