I’m a little bit of a grease hoarder, a behavior I come by actually. My grandmother saved a reasonably substantial crock of the bacon grease proper subsequent to the range, and day-after-day she would high it off with the fats that rendered out that morning’s bacon. (I’m positive the grease on the backside of the crock was iffy, however we by no means made it down that far.)
I maintain my private bacon grease in small Pyrex containers within the fridge, however I hoard all of it the identical. It’s the one grease I’m so treasured with—I don’t save nor clean vegetable oil, canola oil, or olive oil. Often if I’ve so much left within the pan, I’ll let it cool a bit, then pour it right into a plastic bottle I’ve put aside for this actual goal. This works nicely, however there are additionally these instances you want the scorching oil out of the pan rapidly, and pouring scorching, liquid grease right into a plastic bottle is decidedly not the transfer.
Fortunately, your kitchen is already stocked with all the pieces it is advisable rapidly rid your self of a puddle of scorching grease, as a result of all you want is some sodium bicarbonate, generally known as “baking soda.” The powder will take in the grease whereas stopping potential grease fires as a bonus. (Baking soda releases carbon dioxide when heated, and in contrast to oxygen, carbon dioxide doesn’t assist combustion.) Additionally, whereas baking soda has some grit to it, it’s effective sufficient that it gained’t scratch your cookware, even items coated with Teflon or one other nonstick coating.
The method is straightforward: Dump some baking soda onto the grease puddle, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then stir it up and scrape it out. (The grease paste will nonetheless be slightly scorching, so don’t scrape it right into a plastic container.) And whilst you might simply pour the new, liquid grease instantly right into a heat-safe container, the baking soda has the additional benefit of snuffing out any nonetheless smoking bits inside it, in addition to rendering the fats right into a much less splashy paste, which suggests you’re much less more likely to spill scorching grease on your self or round your kitchen. As soon as it has cooled, toss the grease paste within the trash. Wash or wipe your pan or pot as ordinary.