Correctly Dispose of Cooking Grease

Grease and oil are inescapable in cooking, frying, and baking. Pouring the liquid oils or scraping remnants of shortening into the kitchen sink may seem like the best and easiest way to deal with the smelly, slippery oils, but this should be avoided.

Drains plagued with oils and grease will clog over time, even if you only pour a few drops into the sink. Fortunately, there are safe and simple ways to learn how to dispose of cooking grease without causing an expensive plumbing disaster.

Safe Ways To Dispose Of Grease

Not every kitchen is managed the same way. For this reason, a few options are listed below for safely disposing of cooking grease.

Throw it in the trash.

The overarching rule of thumb regarding grease and oil disposal is don’t pour it down a drain. Toilets, sinks, and floor drains are off-limits, as gluey oils and animal fats will destroy your plumbing. Instead, turn to your garbage can.

Cooled, solidified oil can be thrown in the trash once placed in a sealed container. You can use glass jars, waxy containers like milk cartons, and styrofoam boxes to contain potential leaks.

A relatively easy way to accomplish this is by lining a bowl with parchment paper before pouring in used grease. Once it cools, lift it out by the parchment and seal it into a bag. This option allows for fewer sacrificed containers and greater convenience, depending on your preference.

Reuse your cooking oil and grease.

Cooking oils and fats can be reused if stored properly. Allow grease to cool and harden like you would when disposing of it. Store in an air-tight container and take a few sniffs before each use. You don’t want to risk the possibility of using stinky oil. Used oils and fats only last so long before going rancid. If a sniff test isn’t telling you much, rub a bit between your fingers

Edible grease will smell fresh and look smooth.

Rancid grease will smell bad and be tacky and sticky.

Recycle your cooking oil.

Waste disposal companies in your area may use used cooking oil to create biofuels. At your convenience, drop off your oil at the recycling site. This is also an option at a participating restaurant near you. Many restaurants participate in these oil recycling programs. If you want to take this route, purify your oil by straining out food bits with coffee filters or cheesecloth.

Use absorbent waste to soak it up.

Mixing oil and grease with absorbent waste is another safe disposal option. Doing this turns the fatty grease into a piece of solid waste, able to be thrown away like other solid household trash. These are some materials you can use to absorb grease and oil:

• Flour
• Cat litter
• Sawdust
• Sand

Compost the leftover cooking grease

Sprinkle vegetable oils into a compost bin, but only in small amounts. Too much oil will ‘clog’ the soil like a drain, preventing it from its natural breathing and absorption capabilities. Animal fats cannot be used this way because the rancid smell will attract animals, which you likely won’t want.

“When In Doubt, Throw It Out”

Small remnants of oil and grease, like the sheen of fat left in a pan after cooking, will still give your plumbing troubles over time. You’ll notice that water drains slower and slower until it stops draining at all.

Due to the risk of clogging your drain, taking a few moments to scrape out small amounts of solidified grease into the trash or wiping the excess with an absorbent paper towel can save you from ticking time bombs brewing in your plumbing.

If you use paper towels, dispose of them in the garbage, not the recycling bin, as recycling facilities cannot process greasy materials.

Other Disposal Methods to Avoid

When you think you’ve seen everything, someone does something crazy. While there are only a few ways to dispose of cooking grease safely, there are probably infinite ways that you SHOULDN’T dispose of cooking grease.

Do not toss oils outside.

Opening the back door and flinging a pan of hot oil may seem like a decent way to get rid of cooking grease to some people. The rationale is that it should just filter away through the ground, but this isn’t the case.

Oil and grease will filter down, but this will, in time, become harmful to sewage and plumbing systems, potentially affecting your whole neighborhood. Avoid throwing your used cooking oil anywhere outside but in the trash. Having said that…

Do not pour hot oil into the trash.

As common sense dictates, thin garbage bags and high heat won’t fare well together. Pouring hot grease from a pan into your trash will create a gooey mess. This will only worsen when it comes time to lift out the damaged bag. On top of that, bags filled with grease will cause issues when your waste management company begins processing garbage.

When Your Pipes Are Clogged

If your pipes are clogged or draining slower than they should be, call us 24/7. Angry Pipe Solutions has the tools and experience to quickly clear your blocked drains and get you back to normal in no time.

We hope this information is helpful. At Angry Pipe Plumbing Solutions in Queen Creek, Arizona, we understand the importance of establishing a trustworthy relationship with a certified, licensed plumber. That’s why we offer convenient options for scheduling appointments. Feel free to reach out to us at 480-526-5030.

Our commitment to detail and exceptional service has made Angry Pipe Plumbing Solutions leaders in advanced plumbing repairs and installations. We welcome customers from Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, and San Tan Valley, Arizona. We look forward to seeing you soon!