How to Dispose of Deep Fryer Oil

If you've just cooked up a batch of french fries or chicken wings using a deep fryer, you may be curious about how to properly dispose of the remaining deep fryer oil. If not disposed of in the proper fashion, this oil can prove both messy and dangerous, but with the help of a few household items, you can get rid of used deep fryer oil in no time.

Step 1 - Cool the Oil

Turn off and unplug your deep fryer; allow the used oil to cool for 3 to 4 hours. Under no circumstances should you attempt to transport hot oil. Although some people have been known to pour hot oil down sink drains, this will damage your piping and is actually considered illegal in a number of states.

Step 2 - Scoop the Used Oil into Sealable Containers

Once the oil has cooled down and subsequently solidified, you will need to don a pair of protective gloves and begin scooping the oil out of the fryer with the aid of a large spoon or durable spatula. Some people elect to simply scoop the deep fryer oil with their gloved hands, but this can get pretty messy. Place the solidified oil in a sealable plastic container after scooping it. Take care to use a paper towel or expendable cloth to carefully wipe any caked-on oil from the sides of your deep dryer. If you have a fair amount of deep fryer oil to dispose of, you may need more than one container. Also make sure the plastic container(s) are expendable, as you will soon be throwing them out.

Proceed with one of the steps below.

Step 3a - Place the Freshly Scooped Oil in Your Freezer

Now that your deep fryer oil can been safely transported to the appropriate containment units, you will need to place it in your freezer. This step will ensure that your oil remains nice and solidified until your next trash pick-up. If possible, try to keep the oil away from the other food items in your freezer. Make sure to keep the oil in your freezer for as long as possible before throwing it out with the rest of your trash, preferably right up until the morning of your next garbage day, at which point the oil-filled containers may be placed in a trash bag and taken to the curb.

Step 3b - Take Your Deep Fryer Oil to a Local Recycling Center

If you're looking to dispose of an exceptionally large amount of deep fryer oil and don't have enough room to store it until your next garbage day, check the Internet or your local Yellow Pages for the location of your nearest oil recycling center. Then once the oil has solidified and been scooped, transport it to the nearest center.