Beef fat, also known as beef tallow, is a byproduct that accumulates when cooking dishes like burgers, steaks, roasts, and stews. While small amounts can be reused for cooking, most home cooks need to dispose of excess beef fat after preparing meat. Improper disposal can lead to clogged drains and plumbing issues. This guide covers the smartest ways to get rid of beef fat without harming your pipes.
Why Beef Fat Shouldn’t Go Down the Drain
The number one thing to avoid is pouring hot beef fat directly down your kitchen sink As the fat cools, it will solidify and stick to the insides of pipes. Over time, this buildup can completely clog drains and cause sewage backups
Even if you have a garbage disposal, it’s still a bad idea to flush beef fat down the drain. The disposal may chop up some of the solid pieces, but grease will still cling to pipe interiors. The result will be rancid odors coming from your drain as particles accumulate.
How Much Fat Render Out of Beef?
The amount of fat rendered depends on the cut of beef. Fattier cuts like ribeye and brisket will yield more drippings compared to leaner cuts like sirloin. Typically, a pound of raw 80/20 ground beef (80% lean, 20% fat) will render around 1 ounce of fat. The leaner the beef, the less fat you’ll have to dispose of
Allowing Beef Fat to Solidify
Hot liquid fat is messy to work with. Allowing it to cool helps the fat congeal so it’s easier to handle. The time required depends on the amount of fat. For a tablespoon or two, allowing it to sit for 15 minutes may be enough. Larger amounts of fat may take a few hours to completely solidify. Refrigerating speeds up the cooling process.
Straining Out Fat Particles
Before saving or reusing beef fat, it’s smart to strain out any food particles. Pour the fat through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. If you plan to reuse the fat, line the strainer with a coffee filter to clarify it even more thoroughly. Straining isn’t necessary if you’ll be throwing all the fat in the trash, but it helps keep your disposal container cleaner.
Disposal and Storage Containers
Choose containers that can withstand hot fat without warping or melting. Glass and metal work best. Yogurt containers, milk cartons, coffee tins, and mason jars are good choices. You may want to line containers with aluminum foil for easier cleanup.
If accumulating a lot of fat before trash day, consider freezing it for easier storage. The fat won’t go bad in the freezer.
How to Dispose of Small Amounts of Fat
For small drippings from a single meal, first drain or blot away any excess grease from the meat with a paper towel. Pour the remaining fat into a disposal container like a jar or yogurt cup. Add a lid if possible to contain odors.
Once the fat is completely solidified, simply toss the container in your regular kitchen trash. Make sure to grab a new container for the next time you cook a fatty cut of meat.
Disposing Large Quantities of Beef Fat
For larger quantities, choose a container that won’t overflow. Milk cartons or storage containers with at least 16 oz capacity are good choices. Carefully pour the hot fat in, trying not to spill any. Let cool completely before disposal.
If accumulating fat over time, freeze the fat in between uses to keep odors at bay. Whenever the container gets full, toss it in the trash on collection day.
You may also be able to locate a biodiesel company that accepts waste cooking fat. Call around to inquire about options in your area before making a trip.
Can You Put Beef Fat in Compost?
Composting isn’t an ideal disposal method for beef fat. Animal fats can attract pests and wild animals when added to compost piles. The fat also makes it difficult to maintain the proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio needed for effective composting. For these reasons, it’s best to avoid adding fats and oils to compost and use alternate disposal methods instead.
Smart Uses for Small Amounts of Beef Fat
While too much will go to waste, small drippings can be saved for cooking. Strained, cooled beef fat adds delicious flavor when used to fry eggs, roast potatoes, or saute greens. Use it in place of oil or butter. It also makes an amazing base for dressings and sauces.
Beef fat adds moisture and richness when used to make savory baked goods like pie crusts. Always use clean, strained fat and store any excess in the refrigerator.
How to Reduce Fat When Cooking Beef
A few tips to limit fat drippings:
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Trim excess fat before cooking. This not only reduces waste but also discourages flare-ups on the grill.
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Cook on a raised grill or broiler pan to allow fat to drip away from the meat.
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Blot fat droplets from meat with paper towels during and after cooking.
