Gross Grease Question

Updated on May 25, 2010
B.K. asks from Farmington, NM
19 answers

I'm curious to know what other moms do with the grease and drippings and general unappealing mess from meat. I tend to rinse and save steel cans for this purpose, but you can't seal them and they get messy. Help!

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So What Happened?

Alright! My husbands numerous salsa jars it is! Thanks!

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W.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Growing up my parents always used those orange juice concentrate cans, which got put in the fridge, then when it was full and stiff, it got thrown out with the garbage. We still do that (tied in a plastic bag, put out the night before trash pick up).

I have wondered though, because sometimes I just dump my browned ground beef into a colander, and how do you collect the grease drippings from that?!?

Good to know about the grease traps though.

C.C.

answers from Fresno on

I let the pan cool and then wipe the grease out with a paper towel. Then throw it out with the garbage at the end of the night!

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L.C.

answers from Washington DC on

NEVER pour grease down the drain especially if you are on a septic system. You will ruin it and need to replace it to the tune of many thousands of dollars.
I like the restaurant idea - as a matter of fact, I'm going to ask at our local burger joint to see if they will take mine. :-)
YMMV
LBC

2 moms found this helpful
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M.A.

answers from Houston on

Alright...HERE is the answer!!!! DO NOT run it down the sink. DO NOT throw it away in a can/jar!!!! Find a local restaurant that has a grease trap. ALL restaurants that have fryers have one...ITS THE LAW!!!. These restaurants sell this grease to buyers that recycle it. They make dog food, cat food, MAKE-UP!!!! (knew that would get cha!!!)
I worked in a restaurant for 18 years...we welcomed people to throw their grease in the "pit". That same restaurant can usually supply you with a gallon (used) pickle jar, jalapeno jar, etc. Fill it, (will probably take you months) then empty into the recycling grease pit. The restaurant wins, the buyers win, the dog food companies win, make up wins, the ENVIROMENT wins!!!!
I will have to say, find a "mom and pop" place. Get yourself a bucket and save the planet!!!!

For anyone who is wondering what I am talking about, these "pits" are usually placed in the back of a restaurant. They are generally a black, welded box with a lid on the top. The lids are almost ALWAYS pad-locked. This is to keep THEFT from happening. Yes, THEFT. These buyers pay high dollar for that grease....that is why most places will take it. I know I did as a restaurant manager.

P.S. This is also the same grease that fuels some cars...you know, the so-called "french fry" fueled cars?

2 moms found this helpful

L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

We use an old glass pickle jar (or something like it) with a lid. Pour it in, keep it closed up in the fridge. When it fills to the top and is hard from being refrigerated, we toss in the garbage can.

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

I let it cool and pour it into an old coffee container (they have lids). We drink a lot of coffee, so once the next container is empty, I throw it out.

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M.V.

answers from Phoenix on

just throw it away when it's at room temp. I actually use coffee cups and scrape it out with a spatula, and it still seems to clean out in the dishwasher.

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R.M.

answers from Nashville on

I save most of our jars like spaghetti sauce or salsa jars. We use quite a bit of both of those. I just rinse the jar and put it in the chemical cabinet in the garage, which is where I keep the grease jar too. When it is full I put the lid on really tight and put in the trash.

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

we use a coffee can with a lid. it lives under the sink.

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C.R.

answers from Phoenix on

You can but rubber lids made for cat food cans but they fit other cans as well. Good luck, C.

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J.F.

answers from Boston on

I cool the grease then pour into spaghetti sauce jars.

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L.M.

answers from New York on

I use an old coffee cup and crumple up a paper towel then pour the drippings into it. After it cools over the garbage can I pull the paper towel out and dump the excess grease into the trash. The cup gets washed.

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

I save unrecycleable containers, like paper or plastic cups from restaurants, for one-time use, because I want every scrap of recycleable metal and glass to get reused. I almost always have a discarded plastic bag in the trash that I can tie the cup in for discard. That way even garbage gets reused once.

I've started trimming as much fat as possible off of meats before cooking, and purchasing the lowest-fat-content possible in ground meats. Then the drippings can be deglazed with a little water, broth, or wine and used as a base for soup, stew or gravy. Very tasty! See more at www.reluctantgourmet.com/deglazing.htm.

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Check with your local trash company. We bottle it and set it out with the recycling once a week.

M.

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J.J.

answers from Phoenix on

We use glass jars with lids, like a pickle jar or salsa jar that has a wide mouth so it's easy to pour into when it's cooled a bit. Then put the lid on. If any spills, wipe it with a paper towel so it's not too gross.

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K.M.

answers from Boston on

Formula can with a lid, in the fridge, then in the garbage.

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C.M.

answers from Austin on

Second the coffee can with a lid. Don't dump it down the sink!

A.M.

answers from Phoenix on

actually i do the same thing only when i place the hot grease in the can i wait for it to cool down and by then its a little stiffer then i put the can inside a little plastic bag and toss it out

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M.B.

answers from Phoenix on

I save containers with lids....specifically glass jars with lids and keep it next to the stove.

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