Bacon is a beloved food that adds a savory, smoky flavor to many dishes.
While pre-made bacon bits can be purchased at the grocery store, making your own bacon powder at home allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor.
Bacon powder is simply crisp, cooked bacon that has been ground into a fine powder. It carries all the smoky, salty, savory flavor of bacon in an easy-to-sprinkle format.
Since all the fat is rendered out during the cooking process, bacon powder packs pure bacon taste without extra grease or calories. It keeps for weeks stored in an airtight container, making it an ideal ingredient to always have on hand.
The fine, powdery texture means the bacon powder dissolves quickly when heated or sprinkled onto dishes. This allows it to evenly coat foods and infuse them with a punch of bacon essence.
Bacon powder is also called bacon dust or bacon crumbles. It can be used as a condiment or finishing sprinkle in both sweet and savory recipes.
Key Takeaway: Bacon powder is made by cooking bacon until crisp, then grinding it into a fine powder for use as a seasoning.
Benefits of Making Homemade Bacon Powder
There are a few key advantages to making DIY bacon powder rather than buying premade:
- Ingredient control - By selecting high quality bacon and controlling the cooking method, you can craft bacon powder to suit your taste and diet.
- Cost savings - Making your own is cheaper than specialty store-bought bacon sprinkles.
- Customization - Change up ingredients like woods for smoking or mix in added spices to personalize flavor.
- Longer shelf life - Homemade powder lasts for weeks if stored properly. Bought crumbles lose freshness quickly.
The process of turning bacon into powder at home does take more active time than buying a jar off the shelf. However, the bonus taste and versatility make it well worth the effort.
Equipment Needed
Just a few basic kitchen tools are needed to DIY bacon powder:
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Large skillet
- Spatula
- Paper towels
- Food processor or blender
- Storage container with lid
You'll also need an oven or smoker if you want to add extra wood smoke flavor. However, stove-top crisping produces tasty results too.
Ingredients for Bacon Powder
The only real ingredient needed is bacon! Most recipes call for regular sliced bacon. Thick-cut bacon may need a bit longer cooking time to fully crisp and render.
For even more flavor, use an artisanal bacon cured with interesting spices or blends. Some options include:
- Peppered
- Maple-spiced
- Bourbon
- Cider-smoked
Homemade bacon powder shines when made with quality pork. The better the raw bacon tastes, the better the end sprinkle will be.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Bacon Powder
Homemade Bacon Powder - Recipe
Ingredients
- Bacon
Instructions
Cook the Bacon
- Lay raw bacon slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until dark brown and crispy. You can also pan fry over medium-high heat, pouring off excess fat as it renders out.
- Cooking until very crisp is crucial, as any unrendered fat or chewy pieces will quickly go rancid after being powdered. Well-done bacon will create a shelf-stable seasoning.
Cool and Dry
- Transfer the crispy bacon to paper towels and pat off all excess grease. Let cool completely before moving to the next step. This helps make sure no pork fat melts and re-liquefies when grinding.
Grind into Powder
- Break cooled bacon into palm-sized pieces and add to a clean spice grinder, food processor, or blender. Pulse repeatedly to create a fine powder. Avoid over-processing into a paste.
Store Bacon Powder
- Funnel finished bacon powder into an airtight container such as a mason jar or freezer bag. Store in the fridge or freezer to maintain freshness for 1-2 months.
- And just like that, you now have homemade bacon powder ready to use!
Flavor Variations
Customize taste by experimenting with different woods for smoking or extra spices:
- Applewood or cherry wood smoked
- Bourbon, maple, brown sugar cured
- Black pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes
- Onion, garlic, paprika
- Coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg
Mix and match to create your own unique bacon powders. Label jars carefully so you remember the flavor notes in each batch.
Best Ways to Use Bacon Powder
The smoky flavor and fine texture of homemade bacon powder make it a perfect topping or mix-in for many savory foods. Sweet recipes also benefit from its salty punch.
As a Garnish
Visually striking and full of taste, bacon powder livens up simple dishes when used as a garnish:
- Soups - Sprinkle over chowders, baked potatoes, chili, etc.
