This year for Father’s Day, I was struggling to think of a gift for my dad, which is weird because I am normally very good at finding gifts! And when all else fails, I think about things that people can use, such as foods.
This Bacon Salt was the winning idea! A gift that he could use on practically anything, combining two of his favorite things: bacon and bourbon.
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Bacon salt makes a great gift because it is DELICIOUS and so versatile to use on so many different things.
In the summer I am ALWAYS looking for a reason to grill. And since I am grilling so much, I need some new ideas or flavors to use!
That is where flavored salts like this Bacon Bourbon Flavored Salt come in. It is a great way to spice up a simple piece of chicken, pork, steak, or even vegetables with exciting flavors.
This year on Father’s Day we sprinkled it on some bread slices and as a topped on deviled eggs. The possibilities are endless!
This salt is crazy easy to make, guys!
Literally just put the ingredients in a food processor, pulse, and you are done!
You can use it right away if you want, but the flavors do develop more if you are able to let it sit for a day or longer.
It is best to use a small food processor to ensure the blade can reach the ingredients and get a good blend.
But you could also mix it all by hand in a bowl.
The primary base of this flavored salt is still salt and not another seasoning, so use it sparingly like you would salt.
I love to use this bacon seasoning for special events, parties, and gatherings. Especially in the summer with Father’s Day and the 4th of July when you are most likely grilling anyway.
And it is great as a gift for anyone that loves for or grilling, like Dad, because sometimes it is just IMPOSSIBLE to figure out what to give them.
Food is always a good idea, right? And this is something they can use and enjoy, whether they share or not. 🙂
Find more of our flavored salt recipes here!
Using Kosher Salt
It is important to use kosher salt and not regular table salt for this recipe.
Why? The kosher salt is a larger grain (not as fine as table salt). This will better absorb the flavors.
Also, the fine table salt is much more likely to “melt” away into the bourbon that you add.
You could also choose to use a salt that is larger than kosher such as sea salt, however you will also then get stronger pockets of the salt flavor when you use it.
Bacon Bourbon Flavored Salt
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound bacon
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
- 2 Tablespoons bourbon (or whiskey)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon if not already done. I like to cook it spread out on a baking sheet in an oven at 375F for approximately 20-25 minutes until cooked through. It will crisp up a little more as it cools. The exact time will vary based on the thickness of your bacon. Let bacon cool.
- Break up the bacon into pieces and place in the food processor. Add the salt and sprinkle the bourbon around the bowl so it is not just in one place (for better distribution).
- Pulse just a few times until everything is incorporated.
- The salt will be wet from the bourbon, so lay it out on a baking sheet. Preheat an oven to 200F and put the salt in the oven to dry, approximately one hour. If it is stuck together, you can break it up with your hands or pulse it very briefly in the food processor again to break it up.
- Pour the salt into a container for storing. The flavors will continue to build over time. Place a pinch of dry, uncooked rice in the container to help keep it from caking and absorbing moisture.
How long will this keep? Does it have to be refrigerated?
Hi Donna,
Yes, I would refrigerate it after making sure it is dry so it does not clump together.
And I would estimate that it lasts about a week or so in the refrigerator.
Does this need to be kept in the fridge since it contains bacon? What s the shelf life?
Hi There,
I would keep it in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks!
loved the recipe! thanks!
So glad to hear it! 🙂