Oil and grease may be essential for many cooking projects, but they’re no friends to your household plumbing. Both harden inside pipes, creating seals that result in slow drains and standing water. Excessive grease, oil, and fat additionally contribute to septic tank maintenance issues that lead to sewage backups, polluted drain fields, and contaminated soil. Luckily, keeping these substances out of the drain prevents problems, but what do you do with them? Here’s a closer look at safe and sanitary disposal.

How Can You Safely Get Rid of Kitchen Oil & Grease?

Instead of allowing oil, grease, and fat to slide down your drains and interfere with efficient septic tank maintenance, let it cool in pots and pans. Once cooled, scrape the solid result from its cookware and place it in a leak-free plastic bag or container. Keep the container/bag until it’s full before throwing it out to avoid creating extra trash.

Additionally, wipe down all cookware before washing it. Get as much product on paper towels as possible to keep as much floatable matter as possible from entering your drains.

Can They Be Recycled?

It’s also possible to recycle oil, fat, and grease. Strain oil in cheesecloth before it cools—you can also use coffee filters or paper towels. Dump the product in a sealable glass container and place it in your refrigerator or freezer, depending on when you want to use it next. Always make certain the oil is usable by smelling it prior to reuse.

Get creative in the kitchen. Bacon fat also serves as a rub for roasted chicken breasts, infuses caramelized onions with pork flavor, and makes a delicious base for veggie frittatas. If you want to save grease or oil for use in a few weeks, straining it prior to storage removes bacon or other meat bits to give you more reuse options, such as homemade mayonnaise or salad dressing. Fat and grease also provide delicious bases for DIY pizzas. 

Keep oil, fat, and grease out of your drains in addition to scheduling septic tank maintenance from Nick Driggers Pumping Service in Greensboro, NC. Offering septic tank installation, cleaning, maintenance, and repairs, the experienced team makes it easy to keep your plumbing running smoothly. Call (336) 215-4408 today to schedule an appointment or learn more about their services online.