Bacon Fat Candle

Ah, bacon ! When I was growing up, my mother kept a container on the range, into which she poured rendered bacon fat, to be used as shorting and seasoning for many dishes. This was not only common in the south, but pretty much everywhere in the 50’s and 60’s. Not without reason, however, it has fallen out of favor due to health concerns. But food and cooking are like most things – all’s well in moderation. So it was with awe and amazement that I discovered the Bacon Fat Candle. I was watching a food show on TV which featured a fancy steak restaurant, and there, on the table, was the candle. I was shocked, as were the restaurant patrons, when the proprietor poured the ‘wax’ out of the candle, and onto the steak ! When he announced that it was bacon fat, I relaxed, and said to myself, “Yes, yes I can”!

Well, it turns out that you can buy bacon fat candles on the internet, but most of these are just ‘bacon scented’, and may not be edible. No worry – they are easy to make.

First, you will need a few candle supplies: A wick, a wick base, and an empty votive candle glass. All are readily available at art and craft stores, such as Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. Make sure you get wicks that are not wax coated, or that have metal cores.

 

Attach a candle wick to the wick base, and place it in your votive candle glass, making sure it is centered. I did this by using excess wick, wrapped around a toothpick, and suspending it into the glass.

After that, all you need is a pound of bacon. Simply chop up the bacon, put it in a pot (easier for pouring) and begin to cook it over medium low heat. The object is to render the fat, without fully cooking the bacon, and potentially burning it.  When you have enough bacon fat, pour it into the candle, and then refrigerate it, so the fat congeals. Of course, you should continue cooking the bacon, so you end up with a nice supply of fresh bacon bits.

When done, all you have to do is light the candle, wait for the fat to melt and enjoy the melted fat poured over a steak, as shown below. The candle will last for at least a month, covered and refrigerated.

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