- Salads - Toss lightly with spinach, wedge, taco, or Cobb salads.
- Baked potatoes - Garnish loaded baked potatoes.
- Pizza - Shake over pizza slices when hot out of the oven.
- Popcorn - Toss with popped popcorn with butter for movie nights.
- Nachos/tacos - Sprinkle over nachos, tacos, burritos, and tex-mex dishes.
- Pastas - Toss with veggie or classic pasta dishes.
- Eggs - Garnish breakfast sandwiches, omelets, deviled eggs, etc.
Key Takeaway: Thanks to its fine texture that dissolves when hot, bacon powder blends beautifully when used as a tasty topping or garnish.
Mix into Doughs and Batters
Stir bacon powder directly into mixture for a smoky essence:
- Biscuits/scones - Adds a savory twist.
- Cornbread - Excellent in all baked corn dishes and muffins.
- Pancakes/waffles - Savory touch for breakfast or dinner recipes.
- Bread doughs - Creates a unique bacon bread.
- Cookies - For salted caramel or chocolate bacon treats.
- Crackers - Makes tasty bacon-flavored snacks.
The key is to add bacon powder early when mixing so it hydrates and incorporates evenly. A little goes a long way since it's highly concentrated flavoring.
Coat Snack Foods
Bacon powder sticks nicely to greasy or sticky snack foods. Simply toss to coat:
- Popcorn, tortilla chips, pretzels
- French fries, tater tots
- Fried chicken, fried pickles, etc.
Then bake or air fry briefly to set the coating. The bacon powder crisps up to add crunch and toasted bacon essence to anything it coats. Sprinkle lightly so the powder doesn't overwhelm other flavors.
Boost Creamy Foods
Made mostly from fat, bacon powder incorporates smoothly into creamy foods:
- Dips - Mix in with cheese, bean, or chive dips.
- Potatoes - Fold into mashed potatoes or potato salad.
- Mac and cheese - Stir into cheesy sauce for next-level mac.
- Stuffings - Add depth and smokiness to Thanksgiving stuffing recipes.
The creamy base helps carry the salty, smoky bacon tones through each bite. A little powder goes a long way in richer dishes.
Key Takeaway: Both sweet and savory recipes benefit from the punch of smoky bacon powder sprinkled, mixed, or coating foods.
Storage Tips
To maximize freshness, store bacon powder:
- In freezer for months of shelf life. Thaw before using.
- In airtight jars or bags to prevent moisture and oxygen exposure.
- Away from heat and light which speed up fat spoilage.
If bacon powder smells rancid or tastes off, toss it. Homemade powder lasts 1-2 months stored properly. Any signs of spoilage mean it should not be consumed.
FAQs
What type of bacon works best?
The most important factor is cooking the bacon completely crisp to render all fat. Thick, thin, smoked, peppered - all types make great bacon powder. Go thick-cut for bolder pork flavor or thin for crunch.
Should I add extra smoke flavor?
For even more smokiness, bake bacon in the oven at a low temp (200-250°F) for 1-2 hours with added wood chips. Apple, cherry, mesquite all infuse delicious flavor.
Is bacon powder gluten-free?
Yes! Since it's made from pure cooked bacon, bacon powder contains no gluten ingredients unless other flours are added. Always check labels for wheat if using store-bought.
What recipes use bacon powder?
Both sweet and salty recipes benefit from its smoky punch. Sprinkle on everything from deviled eggs to chocolate ice cream. Fold into cornbread batter or biscuit dough for baked goods with a twist.
How long does homemade bacon powder last?
Properly stored bacon powder keeps 1-2 months in the freezer before losing freshness. If the fat content hasn't been fully rendered out, rancidity happens quicker.
Conclusion
Whipping up homemade bacon powder is simple with basic ingredients and kitchen tools. Controlling the process from pork belly to finished sprinkle allows for customized flavors.
Fans of bacon will love having this versatile, smoky seasoning on hand to punch up snacks, baked goods, salads, pastas, and more - both sweet and savory. Ajar of DIY bacon powder also makes a great edible gift for the bacon lover in your life.