Bacon and Eggs Fire Starter
I don't like to waste anything and it makes me happy to find uses for everything. In this Instructable I'll show you how I use the leftovers from breakfast to start fires. It's super easy and it's certainly better than pouring the grease into a container for the trash. It's also a lot cheaper than buying wax firestarters from the store!
Supplies
All you need for this is what you use for your bacon and eggs breakfast:
- Eggs
- Bacon
- Frying pan and tongs
- Paper towels
- Cheese is optional
Later you will need some kindling, firewood, and a safe place to build a fire.
Start Cooking the Bacon and Crack the Eggs
Cook your bacon to your desired crispiness. While the bacon is cooking crack the eggs into a cup, making sure to keep as much of the shell intact as you can.
Drain Your Bacon and Stuff Egg Shell
Once your bacon is ready drain it on your paper towels. Then tear off a section to stuff into the egg shell. Fold it up a little so part of it sticks out of the shell like a wick.
Pour Grease From Pan Into Shells
Take the shells that you just stuffed with paper towels and prop them up securely. It's easiest to use an old egg carton. Be careful if you use a plastic carton because the hot grease can sometimes melt the carton, so cardboard cartons are a little better for this step. Once they're propped up, carefully pour the excess bacon grease from the pan into the egg shells.
Go Finish Your Breakfast
Now that the grease is poured into the shells, go cook your eggs in the pan and eat your breakfast. The grease in the eggs will cool down and solidify in time. I put them in the fridge to speed up the process but it's not necessary.
Sorry I didn't take any pictures of me eating breakfast. I thought that might be a little awkward.
Build Your Fire
Build a little nest for your egg from kindling. Once you have finished placing your kindling around it go ahead and light the paper towel like you would a candle. The grease will ignite and you'll have a blazing fire very quickly.
Afterthoughts
I think this is especially useful for camping. Make your breakfast in the morning and have an easy time starting your fire in the evening. The grease really helps a fire get going. This was a log that I previously hollowed out with a fire and extinguished with a hose. I restarted it with just a little bit of kindling and a Bacon and Egg fire starter and you can see how well it took off.
I'm not sure how it might work in an indoor fireplace. I've only used this outdoors. I don't think I'd ever want to intentionally start a grease fire indoors, even if it's a small one.
It's also important to always be sure to use this (or any fire for that matter) in a safe place using fire rings in campgrounds or a safe environment.
I hope you enjoy this Instructable and that it helps you find a use for something that might otherwise be waste.