There's nothing worse than trying to cook dinner and having your grease clog up the sink drain. You can avoid this situation by properly disposing of leftover cooking grease. Let's dive into how you can keep your drain grease clog-free after cooking!
Trash Can Time
The first thing you should do is never pour grease down the drain or the sink. Not only does this mean that your garbage disposal will be overloaded, it could also clog your pipes and cause other problems in your home.
When in doubt, just dump the grease into the trash and wait for the grease to cool down. You want to avoid just tossing hot oil into a random container without warning.
Reuse Old Cooking Oil
Some people avoid using cooking oil because they're afraid it will start to smell bad. However, this won't be an issue if you store the oil properly and treat it right.
You can store your cooking oil in a cool, dry place and use it within one year of purchase. You should never refrigerate or freeze cooking oil. These methods can cause the fat molecules to break down into smaller pieces (called free radicals), which then make their way into your food as tiny particles instead of a smooth liquid when used for frying or sautéing. Typically, leftover oil can get two more uses before being tossed out.
Recycle Old Oil
If you have cooking grease or vegetable shortening that you want to recycle, contact your local waste management department to find out where you can take it in your area.
You should also contact them if you are unsure whether your recycling service accepts the oil you have on hand; many sites do not accept certain grease because of their high-fat content and potential for attracting rodents and insects if not appropriately stored at room temperature (between 40°F – 60°F).
Composting
Composting is a great way to get rid of leftover cooking oil. It's easy, cheap, and good for the environment—and now that you know how to properly clean grease, you'll have even more oil than ever for composting!
What You Need:
Bags or containers for storing your used cooking grease (such as empty peanut butter jars or coffee cans)
A large outdoor space where composting will be warm enough (50 degrees F) but not too hot (100 degrees F). This could be your backyard or garden area; if you don't have one available at home, check out local parks where they may allow community members to use their facilities
Avoid Drain Clogs
You should also avoid pouring grease down the drain. Grease can clog up your garbage disposal, which is bad news. It can also lead to a clog in your pipes if it collects and builds up over time. So make sure you’re using a strainer when cooking or pouring out excess grease from a pan.
Mark Carpenter Plumbing is here to help with all your drain needs, from cleanings to repairs, when you call (575) 222-2551 today
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