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Frying at home delivers crunchy, restaurant-style results, but the cleanup can be a headache. One wrong move with hot oil can clog pipes, stain trash, or create a slippery mess. Celebrity cook Martha Stewart brought a simple, viral solution to the conversation that’s easy enough for any home kitchen to try.
Why you should never pour used cooking oil down the drain
Poured oil looks harmless going down the sink, but it soon cools and turns into a stubborn clog. Household drainage systems and municipal sewers can’t handle grease the way we might hope.
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- Solidification: Hot oil cools and becomes sticky, coating pipes and traps.
- Blockages: Grease builds up over time and can cause backups and costly repairs.
- Environmental harm: Large amounts in sewer systems can create fatbergs that disrupt treatment plants.
Martha Stewart’s paper-towel trick for collecting grease
The method is straightforward and relies on materials most kitchens already have. It’s about absorbing the oil, not flushing it away.
- Let the pan cool briefly until oil is hot but not splattering.
- Use metal tongs to place a folded paper towel in the oil, or hold the towel with a utensil to avoid burns.
- Allow the towel to absorb the grease for a few seconds, then remove and discard in the trash.
- Repeat until most of the oil is gone, then wash the pan with a grease-cutting dish soap.
Safety note: Never attempt this with blazing oil. Use tongs or a heat-safe tool to keep your hands away from hot fat.
Low-waste alternatives and eco-friendly disposal ideas
If you want to cut down on single-use paper towels, several other methods work well and reduce waste.
- Reuse a jar or bottle: Cool the oil, pour into a sealed container, and store for future cooking.
- Brown paper bags: Tear into sheets to absorb oil; they’re sturdier and compostable in some systems.
- Solidify with absorbents: Kitty litter or commercial grease solidifiers turn liquid fat into a scoopable mass.
- Drop-off centers: Some municipalities accept used cooking oil for recycling into biodiesel.
How to clean cookware after oil removal
Once the bulk of the oil is out, tackle the remaining residue with a few easy steps.
- Rinse with hot water to loosen grease.
- Apply a grease-cutting dish soap and scrub with a nonabrasive pad.
- For stubborn spots, sprinkle baking soda, add a little water, then scrub gently.
- Dry thoroughly to prevent rust on metal pans.
Tips for large volumes of oil and special situations
When you’ve fried a turkey or finished a big batch of fries, single paper towels won’t do the job.
- Cool oil fully, strain to remove food bits, and pour into a sealable container for recycling.
- Contact your local waste authority to learn about community collection points.
- Avoid adding oil to compost bins unless your compost program explicitly accepts fats and oils.
