Bacon is delicious; however, cleaning the leftover grease is a tedious task. The grease is often hot, messy, and you may want to pour it down the drain because it makes sense at that moment. Liquid bacon grease is a liquid when hot, and the drain is where all liquids go.
Can You Pour Grease Down the Drain?
Do not be tempted to pour bacon grease down any drain in your house because it will clog up your pipes when it solidifies. Here is how to dispose of bacon grease correctly without clogging your pipes and having serious drainage issues:
Dispose of Bacon Grease in the Trash
If you want to dispose of bacon grease correctly, you should let it cool down for at least two hours and then follow these steps:
- Pour the cooled grease into a non-recyclable container. An excellent example of a non-recyclable container is the one you get with takeout food.
- Put the grease and container into your regular trash.
- If you want the process to be slightly less messy, you can opt to keep the non-recyclable container in the fridge until trash day. This process will enable the grease to solidify.
- If you don’t have a non-recyclable container, you can drain bacon grease into a dish and refrigerate it until it solidifies. Once it does, scrape the fat out into the trash using a rubber spatula, and wash your container.
Re-Use Your Leftover Bacon Grease
If you are wondering what to do with bacon grease, you can re-use it cook a new dish, and forego the stress associated with getting rid of it. Here is how to do it:
- Ensure the grease is cool enough before handling it.
- Drain the grease into a sealable container. You can use a sieve or cheesecloth to separate leftover bit of food from the fat.
- Label the container to avoid using it for cooking an incompatible meal.
- If you plan to use the grease immediately, you can store the container at room temperature. If you have long-term plans for the grease, refrigerate or freeze it.
- Bacon grease will be safe in the freezer for at least a month. You can add more grease into the container over time.
- Grease stored in the refrigerator can pick up other scents; therefore, it’s advisable to use it soon.
- It will help if you sniff-test the bacon grease before using it because it could become rancid after some time.
- You can use bacon grease to prepare a bacon vinaigrette salad dressing, meat dishes, and deep-fried vegetables.
Cook Bacon in the Oven
You can cook bacon in the oven instead of a pan if you want an easier cleanup. Here is how to do it:
- Preheat the oven to at least 400 degrees.
- Line the baking dish with aluminum foil or butter paper if you want to avoid the leftover grease issue.
- Place bacon strips on the foil or butter paper directly. It’s okay if the pieces touch each other because they will continue to shrink as they cook.
- You should cook the bacon for at least 10 to 20 minutes. However, that will depend on how crunchy or tender you would like it to be.
- Remove the sheet after you’ve cooked your bacon according to your preference.
- The aluminum foil makes it easier for you to contain the small amounts of bacon fat produced.
- Dispose of the foil containing the grease into the trash.
What to Do if You Pour Bacon Grease Down the Drain
Do not fret if you accidentally pour bacon grease down the drain. You can salvage the situation by adding some vinegar and baking soda into the drain. The mixture will help break down fats and make your drain smell fresher.
You can also pour some ammonia down the drain to help eliminate any extra grease from the pipes.
How to Get Rid Of Bacon Grease Smell
Eating bacon is terrific; however, your entire kitchen might be coated in oil, and there may be unwanted odors throughout the house. You can get rid of the bacon grease smell using the following solutions:
Ventilate Your House Before Cooking
You should open all your windows and turn on fans to direct air outwards. If you have air conditioning, power it up.
Close All Doors to Nearby Rooms
Closing all doors to nearby rooms will help prevent the smell from seeping into them. If you don’t close them, the scent might take over your house.
Use Vinegar and Water Solution
Bring a cup of water and one tablespoon of vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan. Let the solution simmer for a few minutes. You can add lemon peels, vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks, or bay leaves to add a pleasant smell and cut down the vinegar smell.
Clean Up Immediately
Start cleaning immediately after disposing of the oil. Clean the pans, pots, appliances, and wipe down the counters using an effective kitchen degreaser.
Absorb the Odor
You can leave bowls of baking soda, vinegar, or coffee grounds on your kitchen counter overnight to absorb the bacon grease smell.
How to Strain Bacon Grease
You may want to strain bacon grease if you’re going to re-use it or dispose of it off effectively. You should ensure the grease is cool enough before handling it, and then follow the following procedure:
- Place a paper towel or a coffee filter over a spouted container.
- Pour the bacon grease through the filter to remove any solid bits left behind after cooking the bacon.
- Remove the filter and transfer the strained grease into a glass container or a mason jar.
- Keep the strained grease in the fridge or freezer if you want to use it after some days.
How to Get Rid Of Bacon Grease on Clothes
Dealing with bacon grease on your clothes is a challenging task. If you don’t clean the grease properly, it might leave permanent damage to your attires. You can use these tips to get bacon grease out of your clothes; however, be sure to test the chosen method on an inconspicuous spot on the clothing first to prevent your garment from being damaged beyond repair.
Use Dish Soap
You can use dish soap to get rid of bacon grease on your clothes. All you have to do is squirt a little dish soap on the stain and gently rub it in. Let the soap sit for at least fifteen minutes and wash the attire as you usually would.
Plain White Paper Towel and Liquid Laundry Detergent Will Do the Trick
If you use this method to eliminate bacon grease on clothes, the first step is to blot the stain with a white paper towel. The paper towel will absorb as much of the grease as possible. Do not rub because rubbing may push the stains more profoundly into the fabric fibers. Continue the process until most of the bacon grease has been absorbed.
When ready to wash the attire, apply a heavy-duty liquid detergent directly to the stained area. Rub the fabric and detergent together using your fingers, and leave it for about fifteen minutes before washing it.
Use Baking Soda, Cornstarch, or Salt and Laundry Detergent
You can remove bacon grease stains by sprinkling baking soda, cornstarch, or salt on the stain and let it sit for about thirty minutes. Brush the powder away using a gentle brush and repeat the process to eliminate as much grease as possible.
Rub dish soap on the stain using a clean, soft toothbrush or your finger and let it sit for a few minutes. Soak the garment in hot water for about thirty minutes. Turn the clothing inside out and run hot water through the stain’s backside to thoroughly rinse it. Hang the garment to dry.
If the above process doesn’t eliminate the bacon grease stain, you can try the following:
- Mix one part water and three parts baking soda, and apply to the affected area.
- Let the solution dry and brush it off using a gentle brush.
- Pour some liquid laundry detergent on the stain and let it sit for at least ten minutes.
- Clean the clothing in the washing machine in hot water.
Getting Rid of Bacon Grease on Delicate and Dry Clean Only Fabrics
If you get bacon grease on delicate and dry clean only fabrics, you can use the following procedure to eliminate it:
- Take care of the stained area immediately. Use a dry paper towel to blot the affected area and soak up as much grease as possible. Do not rub to prevent embedding the grease into the garment.
- Sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch on the stain and cover it completely. Let the fabric sit for some hours in a warm place.
- Use a soft toothbrush to brush the powder away. If the treatment wasn’t effective in removing the grease, repeat the process.
- If you manage to remove the grease, launder the clothing as usual, or take it to a professional dry cleaner if the garment is dry clean only. Explain to the dry cleaner what happened and the steps you took to remove the stain.
You can use the techniques discussed above to get rid of bacon grease. If you get bacon grease stains on your clothes, the methods discussed will also come in handy in eliminating the stains.