How to Discard Used or Unused Cooking Oil

Cooking oil is essential in many kitchens—but what are you supposed to do with a pan full of used oil, or an unopened bottle of expired oil that’s chilling in your pantry? While dumping your oil down any sort of drain (we’re talking sinks, toilets, storm drains) is a big no-no, there are still plenty of ways to safely dispose of or even repurpose your old or expired oil. With help from professional chefs and cleaners, we’ll walk you through how to reuse and dispose of oil (and why you shouldn’t pour it down the drain).

How to Properly Dispose of Cooking Oil

Executive chef Abyssinia Campbell says to pour cooled or expired cooking oil into a sealed container and toss it in the trash. Avoid pouring it down the drain, as it can clog pipes and contaminate sewer systems. Other safe disposal methods include:

Composting small amounts of oil blotted up with a newspaper or paper towels.
Pouring large amounts of oil into cat litter and then tossing it in the trash.
Straining used cooking oil into a jar and reusing it within 1-2 months.

Section 1 of 5:

Best Ways to Dispose of Cooking Oil

Download Article

1
Cool the oil and toss it out in a sealed container. Campbell says to wait until the oil is completely cooled off before you start disposing of it. Then, drain the oil into a secure container, like the oil bottle itself.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef

Expert Interview} Toss the sealed bottle out in your trash can and dispose of it like you would any other trash.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Old pop bottles and milk jugs are great vessels for your cooking oil (as long as you still have the lid for them).^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
- If you’re getting rid of expired/unused oil, simply toss out the container itself. Just make sure that the lid is unopened or tightly sealed beforehand!
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Abyssinia Campbell is an executive chef who specializes in food business operations. She has over a decade of experience.

JoAnna Minneci is a retired professional chef with 18 years of experience specializing in private cooking lessons and wellness and nutrition classes.

David Balkan is a professional plumber of 40 years and the CEO of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service.

Raymond Chiu is a house cleaning professional and owner of Maid Sailors Cleaning Services.
2
Use a cooking oil powder solidifier to solidify the oil, then toss it. With powdered oil solidifiers like those sold by FryAway and Cotton Labo, all you have to do is sprinkle the powder into the cooking oil, stir it, then let the powder do the rest of the work. Once the powder solidifies the cooking oil, simply remove it from its container and toss it into the trash.^{[4]
X
Trustworthy Source

Consumer Reports
Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing

Go to source}
- Put the solid cooking oil into a plastic bag if you’re worried about it melting and leaving an oily mess in your trash can.
- FryAway is great, but so are alternatives like SolidiFry, Hard Oil, or stearic acid.
Advertisement
3
Soak the oil in cat litter if you have a lot to get rid of. Pour small amounts of the unused (or expired) oil into the cat litter, mixing the rest of the oil in gradually. Once all the oil is absorbed, transfer the oil-soaked litter to a sealable bag and toss it into your trash can.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Don’t have any cat litter? Sawdust, flour, and sand are also great mediums for absorbing oil.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
- If you have tons of oil to get rid of, you might not have a sealable container that’s big enough to handle the job. In that case, pouring the oil into an absorbent material before tossing it out can be handy.^{[7]
  X
  Research source}
4
Compost small amounts of oil with newspaper or paper towels. Grab a sheet of newspaper or a paper towel and rub it into some of the unused oil in your pan. From there, toss the oil-soaked paper towel or newspaper into your compost bin.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Composting works best with small portions of oil, like the leftover oil from sauteeing or pan-frying something. If you have a lot of used oil on hand (like the leftover oil from a deep fryer), it's better to dispose of it in a large, sealable container.
5
Recycle the oil according to your local government’s specifications. Many cities, towns, and municipalities have specific recycling procedures in place for household materials like cooking oil. Check your local government website to see the proper procedures to learn how you can recycle your oil and dispose of it in a safe and efficient way.
- In some places, you might be able to pour the oil into a sealable container and leave it outside next to your recycling can.^{[9]
  X
  Research source} Other places might have specific drop-off spots where you can donate your used cooking oil.^{[10]
  X
  Research source}
Check in with a local eatery and ask if they’re willing to get rid of some of your leftover oil. Restaurants typically use bulk tanks or drums to handle their leftover oil—they might be willing to toss your old or expired oil into the mix, as long as you ask!^{[11]
X
Research source}

Section 2 of 5:

How to Reuse Your Cooking Oil

Download Article

1
Try straining the oil and saving it for later in a glass jar. Once the oil is no longer piping hot, pour it through a metal strainer covered in multiple layers of cheesecloth. After the oil is filtered of any leftover crumbs and food bits, pour it into a sealable container. Label the oil with the current date and stash it in the refrigerator—reused oil lasts for about 1-2 months.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Professional chef JoAnna Minneci says that you can reuse oil as long as it’s clean. “If you wanted to cook fish in it, or even make French fries, that would be fine,” she says.^{[13]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  JoAnna Minneci
  Professional Chef
  
