Vegetable and fruit scraps should be thrown into a biodegradable waste container, plastic packaging into recyclable waste, and paper into the paper recycling bin. But what to do with used oil? Frying fries, juicy steaks, or even regular cutlets involves using a large amount of canola oil or any other type. Aside from dietary issues, cooking oil can pose a lot of problems when it comes to disposal. So, can you pour it down the kitchen sink?
Used oil – what to do with it?
Used fat can often be reused if it isn't burnt. After it has cooled completely, it can be poured into a jar or bottle and stored for later use. Oil should be kept in a shaded place or in the refrigerator. If there are food particles in the oil, it's a good idea to strain it through a fine sieve first.
Another way to utilize used canola oil is to use it to make original oil lamps. Plenty of such inspirations can be found online; some people can even use the oil after frying fries in even more creative ways, like making household soap from it. It’s a great idea if you enjoy such solutions and have a lot of used oil at your disposal. You can also use it to impregnate kitchen boards, or even ... boards in the fence.
How to dispose of oil after frying?
If you don't want to deal with processing used oil yourself and it’s not suitable for re-frying, you have many options for safely disposing of it. Of course, under no circumstances should you pour oil down the sink or toilet, the reasons for which you'll learn in a bit. If not down the drain, then where to pour used frying oil? The disposal method largely depends on the quantity. In typical households, this isn't much of a problem; you can pour it into a bottle and throw it in the container for mixed waste, and for smaller amounts, it’s enough to wipe the surface of the pot or pan with a paper towel and throw it in the mixed waste bin.
In the food industry, where a lot of oil is collected after frying, it should be stored in a tightly sealed container. Once enough is collected, it can be returned for recycling – interestingly, this can be treated as a donation that is tax-deductible. Alternatively, special containers containing oil may be taken to recycling points or collected by companies that specialize in reusing oil. For example, it can be processed into fuel, of course, after proper processing.
Why can't you pour oil down the drain?
After frying, you must remember that under no circumstances should oil be poured down kitchen drain pipes or into the toilet bowl. Fried oil can be reused or disposed of safely. For many people, the most convenient method is to pour the contents of the pan down the sink, but this is a very bad idea, especially if you do it with hot fat. Hot oil can damage plastic drain components, including the trap itself or part of the drainpipe. Melted plastic would only need to be replaced.
The second reason oil should not be poured down the drain is the possibility of completely clogging the pipes. Food remnants found in cooling fat can stick to the walls of the drain pipes and gradually reduce their diameter. They can effectively clog the pipe over time. Thick and hardened residue from fat can be very difficult to remove using standard methods. You may need to use aggressive chemical agents or seek help from professionals with appropriate tools for clearing the drain. Therefore, pouring melted fat down the sink may seem like a convenient solution, but it can lead to consequences requiring significant financial outlay.
What to do with used oil – summary
In an ideal world, used frying oil would simply disappear; we wouldn't have to worry about its disposal. However, in the real world, used oil can become a problem, especially if you have too much of it. We have come to certain conclusions about what can be done with used vegetable oil. If you are a DIY enthusiast, you can turn used oil into oil candles or household soap. If frying oil hasn’t burned and doesn't have too many residues, it can be repurposed in the kitchen.
If you have frying oil in relatively large quantities, arrange for its pickup by a qualified company, which will use it for recycling. Such fat can, for example, be used to impregnate wood. Any method of disposing of the oil will be good as long as used oil does not end up in the drainage system; pouring it down the sink is the easiest recipe for solidly clogging the drain.