Answered: The right way to dispose of bacon grease (and more) (2024)

FAQs

Answered: The right way to dispose of bacon grease (and more)? ›

Pour fats into a container, like a coffee can, and allow them to cool and harden. Pro tip: Open soup or vegetable cans, or baby food, pickle, and mayo jars, also make good disposable containers. Put your filled container into the freezer to help it cool even faster. When cooled, simply toss the container in the trash.

Pour fats into a container, like a coffee can, and allow them to cool and harden. Pro tip: Open soup or vegetable cans, or baby food, pickle, and mayo jars, also make good disposable containers. Put your filled container into the freezer to help it cool even faster. When cooled, simply toss the container in the trash.

The Consequences of Pouring Fats Down the Drain

Grease can even disrupt local sewer systems and septic tanks by forming fatbergs. These are large clumps of solid fat that float around and threaten to clog up the whole system.

Throughout WWII, butter was rationed, and the variety of cooking fats we have today didn't yet exist, so housewives often saved bacon fat for cooking.

To store bacon fat, pour the still warm (but not hot!) liquid fat into a heatproof container through a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter and place it in the fridge or freezer.

Though previous generations of home chefs kept bacon grease on the counter, experts recommend storing yours in the refrigerator or the freezer. "It's best to not keep the bacon grease at room temperature because any microparticles of the bacon can cause the grease to go rancid," says Abbott.

Pouring bacon grease on the ground is not a responsible disposal method. It can attract pests and be harmful to local flora.

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

Cooking oil and grease can be placed in a container, like a frozen juice container, a beverage carton, or a take-out container. Label the container “Cooking Oil—Not for Recycling” and discard with regular garbage. Alternately, you can also put cooled cooking oil/grease in a plastic bag and freeze before discarding.

Is it OK to cook eggs in bacon grease? ›

It turns out that cooking eggs in bacon fat (or "liquid gold" as we like to call it) allows the edges to become crispy and ensures the yolk stays soft and tender. The grease also infuses the eggs with a salty and smoky flavor, eliminating the need to add tons of salt afterwards.

No, pouring grease down the toilet is not recommended. Like pouring it down the drain, this can lead to blockages in your plumbing and sewer system.

While lard is a safe alternative to rendered suet, avoid using bacon drippings. The chemical preservatives in commercial bacon become more concentrated once cooked. While this doesn't pose a health threat to humans, it can be harmful to birds. Bread and table scraps should be avoided, too.

Line a cup (or even the sink drain itself) well with heavy-duty foil. Carefully pour the hot fat into it and let it harden (or, if using a cup, place the cup in the freezer). Once the fat hardens, wrap the foil around the fat and toss it in the trash.

The most notable sign of rancid bacon is a change in appearance. Bacon that has gone bad doesn't retain its redness and will instead take on a brown, gray, or greenish hue, and the color itself will seem faded. Rancid bacon also takes on an unpleasant odor and may become sticky or slimy.

So a lot of the unhealthy stuff associated with bacon isn't necessarily in bacon fat. And surprisingly, it does has some healthy qualities. Like canola and olive oil, bacon fat is high in oleic acid, which is thought to reduce inflammation and cholesterol levels, Quinn said. Also, bacon fat simply tastes great.

Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets, as it can cause sewer backups in your home and neighbourhood. Do leave it to harden or saturate with a paper towel and then place in the Green Bin. Do put baskets/strainers into sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids.

If you ask us, the most delicious sunny-side up eggs aren't fried in butter or oil — but rather an unexpected ingredient: bacon grease. It turns out that cooking eggs in bacon fat (or "liquid gold" as we like to call it) allows the edges to become crispy and ensures the yolk stays soft and tender.

Save your pipes (and your sewers): put grease in your green bin, not down the drain. Putting grease in your green bin allows it to be turned into compost (instead of ending up in the landfill), which reuses resources and reduces greenhouse gasses.

It's a common misconception that pouring grease down the drain is okay if you run hot water and pour dish soap after it. In reality, grease should never go down the drain. Even if it's hot and easy to pour out of the pan, it will eventually cool and solidify somewhere in your plumbing.