Storing/Disposing of cooking oils

In our house, we do not have a lot of cooking oil to dispose of, so Gene puts a tin or plastic, empty coffee can under our sink, that has a tight lid. Usually, the only cooking oil we dispose of is from frying corn taco shells. It takes us a long time to fill the can, and tonight we noticed the Folgers plastic jug was going to fail soon, so out it went for garbage pick-up this week. I suppose each community has different rules, so I thought it would be interesting to read how do you store/dispose of yours?

We don't have a lot either, so pretty much the same as you. A lidded container under the sink, then into the regular garbage.

We don't deep fry, we only sauté. So disposal doesn't become an issue.
Oh, on second thoughts, there is the fat from roasted meats. That usually gets wrapped in paper and disposed of in the garbage collection.

I use them on newspaper to light my grill and smoker.

[Jenise]

Interesting question, Karen, that brought back memories of my grandmother's garden: there was always a foot deep hole somewhere where Grandpa poured the frying grease that we had to watch out for when playing, and it moved constantly. Woe to the sorry child who got his leg stuck in a recently filled one! Grammy didn't deep fry, but she pan-fried EVERYTHING and bacon was served often, so the used oils did accumulate significantly. Myself, like most I've always kept a jar under the sink for oil waste, but I realize in answering your question how rare it is any more that I have any that's more than what you'd wipe out with a paper towl and throw in the household trash. Had to start a new one post-remodel, and I think I've only made one deposit: some bacon grease last weekend. I should follow chef's lead for using it.

During World War II households were encouraged to save used cooking oils and animal fat. It was collected and the glycerin in the fat was extracted and used to produce nitroglycerin and related explosives. My mom never got out of that habit and always collected bacon grease and used Crisco in coffee tins, although we just threw them in the garbage when they were full.

I collect bacon grease and duck/goose fat (collected separately, of course) for use in other cooking. I store the containers in the refrigerator so that the fat doesn't go rancid.

-Paul W.

I forgot about the bacon grease. When we have our kids here, we cook a peppered, thick bacon they like, and deposit the grease into the same can. Martha Stewart had a show once where she made pancakes. She said to use a little bacon grease in the pan when cooking the pancakes. I tried it a few times and decided I liked a little real butter, better.

Biodiesel?

I keep an emptied quart mayo jar (with a lid) under the sink. When it's full of the grease I pour off from various roasts or bacon, I throw it out. I only save the fat from roasting ducks and geese.

Biodiesel?

I've heard of people who have struck deals with the local fish and chip shop, and run their four wheel drives on used frying oil. I'd been told that the exhaust from such vehicles smells like fried fish and chips, but I stopped at the lights once beside an old 4WD that had a sign painted on its doors announcing it ran on recycled cooking oil, and I didn't notice any smell of fish and chips.

The biggest problem we have is the grease that drips into the water in our water smoker. We dump it into a hole in the back yard. In rare instances when fat/grease occurs elsewhere, it goes into the same hole. There never seems to be any buildup in the hole, so we assume the critters go for it.

Biodiesel?

I've heard of people who have struck deals with the local fish and chip shop, and run their four wheel drives on used frying oil. I'd been told that the exhaust from such vehicles smells like fried fish and chips, but I stopped at the lights once beside an old 4WD that had a sign painted on its doors announcing it ran on recycled cooking oil, and I didn't notice any smell of fish and chips.

We have an old Mercedes that runs on used cooking oil. There's a drum of oil in the garage that we've collected (with some friends of ours) from behind various restaurants in the area. The exhaust does smell different from diesel, with a definite cooking oil aroma to it.

Bear bait.