There's something about the smell of bacon cooking in the morning or chicken frying in a pan that makes many mouths water. It might be because it reminds us of mom cooking breakfast on Sunday morning or that weekly meal at grandma's. Whatever the reason, it's hard to deny that food cooked in grease is still a big part of daily life in many homes. That food may taste great, but cleaning up the greasy mess is the hard part, and a lot of us just aren't sure what to do with leftover cooking oil. In this guide, we'll look at the best ways to clean up the mess and the disposal methods you should avoid.
How Do You Dispose of Cooking Grease Safely?
There are a couple of ways to dispose of cooking grease safely. If it's just a small amount, you can soak it up with a paper towel and place the used towel in your green organics bin, if your area offers one, or in the garbage. If it's a large amount of grease, you can either leave it in your cooking pan to cool and harden, or, once it's cooled down enough, pour it into a container and place it in the freezer to harden quickly. Once your cooking grease has solidified, you can safely remove it from the pan or container and put it in your green bin or garbage.
Where Should You Dispose of Cooking Grease?
If the cooking oil is relatively clean, consider letting it cool slightly and storing it in a container for reuse. When it's time for final disposal, put it in your green bin rather than your regular garbage if that's an option in your area. Some cities and household hazardous waste facilities also collect used cooking oil for recycling, so it's worth checking what's available near you. Letting it harden makes it much easier to put in your bin and minimizes the slick mess it can leave behind.
Can You Put Vegetable Oil Down the Drain?
Vegetable oil should never be poured down your drain. Hot grease can damage your pipes and sewer system. Even if it's had time to cool down, it still shouldn't go down the drain. The grease will harden as it cools and get stuck in your pipes. Over time, that can lead to grease buildup and drain clogs.
The Wrong Way to Dispose of Cooking Oil
There are plenty of ways to dispose of cooking oil, but that doesn't mean they're all a good idea. Here's a quick list of the methods to avoid, and then we'll look at each one individually:
Pouring cooking oil down the kitchen sink drain
Disposing of cooking oil in the toilet
Dumping cooking oil in the compost
Disposing of grease in the backyard
Never Throw Used Cooking Oil Down the Kitchen Sink
Plumbers get plenty of calls from homeowners who have clogged their kitchen sink with cooking oil. It doesn't matter whether it's hot or cold; cooking grease should never go down your kitchen drain. It tends to congeal and clump. Even if the oil you've poured down the sink doesn't clog your pipes, it can still cause harm further down the line in the city sewer system. Those hardened clumps of grease attract other material, which can lead to clogs that cause major damage. It's reported that cooking oil and grease poured down the drain cause 47% of sewer clogs.
Don't Dispose of Cooking Oil in the Toilet
Surprisingly, plenty of homeowners dump cooking oil in the toilet instead of the kitchen sink, assuming the larger pipes won't clog. That's not the case, and even if the used oil makes it out of your home into the city sewer system, it can still cause plenty of problems.
Used Cooking Oil Should NOT Go in Your Compost
If you can't pour cooking oil down the drain, what do you do with it? Many homeowners turn to their compost piles as another option. This is the wrong solution for a couple of reasons. If you plan on using your compost as fertilizer down the line, the grease can upset the balance of the compost and make it unusable. Perhaps a bigger problem is that grease tends to attract rodents and other small animals. If you love the smell of grease, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that the critters scurrying around outside do as well.
Don't Dispose of Cooking Oil in the Yard
Another common method is to simply dump cooking oil at the back of the yard, away from the house. This is another bad idea. It can attract rodents you don't want in your yard, and it can also damage your lawn and garden beds.
The Right Way to Dispose of Cooking Oil
Now that we've covered the wrong ways to dispose of cooking oil, let's look at better ways to deal with old grease. Fortunately, there are a few great options, and they're easy to use at home.
First, Consider Reusing Used Cooking Oil
A simple solution for handling used cooking oil is to reuse it. Wait for it to cool down a bit, then pour it into a sealable container. Store the used oil in a cool place, such as your refrigerator or cold cellar, until you're ready to use it. It's best to reuse it no more than two or three times, or it may become rancid.
The Paper Towel Method for Soaking Up Grease
For small amounts of grease, you can usually soak it up with a paper towel and put it in your green organics bin if your city or county offers that service. If not, the paper towel can go in the garbage.
The Baking Soda Method for Disposing of Cooking Oil
For larger amounts of cooking oil, baking soda can help. Mixed into grease, it forms a paste that's easier to clean up and put in your organics bin or garbage, depending on where you live.
Cool, Store and Dispose of Cooking Oil Safely
One other way to dispose of grease safely is to let it cool, then pour it into a sealable container. That sealed container can then go in the garbage. Just make sure there are no signs of leaks first.
What About Other Household Waste?
Cooking oil is one of several household items that need a little extra care. Loose liquids shouldn't go in a dumpster, and items like old paint have their own disposal rules. See what you can and can't put in a dumpster before you start a cleanout. If you're tackling a bigger kitchen remodel or pantry cleanout, a dumpster rental can handle the old cabinets, countertops and other debris.
