Lafleur

The trend never fades - bacon is still popular. From appetizers to desserts, chefs play with bacon and even dip it in chocolate. Why? Because bacon has a unique taste that enhances the flavour of any dish. So, rather than throwing out the fat from the bottom of your pan, here are a few tips from our experts to get the most out of this popular and versatile food.

To start:

• Place a funnel in a glass jar with a lid.
• Carefully pour the bacon fat into the jar.
• Let cool on the kitchen counter.
• Cover the jar and refrigerate the fat. It will solidify and could be used instead of butter or oil.

Our top 10 ideas for use:

1. Cook with bacon fat rather than using oil or butter to spice up your specialities such as pan-fried steaks, sautéed vegetables, pastries, crepes or waffles, pork and beans, meat pies, fish or seafood chowders, etc.
2. Melt a bit of bacon fat and pour it over your uncooked popcorn for amazing popcorn.
3. Add it to your cooking oil for exquisite home fries.
4. Use it to grease your muffin moulds when you cook salted muffins.
5. Combine it hot with cream cheese to accompany your vegetables - truly surprising!
6. Add a few drops to your vinaigrettes - exquisite results guaranteed!
7. Mix some with your bird feed to help our feathered friends keep warm during cold winter days.
8. "Flavour" a new frying pan or cast iron wok by rubbing the surfaces with bacon fat and heat for 15 minutes in the oven at 300°F. Remove the fat and heat your pan or wok for another 2 hours. This method allows you to prepare and protect the cast iron prior to use.
9. Dip a piece of stale bread in bacon fat and put it in a rattrap. Your unwanted visitor will not be able to resist. (If your municipality allows it, of course.)
10. Stimulate Fido's interest in food using bacon fat. His coat will certainly become shiny!