At 21 I, too, save my bacon grease. I use it in a number of my Great-Grandmother's recipes from Ireland. It saves me time and mess over cooking bacon every time I want colcannon.
My question is, my Great-Grandmother and my Grandmother used to store their bacon grease on the counter near the stove. Everything I've read recently says it must be stored in the fridge. What is the truth? How long is it good for on my counter?