Whether you’re deep-frying a turkey, browning some ground beef or frying some bacon, you end up with a lot of used oil to contend with. Some of the best things are made with cooking oil. However, though it is an essential part of making some of the most delicious food, it can be a little tricky to dispose of.One thing you absolutely cannot do is pour it down the drain.
Follow these steps to properly dispose of your cooking oil.
- Let the pan cool. You should always let the oil cool down before removing it from whatever cooking device you were using.
- Select the right container for the oil. Plastic containers work better than glass jars in that, as with any plastic vs. glass argument, glass will break if dropped.
- Strain the oil while pouring it into the container. You do not have to do this if you are not planning on reusing or donating your cooking oil.
- Freeze your cooking oil. After you have put your cooking oil into a container, you can freeze it, easier to dispose of cooking oil after its solid.
- Reuse the cooking oil for another meal. Oil can be used for frying several times over, as long as you filter it between uses.
- Consider making an oil lamp.
- Use the oil for shaving. Avoid the chemicals in commercial shaving creams and lotions that may dry and irritate your skin by using cooking oil instead.
- Check if there is a local recycling center that will take the oil off your hands.
- Donate your cooking oil, a lot of cities are now asking their residents to donate their used cooking oil.
- Use it to make soap.
