# What to do with rendered fat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345 "2004-01-02T19:41:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/1 "2004-01-02T19:41:36Z")
I always skim or pour off the fat from cooking meat and I usually throw it down the kitchen drain. Now I know that’s a very bad thing to do and feel really guilty whenever I do it but I have no idea what else to do with it. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/2 "2004-01-02T19:50:16Z")
Garbage can? Using the drain is _very_ bad. It clogs pipes, etc. If you have a septic system, it can damage it. On a sewer, it adds to the costs of processing the sewage. In short, if it isn’t water and human waste, it doesn’t go down the pipe. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/3 "2004-01-02T19:59:24Z")
I still keep an old can into which I pour the hot fat. I do this because my parents did it. Of course it dates back to a time when rendered fat was actually re-used; we just throw it out when it gets full. ---
**Author:** ![Avumede](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/avumede/32/7235_2.png) [@Avumede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avumede)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/4 "2004-01-02T20:02:29Z")
Two things you can do: 1. Reuse the fat. This is the best. The rendered fat is usually really tasty. Saute vegetables in it, for instance. 2. If you want to dispose of it, get some sort of container (I use a metal can), and every time you have rendered fat to dispose of, put it in this container. When it’s close to full, you can dispose of it. I usually do this by going behind my local fast food joint’s parking lot, where they have a big grease trap. I dump it there. when I first did this, I got their permission, but that’s probably not necessary. I’ve also heard you can take it to a gas station, since they have to accept used motor oil, they also probably will accept your oil. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/5 "2004-01-02T20:09:46Z")
Make soap out of it. I have a recipe around here somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/6 "2004-01-02T20:36:18Z")
Make soap in your blender, free recipes and book at URL: \<[http://members.aol.com/oelaineo/blender.html](http://members.aol.com/oelaineo/blender.html)\> * * * “Beware of the Cog” ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/7 "2004-01-02T21:31:42Z")
Bulk up your underweight Orcs? Ohhh, not THAT type of rendering… I use a hot air popcorn popper, but I negate the health benefits by putting bacon grease on it… (usually a bacon grease/vegetable oil/margerine blend) brian ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/8 "2004-01-02T21:39:26Z")
Sauces as well as the sauteeing already mentioned. I try to save some for use as tasty oil/butter substitute. However, I have two dogs, so there’re ample opportunities to dispose of all the rendered fat my household is liable to generate. ---
**Author:** ![gcarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@gcarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gcarroll)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/9 "2004-01-02T21:44:14Z")
Mix it with birdseed; some birds love it, esp. in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/10 "2004-01-02T21:48:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gcarroll \* > \*\*Mix it with birdseed; some birds love it, esp. in the winter. \*\* Goodern. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/11 "2004-01-02T22:06:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avumede \* > I’ve also heard you can take it to a gas station, since they have to accept used motor oil, they also probably will accept your oil. Don’t do this! Mineral oils and animal oils are _totally_ different. Mineral oils can be recycled but mixing animal fat and water will only ruin it for recycling. You don’t mix mineral oil with your cooking oil nor vice versa. If you have a wood or coal stove you can burn it there. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/12 "2004-01-02T22:58:26Z")
Soapmaking note: Take some time to learn about soapmaking before you go tossing fat and lye into your blender. There are less chancy ways of soaping, and better oils to use than the mixed animal fats you end up with in a can on the back of the stove. Maybe I’ll start a Straight Dope Make Soap Day post later… ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/13 "2004-01-02T23:32:26Z")
Used cooking oil can be used as diesel fule (google biodiesel), I imagine with a liitle more work animal could be used also. I’m almost positive it could be used for jet fuel, I’ve heard of parafin (candle wax), why not animal fat? Brian ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/14 "2004-01-02T23:39:19Z")
I remember soapmaking from ‘The Foxfire Book’ (a great read, IMHO). [Here is a link](http://www.suncitysoap.com/oldsoap.html) to explain the procedure in good detail. :bubbly smiley: ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/15 "2004-01-02T23:43:06Z")
which brings up another use: candles. Candles that can, in an emergecy, be eaten. lip balm? for greasing pigs? lubricant? (not compatible with latex) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/16 "2004-01-02T23:52:27Z")
Mmmmmm scented candles [/homer] ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/17 "2004-01-03T03:30:57Z")
soaking tinder in rendered fat makes for a great firestarter, if you have a fireplace or stove. or soaking newspaper with it works equally well, plus it burns clean away, and leaves little residue. ---
**Author:** ![Strychnos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Strychnos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strychnos)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/18 "2004-01-03T04:07:36Z")
Make pemmican. Pour warm (not hot!) rendered fat onto finely ground and thoroughly dried jerky, nuts, saskatoons etc. and let harden. Wrap in paper, keep in a cool, dry place and eat for months to come as a super-high-energy snack. I’ve eaten my pemmican batches after storing them three years in room temperature, althought that’s stretching the “best before” date a bit… ---
**Author:** ![abby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@abby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abby)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/19 "2004-01-03T06:34:08Z")
oh come on: the fist thing you’d do is grab your partner and roll around in it. What’s WRONG with you people?! ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345/20 "2004-01-07T16:36:09Z")
“Fist thing?!” A freudian typo, eh? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-rendered-fat/222345.md?page=2)