How to Properly Clean Up Cooking OilThere’s nothing like the smell of fresh booked bacon in the morning. Everyone knows that cooking chicken thighs with the skin on is one of the tastiest ways to eat chicken. Deep-fried turkey – is there any other way to eat Thanksgiving turkey? While all these dishes are extremely delicious, they have one important thing in common: cooking oil.
While it makes everything delicious, cooking oil is bad for your drains and pipes. In fact, anything that is fatty or greasy is bad for your drains and pipes. While oil looks just like a liquid, the problem is that when it goes down your drain it cools off and clings to your drain pipes. Eventually, the coating builds up over time, causing blockages and clogged drain pipes. This could cost you thousands of dollars in plumbing damage, and can even clog municipal lines in the city. |
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The Right Way to Do It
The right way to dispose of your cooking oil is to throw it in the trash can. But be careful! Cooking oil is hot (naturally) and can burn you unless you let it cool off. Rather than pouring the cooking oil down the sink, instead, just follow these simple steps:
After you’ve disposed of the majority of the grease, use some paper towels to make sure you get the small bits that might remain. Even small amounts of grease poured down the drain will build up over time and can potentially cause problems.
- Let the cooking oil cool off until it solidifies
- Scrape the grease into a container or wipe it down with paper towels to be thrown away
- Throw the container or paper towels in the garbage
After you’ve disposed of the majority of the grease, use some paper towels to make sure you get the small bits that might remain. Even small amounts of grease poured down the drain will build up over time and can potentially cause problems.
But You May Not Want to Throw It Out Yet...
Did you know that you can reuse your cooking oil and imbue your dishes with more delicious flavor? As long as the cooking oil hasn’t been heated past its smoke point (when it starts smoking) you can reuse the oil and fat leftover from cooking.
Did you know that there are local collection sites for cooking oil as well? When you dispose of your oil at a local collection site, you are essentially allowing your oil to be recycled into a form of alternative energy, like biodiesel. A quick Google search will tell you if there is a collection facility nearby you.
- First, get rid of the remaining food particles in the oil using cheesecloth, paper towels, or coffee filters.
- Pour the oil or grease into an airtight container and put it in your refrigerator or freezer
- Use your new homemade cooking oil as you would butter or canola oil the next time you are cooking!
- Make sure to smell the oil before you use it. If it smells rancid, it’s gone bad, and you should throw it out.
Did you know that there are local collection sites for cooking oil as well? When you dispose of your oil at a local collection site, you are essentially allowing your oil to be recycled into a form of alternative energy, like biodiesel. A quick Google search will tell you if there is a collection facility nearby you.
How NOT To Dispose of Cooking Oil
It’s easy to remember, the garbage can is the ONLY proper way to dispose of your cooking oil. So definitely don’t pour it down your drain. Pouring it outside isn’t even safe because it will eventually find its way into the sewage system. Pouring it in your compost pile can present a problem as well because will attract vermin, smell horrible, and make your compost unhealthy. Just remember, the trash can is the only appropriate place for your cooking oil!
For any other trash or disposal questions, feel free to reach out to the Swift Dumpster Rental Lakeland team. We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.
For any other trash or disposal questions, feel free to reach out to the Swift Dumpster Rental Lakeland team. We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.