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Chill meat before slicing or chopping to congeal fat for easier removal.
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Use leaner cuts like sirloin tip or 95% lean ground beef when possible.
The Bottom Line
While small amounts of beef fat can be reserved for cooking, most excess fat should be promptly dealt with and discarded. Allow the fat to completely cool and solidify before transferring to a disposable container. Glass jars or aluminum foil-lined cartons work well for collecting fat before taking it out with the trash. With the proper precautions, you can dispose of beef fat easily and responsibly.
Throw it in the trash
The overarching rule of thumb when it comes to grease and oil disposal is don’t pour it down a drain. Toilets, sinks, and floor drains are all off-limits as gluey oils and animal fats will destroy your plumbing. Instead, turn to your garbage can.
Cooled, solidified oil can be thrown in the trash once it is placed into a sealed container. You can use glass jars, waxy containers like milk cartons, and styrofoam boxes to contain any potential leaks.
A rather easy way to accomplish this is by lining a bowl with parchment paper before pouring in used grease. Once it cools, lift it out by the parchment and seal it into a bag. This option allows for fewer sacrificed containers and greater convenience, depending on what your preference is.
Use absorbent waste to soak it up
Mixing oil and grease with absorbent waste is another safe disposal option. Doing this turns the fatty grease into a piece of solid waste, able to be thrown away like other solid household trash. These are some materials you can use to absorb grease and oil:
How to dispose of cooking oil / grease/ fat.
FAQ
How do I dispose of beef fat?
Throw it Away
Follow these steps to dispose of these hot liquids safely: Let the oil or grease cool and solidify. Once cooled, scrape the grease into a container that can be thrown away. When the container is full, place it in a plastic bag to prevent leakage and then throw it in the garbage.
Where can I dispose of meat fat?
Any leftover cooking fat in a roasting tray, for example, should be emptied into a container such as a fat trap or an old margarine tub. Here fats and grease can be collected and allowed to sit, cool and solidify. At this point the contents can be disposed of in the bin.
What can I do with discarded beef fat?
Additionally, the fat from trimmings can be rendered down to make beef tallow, which can be used for cooking or even to make candles and soap. Trimmings from a brisket can also be used as a frying oil or to make Yorkshire pudding.
What to do with leftover beef grease?
The simplest way to dispose of bacon or ground beef grease is to just throw it out, although you can’t do it immediately because hot grease will melt a …Mar 18, 2024
How do you dispose of cooking oil?
Dump the oil or grease in the container, seal it, and toss it in the trash. If you want to be a little less wasteful, do a quick search to see if your city has a cooking oil recycling program, and take your greasy mess to a drop-off location. Just please, for the love of food, don’t pour it down any drain of any kind.
How do you dispose of fats if they don’t solidify?
For fats that solidify, let them do so, then pitch them in your regular garbage. Chill grease in the fridge if you need to get it to harden up. For ones that don’t solidify, pour them into a sealable (hopefully non-recyclable) bottle, and throw the whole container away with your regular garbage.
Can animal fats be recycled?
However, for larger quantities, you may want to consider recycling. Animal fats, like bacon grease and lard, tend to solidify at room temperature and can cause expensive plumbing issues if poured down the drain. These fats should never be disposed of in sinks or toilets.
Should you repurpose cooking fat?
And whether you’re making olive oil-fried eggs, fries cooked in beef tallow, or extremely bomb chicken nuggets, you’re going to find yourself with a certain amount of leftover cooking fat, which needs to be repurposed, reused, or tossed.
Can you recycle cooking fat & oils?
Chill grease in the fridge if you need to get it to harden up. For ones that don’t solidify, pour them into a sealable (hopefully non-recyclable) bottle, and throw the whole container away with your regular garbage. It’s possible that your area might accept cooking fats & oils as part of a recycling effort.
How do you dispose of Grease?
A simple, mess-free way to dispose of grease Genevieve likes to use is freezing the oil and getting rid of it once it’s rock solid. After the oil has cooled, pour it into a plastic container—like a quart-size deli container or an old yogurt container—plop a lid on, and chuck it in the freezer.