Ground beef is a versatile and popular ingredient used in many delicious dishes like burgers, meatballs, chili, tacos, and more. However, after cooking ground beef, you’re often left with grease in the pan. While some home cooks immediately pour it down the drain, this grease can actually be repurposed in creative ways instead of being wasted.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 clever uses for ground beef grease that transform it from a kitchen nuisance to a handy cooking asset.
Why You Shouldn’t Pour Grease Down the Drain
Before jumping into the ideas, it’s important to understand why you shouldn’t pour grease down the drain. When grease goes down the sink, it sticks to pipes and causes clogs. It also builds up in sewers, creating obstructions and blockages known as “fatbergs.”
These issues can lead to sewage backups and expensive plumbing repairs. So for the sake of your pipes and the environment, it’s best to avoid putting grease down drains. The good news is, there are plenty of great uses for it!
15 Creative Ways to Use Ground Beef Grease
1. Frying Oil
Ground beef grease has a high smoke point, making it suitable for sautéing and stir-frying Use it in place of oils for frying eggs, potatoes, chicken, or other meats to add rich, beefy flavor.
2. Flavor Booster
Whisk a bit of grease into soups, stews, sauces, or gravies as you’re cooking them. The grease infuses them with savory umami flavor
3. Roast Potatoes
Toss potato wedges, carrots, or other roasted veggies with a little melted grease before roasting. It gives a delicious crispiness and flavor.
4. Popcorn Topping
For a savory snack, drizzle a small amount of grease over popcorn. Sprinkle on some spices too if desired.
5. Meatball and Meatloaf Binder
Mix some grease into the ground meat when making meatballs or meatloaf. It keeps them tender and moist while ramping up the beefy taste.
6. Cast Iron Seasoning
Rub a thin layer of grease on cast iron skillets and pans to help season them, maintaining the non-stick surface.
7. Flavored Butters
Blend room temperature grease with herbs, spices, or minced garlic to make flavorful compound butters for steaks, bread, or corn.
8. Pet Food
In moderation, mix a bit of grease into your dog or cat’s dry kibble to add taste and calories. Check with your vet first though.
9. Homemade Dog Treats
Whip up some homemade dog biscuits using grease as an ingredient. Dogs love the meaty flavor! Again, consult your vet before feeding.
10. Savory Pie Crust
Use chilled grease in place of part or all the butter when making pie crusts. It gives a wonderful crispy texture and rich taste.
11. Flavored Popcorn Topping
Jazz up popcorn by melting grease and mixing in spices, cheese powder, or other flavors before drizzling over the popcorn.
12. Bread or Biscuit Frying
Pan-fry bread slices or biscuit dough in grease for breakfast. It crisps and browns them beautifully.
13. Add to Beans
Stir a spoonful of grease into pots of beans as they cook to add heartiness.
14. Gravy and Sausage Making
Save grease in the fridge or freezer to use as a flavorful fat for making gravy, sausages, and other items that need animal fat.
15. Candles
If you have a lot saved up, consider making candles with grease. Create fun shapes by pouring into silicone molds.
Proper Storage of Grease
To safely save ground beef grease for later use, it’s important to store it properly. Here are some tips:
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Allow grease to cool slightly after cooking. Strain it through a fine mesh sieve to remove food bits.
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Transfer grease into an airtight glass or metal container. Mason jars work great.
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Label the container with the date and contents. Store in the fridge for 1-3 months or freezer for 4-6 months.
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Inspect grease before using. If it smells off or has an odd texture, discard it.
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Keep different types of saved greases separate. Don’t mix bacon grease with ground beef grease, for example.
With proper storage, you can keep ground beef grease on hand for whenever inspiration to use it strikes!
Grease Usage Precautions
While ground beef grease has many applications, it’s important to keep a few precautions in mind:
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Use in moderation, as grease is high in saturated fat. Too much could have negative health effects.
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Don’t use grease from burnt or overcooked ground beef, as it may have an acrid flavor.
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Don’t reuse grease after prolonged storage, as it can go rancid. Use freshly strained grease within a few weeks.
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Avoid mixing new grease with already used grease, as old grease may have impurities.
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Certain pets like dogs may tolerate small amounts, but avoid giving to cats or birds. Check with your vet first.
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Grease is not a direct 1-to-1 substitute for butter or oils in baking recipes. It may lead to off tastes or textures.
With a bit of care and common sense, ground beef grease can become a handy kitchen helper! So next time you cook ground beef, don’t pour that grease out – put it to good use instead!
StepsMethod
- 1 Cook the ground beef on medium-low for 10 minutes. Break up the ground beef in a large nonstick pan and place it on your stovetop. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook the meat for around 10 minutes, stirring it occasionally.[1]
- The meat should brown as you cook it.
- Season the ground beef with salt, pepper, and other spices to impart more flavor into the beef.
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2 Push the ground beef to one side of the pan. Use a fork or spoon to push the meat to one side of the pan. Tilt the pan towards the empty side so that the grease pools in one corner of the skillet.[2]
- Don’t tilt the pan too much or you may spill some of the grease out.
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- 3 Spoon the grease into a bowl or spare can. Use a large metal spoon to remove the grease in the pan. For easier cleanup, spoon the grease into a spare aluminum can that you can throw away later. If you don’t have a spare can, line a bowl or cup with aluminum foil and spoon the grease into it.[3]
- Lining the bowl or glass with tin foil makes it easier to clean up later but isn’t necessary.
- 4 Suck up the grease with a turkey baster rather than using a spoon. Squeeze the bulb of the baster and place the tip of the baster into the grease. Release the bulb to suck the grease up through the baster.[4]
- Make sure that hot grease doesn’t go into the bulb of the baster or it may melt it.
- 5 Absorb the grease with paper towels for easy cleanup. Take 2-3 paper towels and dab the grease. If there’s still grease in the pan, get more paper towels and continue dabbing the grease. Make sure not to touch the metal part of the pan with your hands or you could burn yourself.[5]
- Let the paper towels cool for 1-2 minutes and then throw them into the trash.
- 6 Freeze the fat if you put the grease in a bowl or can. Let the grease cool for 10-20 minutes and then place it in the freezer. The grease should solidify within 1-2 hours. If you froze the grease in the can, you can just throw away the can. If you froze the grease in a bowl, spoon it out into the trash.[6]
- You can also use the frozen grease as a replacement for butter or lard when you cook.
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FAQ
What to do with the grease after cooking ground beef?
The simplest way to dispose of bacon or ground beef grease is to just throw it out, although you can’t do it immediately because hot grease will melt a …Mar 18, 2024
Is ground beef fat good for anything?
Beef fat is an important part of a healthy diet, and here’s why. It contains many essential vitamins and nutrients that are found in other animal fats as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to reduce inflammation and lower the risk for heart disease.
How do you dispose of leftover hamburger grease?
Place a medium size piece of foil in the kitchen sink drain, pour grease into it, allow it to cool, then fold sides to the middle & dispose of in trash.
Is it okay to pour ground beef grease down the drain?
No, you should not pour ground beef grease (or any type of grease) down the drain. It can solidify in the pipes and cause blockages, leading to plumbing issues.