Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Jul 3, 2009 11:49:52 GMT -5
Here is a question I should have thought to ask months ago. I have always worried about bacon grease, cause my mom taught me that if you put it down the sink, it will clog the drains. I am afraid to mess with it while it is still liquid (cause isn't it still hot when it is liquid, or something, and then it gets solid? I never watched it for a few hours to find out how that works) But when it gets solid, it gets stuck in the pain, unless you wash it out. So everytime I cook bacon, I get racked by indecision, and let the greasy pan sit there for about a month or so. Literally. Then what I usually do is scoop as much as I can out with paper towels, then throw them away, and then wash the rest, terrified of clogging the drain. But I cooked bacon the other day, and tonight I am cooking tacos, which requires the use of the same pan, (AND ALSO WILL RESULT IN GREASE, SO WHAT DO I DO WITH THAT GREASE TOO?) so I need to get the grease out of the pan so I can cook the tacos. So what do I do with grease from bacon and ground beef? (Does this question make my inner child show?  ) |
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sweets
New Member
Joined: August 2008
Posts: 11 
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Post by sweets on Jul 3, 2009 12:06:14 GMT -5
Hi there,
I've always poured mine down the drain. But yeah, probably not the best idea.
I think that the ideal solution would be to pour the grease into an empty tin can or a glass jar, and then throw it away once it's hardened up.
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jul 3, 2009 12:08:11 GMT -5
The best way to deal with it is to pour it into a metal can, stick it in the fridge until it solidifies, the throw it in the trash. Simple!
Since I now recycle the cans, I just scoop the solid grease into the trash, and recycle the can.
If you're afraid of burning yourself get some oven mits and a strainer/colander placed over a bowl. Pour the meat into the colander, catching the grease in the bowl. It dirties extra dishes, but it's sure better than a grease burn.
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Post by nervousn3llie on Jul 3, 2009 12:12:27 GMT -5
If I let the grease sit and solidify, I just heat the pan again and pour the liquid grease into an old coffee can. I then wipe the pan out and wash it. I keep the "grease can" in the freezer with a lid on and then when it gets full I throw it out with the garbage. Nellie Here is a question I should have thought to ask months ago. I have always worried about bacon grease, cause my mom taught me that if you put it down the sink, it will clog the drains. I am afraid to mess with it while it is still liquid (cause isn't it still hot when it is liquid, or something, and then it gets solid? I never watched it for a few hours to find out how that works) But when it gets solid, it gets stuck in the pain, unless you wash it out. So everytime I cook bacon, I get racked by indecision, and let the greasy pan sit there for about a month or so. Literally. Then what I usually do is scoop as much as I can out with paper towels, then throw them away, and then wash the rest, terrified of clogging the drain. But I cooked bacon the other day, and tonight I am cooking tacos, which requires the use of the same pan, (AND ALSO WILL RESULT IN GREASE, SO WHAT DO I DO WITH THAT GREASE TOO?) so I need to get the grease out of the pan so I can cook the tacos. So what do I do with grease from bacon and ground beef? (Does this question make my inner child show? ) |
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Post by DJ on Jul 3, 2009 12:16:46 GMT -5
i don't pour solid at room temperature grease down the drain.. i either pour it into a disposable paper cup, can whatever's handy then toss in the garbage can when cooled.. if i can't find something handy i've sopped it up with paper towels and tossed those... bacon grease..well.i'm gross and i keep it for cooking with later..collared greans.. greasing pans for corn muffins sometimes.. whatever i want an unhealthy bacon grease infusion in later..i keep it in a glass jar in the fridge..my great grandma always did this and i never thought twice about it til people started freaking out that i was a heart attack waiting to happen. oops. i still do it though. and confess here:> i'd just find something to pour it into and toss it.. great way to use up tupperware or those assorted plastic containers people try to convince themselves have a future life in their cupboards  |
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Post by shosha on Jul 3, 2009 12:28:55 GMT -5
I agree with the very good suggestion of putting it into an empty can or other container, but just to let you know if you do end up with some of it going down the drain (i.e. when you wash it out, you might realise that you hadn't got it all out) it's usually fine if you flush it through with lots of hot water and laundry detergent or washing soda/soda crystals, which seem to cut through it nicely.
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jul 3, 2009 12:32:26 GMT -5
I wouldn't recommend reusing it, though. It's really tasty, but reheating grease creates benzene-like compounds. Benzene is even worse for you than bacon grease.
I do love my bacon.
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Post by pegasus48 on Jul 3, 2009 13:00:48 GMT -5
WARNING: If the bacon grease is very hot it can melt through the bottom of some plastic containers and you can get burned. A friend of mine did this many years ago. Maybe plastics are heartier now, but I always use a can for the grease.
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Post by DJ on Jul 3, 2009 13:05:01 GMT -5
woops,thanks pegasus, i uhm. learned that one the hardway and it's kind of seared into my brain <through a piece of tupperware,through a garbage sack and melded to the bottom of a garbage can that got thrown away> ...ooops....
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Post by rubyred on Jul 3, 2009 15:43:59 GMT -5
I always pour it carefully into an empty food can to congeal and throw the can away. You could also let it congeal in the pan and then spoon it out into the trash.
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Post by notsomessyshell on Jul 3, 2009 16:07:58 GMT -5
Here is one I heard recently. I have not tried it personally. But here goes. Put some paper towels in a can. Pour grease into a can. The grease cools and congeals on the paper towels. Then you can just toss the paper towels. If I ever make bacon again, (not likely) I will try this.
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Post by messymimi on Jul 3, 2009 16:25:15 GMT -5
Around here, we keep the bacon grease for cooking other foods. In fact, most of my recipes start with "grab grandma's cast iron skillet and melt some bacon grease...."
Any grease or liquid I don't want to keep, I let cool but not to it's solid state. When it is cool but still liquid I pour it in a zip top bag that previously held cheese, or sundried tomatoes, or sunflower seeds, or whatever. I zip it closed and toss it. This way I don't feel so bad about throwing the bags away -- I found a way to reuse them.
messymimi
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Post by paperpiler on Jul 3, 2009 18:38:17 GMT -5
My mom used to always pour the hot liquid straight into a coffee can, put the lid on it, and put it under the sink. When it got full enough (not to the top), she threw the can out.
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Post by limegreen on Jul 3, 2009 19:18:13 GMT -5
The drains from my kitchen are horrible, they don't run straight there are two right angles in them, and they don't have a steep enough slant on them to drain fast, so I am ultra vigilant about not pouring fat down the drain. I wipe out the pan with a few paper towels, squirt a little dish soap in and wipe all the greasy depoits up with another paper towel. I also wipe up mayo and salad oil too, my drains block at the least excuse and it costs £100 + VAT to get a man out to clear them, probably more, as it's been a while since they blocked. I reckon the extra expense of paper towels is more than offset by the price of the man from Dyno-Rod.
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Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Jul 3, 2009 21:47:21 GMT -5
I think I like your idea the best, limegreen. It skips all of that pouring into a can nonsense.  I have poor eye-hand coordination, so that kind of scares me. |
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