15/07/2026
How To Dispose Of Grease And Fat Safely
The first thing you need to consider is whether the grease or oil you have used is reusable for more cooking. Of course, this is all personal preference as you may not want to mix fats with other food. However, when using oil for deep-frying (for example, to make chips) this should be reused to prevent wastage. We recommend when reusing oil, you strain the oil to remove any burnt food or debris to make it easier to reuse. When judging if to reuse, you must take into account two things: How hot the oil got during cooking, and whether you have some plan for the saved oil.
If you wouldn’t like to reuse the oil or fat for cooking then there is an alternative to pouring it all down the sink! The best method is to wipe plates free of fat with a kitchen towel and bin them before washing up. This will reduce the amount of fat or food that goes down the plughole, ensuring that a blockage does not develop over time.
Although, any leftover cooking fat in a roasting tray can be emptied into a container such as old tupperware such as a used butter tub, for example. When poured into the tub, fats and grease are allowed to sit, cool and solidify making ease of throwing away and disposing of in the bin. This will not only help the environment but also reduce the chances of your drains becoming clogged over time. When oil, grease and fat have solidified and if you're using a container, it is always a good idea to tightly wrap the container in foil or cling film before throwing it away, as oil can sometimes leak.
KEY POINTS TO TAKE AWAY:
The right way to dispose of grease is simple; throw away in your bin. Follow these steps to avoid pouring hot grease directly down your sink as even small amounts of grease can be detrimental to your plumbing because it will build up over time:
Let the oil or grease cool and solidify.
Once cool and solid, scrape the grease into a container that can be thrown away.
When your container is full, place it in a plastic bag to prevent leakage and then throw it in the garbage.
Finally, once you have removed the majority of the grease, use a paper towel to wipe off any leftover grease on all pots, pans and dishes that came into contact with the oil before rinsing them in the sink
