OK. Confession time. If we’re honest, we can all admit that we’ve put food and other items down our disposals and kitchen drain (even though we know we probably shouldn’t). Kitchen grease and cooking oils are where a big question surfaces and many people hesitate. Is it safe to put cooking grease down the drain? The answer is NO. Pouring any oil down your kitchen sink drain can very quickly clog it, creating an entirely new mess you really don’t want on your hands, along with a potentially expensive repair bill.
In reality, grease should never go down the drain. Even if it’s hot and easy to pour out of the pan, it will eventually cool and solidify somewhere in your plumbing. This causes a gummy, goopy mess to form along the pipe walls, trapping other debris that flows down the drain.
How does grease buildup clog your drain?
Bacon grease, oils, and other cooking greases can build up quite quickly. Many of us wouldn’t even stop to think before pouring that grease straight down the drain! When you pour bacon grease or cooking grease down a kitchen drain, it will come in contact with the pipes, which are most often cool or room temperature. Guess what happens? As the grease cools down, it starts to congeal and solidify. Continue to pour grease and cooking oil down your drains, and it will eventually harden in the pipe and clog everything up. Luckily, it’s an easy problem to avoid.
What is the best way to dispose of cooking grease?
Grandma always knew best – remember coffee cans and mason jars full of bacon grease and drippings? These were the kitchen grease receptacles of old. Today, these are still the best way to collect and store oils and fats until ready for use in cooking, or disposal. Find a non-recyclable, resealable container. Let the grease cool down, and then pour the fat into the container. Once the oil has had time to cool and solidify, you can simply dispose of it in the garbage. Side note: if you put hot grease into the fridge, it will solidify a lot quicker.
Why you should never pour grease down the drain
FAQ
What to do if you pour bacon grease down the drain?
How long does it take for grease to clog a drain?
What happens if you flush bacon grease down the toilet?
Does dish soap break down bacon grease?
Can frying bacon clog a drain?
If you’ve ever found yourself standing around with a pan full of grease after frying up some bacon and considered throwing it down the drain, don’t! While cooking grease and other liquid fats may appear to flow smoothly into your drain, they can lead to drain clogs, environmental issues, health hazards, and costly repairs!
What happens if you put grease down a sink?
Let it sit for a few hours at room temperature and it’ll harden. That’s exactly what happens in your pipes if you pour liquid grease down the drain or garbage disposal. But when it congeals in your pipes, it gums up the works. At first, you may notice water drains from your sink slower than before. Soon, you may experience full backups.
Can you put grease down the drain after cooking?
Before pouring away greases that solidify or melt at room temperature, such as bacon grease, duck fat, and lard, down your drain, read the below guidance on what you can do after you finish cooking: Grease/rendered animal fats: To manage warm grease properly, pour it into a grease jar or can.
What happens if you pour grease down the drain?
If your pipes are connected to a city sewer system, pouring grease down the drain can cause problems on a much larger scale. In the sewer, your hardened grease mixes with everyone else’s, forming an ever-growing, solid mass of fat.