If you cook Storm regularly, you’ll need to know how to dispose of your cooking oil the right way. Whether it’s frying or browning our favorite foods, we often leave the excess oil at the end of the day. While we often think the easiest (and quickest) way is to pour the oil down the sink or down the toilet, you’ve been doing it all wrong.
In fact, this will do more harm than good. Once the oils harden, they form frozen clumps of fatty waste called “lipids.” This will inevitably clog pipes and make a mess of drains. Moreover, these fatty mountains can cause sewage reserves, which can also pollute local waterways. Plus, the last thing you need is to spend money on expensive repairs, or plumbing calls.
Fortunately, there are safer and more economical ways to get rid of oil residue. So, whether you want to reuse or recycle, here’s how to dispose of cooking oil the right way.
1. Leave the cooking oil to cool down
First, wait for the cooking oil to cool completely to prevent burns or any serious accidents. Wait a few hours for it to cool down or leave the oil overnight to reach room temperature. In addition, do not lift or move utensils or utensils filled with hot oil for safety reasons.
2. Pour into a disposable container for disposal
Once the cooking oil has cooled, transfer it to a non-recyclable container with a lid, before tossing it in the trash. Ideal packages include Styrofoam with lids, cardboard milk cartons, or any other wax-lined or plastic-lined paper container. This method is safer than pouring cold oil directly into the trash. Not only can this be messy, but it can attract flies and rodents.
3. Freeze the cooking oil until it solidifies
If you don’t have a sealable container on hand, another option is to pour the oil into a jar, can, or cup and freeze it for a few hours. Once it is solid enough, use a spoon to scoop out the oil directly into the trash. This will eliminate any messy spills and odors.
4. Reuse cooking oil
First, filter the oil through a coffee filter or a layer of cheesecloth (cotton gauze) to remove any particles or crumbs in the remaining oil. Then pour it into a clean, airtight container or bottle with a funnel. Peanut butter containers or plastic containers with screw tops are also ideal for storing cooking oil. It’s also easy to label the container by the date and type of foods that were used in the cooking. Keep in mind that you should only reuse the oil once or twice due to the increased smoke points, and always dispose of it when it smells bad.
5. Recycle cooking oil
Alternatively, you can donate your cooking oil to be recycled into biofuel. Find out if your city offers collection programs to recycle used cooking oil, or check Earth 911 (Opens in a new tab) To see if there is an oil recycling machine near you. Depending on the region, some garbage companies may offer containers that you can set for their own specific collection times.
Biodiesel is a renewable, clean burning alternative to petroleum diesel. This is often used for city trucks and fleet vehicles, and is much cleaner for the environment than other fuels.
6. Mix with other materials before disposal
If you don’t want to freeze or reuse your cooking oil, you can mix the remaining oil with an absorbent before discarding. Materials such as sand, sawdust, or even cat litter easily absorb liquid. Keep old oil in a used container, and move it to the trash when it’s time to empty the bin into the trash.
Things You Should Never Do When Disposing of Cooking Oil
- Never pour it down a drain or into a toilet, as this can clog not only the pipes but can cause sewage to back up.
- Never pour hot oil directly into the trash, this is not only dangerous but can cause problems with dump trucks and solid waste areas.
- Never pour oil into compost waste, because oils contain fats that cannot be broken down by organic nutrients.
If you enjoy healthy eating, here you go How to cook with less oilOr, you can invest in one Best air fryers. Just be sure to check out our guide on how to use an air fryer for the best results. If you love to eat rice with your foods, here are 8 reasons why you should buy a rice cooker.
[ad_2]
