Disposing of Used Cooking Oil

Disposing of Used Cooking Oil

• D'NOT POUR THE COOKING OIL DOWN THE DRAIN. Even if the oil is poured slowly into the drain with hot water, this practice will eventually cause problems with the plumbing.
• Pour the cooled oil into the original containers. Plastic milk jugs also work quite well. 
• Some cities have a recycling program for cooking oil. Check with your city officials to see if this option is available in your area.
• The used cooking oil can be taken to a local landfill.
• Used cooking oil is biodegradable so it can be composted with other food scraps.

Tesing the oil whether it is good for cooking or not

Deterioration of Used Cooking Oil

There are several signs indicating that reused cooking oil has deteriorated. When any of the signs listed below are recognized, the oil should be discarded.

• Dispose of the oil if it has a rancid smell(Strong Bad flavor coz of exploring to light and air) or it begins to smell like the food that has been cooked in it.
• The oil will darken more with each use, but the darkened color does not necessarily indicate that the oil is unfit to use. A darkened color with a bad odor indicates that the oil should be discarded.
• Discard the oil when it begins foaming on the surface.
• Do not reuse oil if the smoke point has been greatly reduced. If the oil smokes excessively before reaching 375°F, it should not be used.
• Do not use oil if it does not bubble when food is added to the heated oil.

Cleaning the Cooking Oil

Cleaning the Cooking Oil

• Take a container with cheesecloth and position the container over a large bowl. The cheesecloth lined container will allow all particles to be filtered from the oil. If cheesecloth is not available, a coffee filter or two or three layers of paper towels can be used instead.
• If any strongly flavored food was fried in the oil, it can be freshened by frying a piece of citrus fruit or pieces of potato in the oil before it is filtered for reuse.
• Some oils may be used 3 or 4 times when cleansed and filtered between uses.
• When cooking oil is filtered and cleansed, some of the original quantity may be lost, so it may be replenished with new oil if a specific quantity is required for the next use.
• The oil can be stored in a cool, dark area if it will be used within a month. For longer storage, the oil can be stored in the refrigerator for several months. Freezer storage will further extend the shelf life.

General Cooking Tips for Oil

General Cooking Tips for Oil

• When using butter for frying, add a bit of cooking oil to help prevent the butter from burning.
• Any utensils and equipment that come into contact with the hot oil must be thoroughly dried first. Moisture on the utensils will cause splattering, which can be dangerous. Food should also be as dry as possible before it enters the hot oil to prevent splattering.
• The hot oil should not be left unattended and children and pets should NEVER be allowed near the cooking area.
• After the cooking is completed, the oil should not be transferred to another container or disposed of until it has completely cooled. It is extremely dangerous to pour the hot oil from the cooking vessel.
• For the best results when deep-frying, choose refined oils with a smoke point higher than 375ºF.
• Most types of oil used for deep-frying may be used again. The oil can be filtered after it is used to remove any impurities. If a strongly flavored food was fried in the oil, the oil can be freshened by frying a piece of citrus fruit, such as lemon or lime, or pieces of potato, before the oil is filtered for reuse. Some oils may be used 3 or 4 times when cleansed and filtered between uses.
• Add a pinch of salt to oil in vessal when having deep fries or snacks to avoid them  absorbing more oil.