The Do’s & Don’ts of Cooking Oil Disposal
The mashed potatoes are whipped to perfection, the veggies are steamed nice and crisp and you just finished frying up some delicious, golden-brown chicken cutlets. To say you can’t wait to get them on the table and dig in is an understatement! But first, you have to figure out what to do with the leftover oil in the frying pan. If you’re considering pouring it down the drain – think again!
What not to do with used cooking oil:
- Never pour used cooking oil or fat down the drain or in the toilet bowl. Sure, it’s liquefied now, but as it cools it will harden, causing clogs in your plumbing.
- Don’t use hot water to wash the oil down the drain. Many folks believe this is an easy solution, but trust us – no matter how you slice it, you’ll have the same clogged result!
- Never pour steaming hot oil directly into your garbage can either! It can burn right through the trash bag, and sometimes even the bin.
What are some alternatives to dispose of cooking oil?
- Pouring hot oil directly into the garbage can is a no-no, but waiting for it to cool a bit before disposal isn’t. Even till, we suggest you pour the cooled oil into a sealable container before disposing of it to avoid a sticky situation.
- Instead of disposing of cooking oil and grease, why not reuse it? Frying oil and bacon fat can both be stored in your refrigerator and reused for cooking in the future. In fact, rescuing bacon fat in particular for frying can create some pretty tasty results!
- Make sure to wipe down pots and pans with paper towels before washing them. That way, you can be sure no residual oil gets accidentally poured down the drain.
Sometimes, no matter how careful you are with your plumbing, a clog can still occur. For that reason, you’ve always got a friend in Barker and Sons Plumbing & Rooter! Should you run into any plumbing issues, we’re here to help 24/7/365. Just dial 714-630-8766, and ask about our same day, emergency service.
