Results: Grease is the Word
Published on 03/26/2024
For many years, a cheerful yellow jar- much like the one shown- sat at the back of my mother's stovetop. It's humble purpose was written unashamedly on the front.
QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
Have you- or someone you have known- ever had a "Drippings" jar in the kitchen?
Yes
43%
895 votes
No
41%
860 votes
Undecided
7%
149 votes
Not Applicable
9%
196 votes
2.
2.
Though the origin of Mom's drippings jar is unknown, it seems likely it was a gift from a bridal shower back in 1951. Possibly from one of her many aunts. At any rate, it was from someone with a practical bent who knew Mom's favorite color. Is your favorite color yellow?
Yes
11%
237 votes
No
69%
1450 votes
Undecided
9%
195 votes
Not Applicable
10%
218 votes
3.
3.
When my son happened upon tubs of commercially produced bacon grease and spray bottles of duck fat at our local Kroger he thought it weirdly brilliant. The idea that cooks had been saving and re-purposing said grease for eons was- to his mind- disgusting. I didn't have the heart to bring lard into the conversation. Have you ever...
Repurposed bacon grease, duck fat, or other meat based drippings?
35%
738 votes
Purchased commercially available duck fat?
5%
101 votes
Purchased commercially produced bacon grease?
4%
91 votes
Not Applicable
45%
947 votes
Used lard
26%
540 votes
4.
4.
The WWII Home Front- at least American style- conjures up images of Victory Gardens, War Bond Sales, rationing, scrap metal drives and the like. But, did you know...
Saving rendered cooking fat and turning it in to your local "meat dealer" or butcher was an act of patriotism
8%
176 votes
Those waste fats produced glycerin which was used in making explosives
10%
202 votes
Disney featured Pluto and Minnie in a short to educate viewers about the importance of this to the war effort
6%
117 votes
It's estimated that only about 50% of American households participated. Possibly because those drippings were useful in home cooking- especially with rationing and shortages
5%
98 votes
Not Applicable
20%
410 votes
Minnie and Pluto even show viewers how to strain the used fats into an empty coffee can which could be stored in the fridge until full
6%
118 votes
Those who turned in their fats were paid 4 cents per pound. To the best of my knowledge, this was the only scrap program that paid. (Pluto bought sausages with his four cents)
3%
68 votes
While there actually was an American Fat Salvage Committee, the program was likely also propaganda designed to keep the American housewife busy and engaged in the home front war effort
3%
57 votes
All
4%
81 votes
None
54%
1141 votes
5.
5.
For the record, can't say that pretty drippings jar was ever used. Am sure I'd remember if I'd ever had to wash it, and Mom wasn't much into frying anything. What I do remember is a parade of coffee cans with plastic lids that lived under the kitchen sink and discarded when full. Do you remember when coffee was sold in a can that was opened with a metal key and without that handy plastic lid?
Yes
39%
812 votes
No
31%
653 votes
Undecided
10%
206 votes
Not Applicable
20%
429 votes
6.
6.
Some home cooks (at least Southern home cooks) have utilized bacon grease in a number of ways in their cooking. Southern Living magazine has even shared a two ingredient recipe for a bacon-infused bourbon cocktail using reserved bacon grease. Admittedly, not my jam, but would you order this drink?
Yes
9%
187 votes
No
62%
1303 votes
Undecided
9%
194 votes
Not Applicable
20%
416 votes
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