How To Properly Dispose Of Kitchen Grease

We know, we know. It’s so easy to just toss that hot, oily grease down the drain without a second thought, but oh man, it can really cost you in the long run. While the grease is likely still hot when you pour it down the drain, and therefore still in its liquid state, it won’t be once it’s nice and cooled down in your pipes. And this gunky, sticky solidified grease acts as a trap for other debris that goes down your drain, eventually creating a pretty nasty blockage that can wreak havoc on your entire septic system. In fact, and we kid you not, it once took a team of sewage workers not one, but THREE weeks to clear a 15 ton ball of grease that nearly led to a street filled sewage-fest. Yikes. Skip the mess (and the giant ball of grease) with these tips:

Try reusing it first

Instead of tossing the bacon fat from breakfast, save it and use it to add flavor to other foods. Toss it with roasted vegetables, fry burgers in it, make gravy with it, or keep it on hand to season your cast iron. The possibilities are endless, and endlessly tasty. And it's not just bacon. Look up recipes for whatever grease you've got on hand.

If you just have to get rid of it

1. Let the grease cool. This will allow it to solidify, which brings us the next step…
2. Transfer the solid grease into a vessel, such as a used bottle, plastic tub, or container. We recommend avoiding glass due it’s tendency to, ya know, shatter.
3. Once your vessel is full, dispose of it with the rest of your trash.