Not sure what to do with used cooking oil?

Mom was right when she said never to pour it down the drain.

We love ourfried chicken,fried okra,fried catfish,fried pork chops… the list goes on.

Close up of bacon frying in a pan

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Never (Ever!)

When hot oil cools down, it solidifies and sticks to the inside walls of your kitchen pipes.

There are two preferred ways to get rid of cooking oil if you don’t plan to reuse it.

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Secure the lid and put the container in the trash.

Also, hot oil can attract bugs and animals to your trash, which you want to avoid.

If you fry bacon and don’t want to keep the grease, wait until it cools and solidifies.

frying hush puppies in a cast iron skillet

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Check with your local recycling center and ask if they accept used cooking oil.

If you’re planning on lots of frying in your near future (perhaps a deep-fried turkey?

), consider reusing your oil to cook similarly flavored foods.

Here are a few tips and tricks to reuse and repurpose your leftover oil.

Freezing oil takes about a day, making it solid and easier to remove.

Cooking oil in an airtight container can be stored for up to two years in the freezer.

The appearance of your oil can also clue you into whether it’s gone rancid.

AskUSDA.How long can I keep oil after frying?