  Expert Interview}
- Not totally sure if you want to reuse your oil or not? Transfer it to a sealable container and stash it in the freezer for up to 2 years.
- Try to reuse your oil in similar dishes—for instance, oil used to make fried chicken isn’t a great option for frying donuts or funnel cake.
- Warning: Always inspect your oil before you reuse it. If the oil smells bad, looks hazy, and/or has foam on the surface, toss it out.^{[14]
  X
  Research source}
Want to learn a new hobby and get rid of some old oil in the process? Filter and clean 1.4 oz (40 g) of old oil by combining it with a 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) 10% saltwater solution for an hour. Then, strain the mixture, stir in 5 mL (0.17 fl oz) of hydrogen peroxide, and add 4 g (0.1 oz) of lye solution to create the soap.^{[15]
X
Trustworthy Source

Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics

Go to source}
Don’t want to bust out any harsh chemicals? Pour some cooled cooking oil into a spray bottle and spritz all over the pesky weeds. Pretty soon, the oil-smothered weeds should vanish from your garden!^{[16]
X
Research source}
4
Apply oil to your gardening tools for an extra layer of protection. Soak a clean rag in a little bit of used cooking oil and rub it all over your gardening tools. Believe it or not, the extra oil can help keep your tools clean and rust-free in the coming months.
- Some people like to apply leftover oil to their pans and pots, as well as other metal surfaces (like bike chains).
5
Use unused olive or coconut oil as makeup remover or a hair treatment. Gently rub unused oil over any makeup or cosmetics you’d like to remove to start the repurposing process. Feel free to transform your leftover olive or coconut oil into a hair mask. Working your way from the roots down, apply the oil all over your hair. Then, cover up your hair with a shower cap and let the oil soak for 1 hour before washing your hair with shampoo.
- Warning: Make sure that the oil isn’t rancid before using it on your hair and skin! Give the oil a sniff before you use it—if it smells bad, it’s no longer good to use. For unrefined oils (such as extra-virgin olive oil), carefully taste a small spoonful of it to see if the flavor seems off-putting.^{[17]
  X
  Research source}

Section 3 of 5:

Why can’t cooking oil go down the drain?

Download Article

Pouring cooking oil down the drain can clog your pipes and sewer system. According to professional plumber David Balkan, putting grease down the drain not only coats your pipes in grease, “but then it coats the inside of the tanks that are supposed to leach out into the surrounding ground.”^{[18]
X
Expert Source

David Balkan
Professional Plumber

Expert Interview} Once this grease gets into the sewer system, it can combine with fats, oils, and non-biodegradable products (like wipes) to create a “fatberg.”
- Fatbergs can create blockages in the sewers, which can lead to backups, overflows, and potential flooding, among other issues.
- The more cooking oil coats your pipes, the harder it will be to drain things, as liquids have less room to move through the pipes.
- If you have already poured cooking oil down your drain, house cleaning professional Raymond Chiu says to “regularly pour boiling hot water down the drain to melt away the grease that may be stuck in the pipes.”^{[19]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Raymond Chiu
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 4 of 5:

What to Do with Expired Cooking Oil

Download Article

While expired cooking oil isn’t safe for consumption, it is safe for lubricating your metal tools. Whether you have a chainsaw that needs some lubrication or some squeaky joints you’re tired of hearing, you can use expired oil in a pinch. The best oils are coconut, canola, olive, and vegetable oil.

Section 5 of 5:

How to Clean an Oil Spill at Home

Download Article

Sprinkle baking soda over the oil to soak it up, then sweep and wipe. Chiu says to “sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch generously over the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes” to soak up the spilled oil.^{[20]
X
Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview} Once the stain has soaked into the absorbent, sweep it up with a broom or paper towel. Then, spray undiluted distilled white vinegar on the spot to break down any remaining fat and wipe it away.
- Vinegar can damage surfaces and break down certain materials, so once you treat the surface and clean up the stain, wipe the surface with plain water.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Where should I keep my oil jar?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

A good spot would be under the kitchen sink where it won't get used accidentally and its greasiness won't be a problem for food packaging nearby.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
Question

Why do you not pour used cooking oil out down the sink drain or in the yard?

Community Answer

Because over time, oil poured into a sink can create a clog, especially when it is done repeatedly over time. It could also damage your soil and plants.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 13 Helpful 63
Question

What is the shelf life of olive oil?

Community Answer

It can be as long as 3-4 years for an early harvest, high-polyphenol olive variety that has been filtered and packaged in a well-sealed tin or dark bottle, but that's not always the quality of olive oil you'll be using, so it's best to buy your olive oil in small quantities and use it within 6 months.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 20

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Want to use a little less oil in the kitchen? Try steaming, air-frying, or grilling your food as an oil-free alternative. Nonstick pans and pots are another great way to reduce oil usage in your recipes.^{[21]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Never pour your oil down any type of drain. Grease and oil can clog up your plumbing and sewage system, and storm drains aren’t physically designed to carry any substances besides water.^{[22]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0