You probably know that you should never dump grease down your drains. At least, I hope you know. I knew people who used to flush leftovers down their toilet. To this day, my eyes grow wide with terror when I remember it. Cabbage, turkey bones, potato skins…. down the john. Unbelievable. Of course, these drains didn’t belong to them– they belonged to the landlords who were completely oblivious to such reckless tenants.
Grease down the drains isn’t much better. Grease will collect in grimy pools in your pipes, and clog the passageways. Older plumbing sometimes can’t handle the pressure, and, well… you know. Not fun.
When I cook my ground beef or bacon or other greasy meats, I drain the fat into an cleaned out tin can or an old coffee container. I set the container aside until the grease congeals. On a winter’s day in New York, this usually takes a few hours (in my house, anyway). I scrape off the congealed grease that has risen to the top and put it in a small shopping bag, tie it up tightly, and throw it in the trash. Sometimes I save the gelatinous broth and give it to the dog or the cat, who love it, and the protein is good for them. If I am feeling particularly industrious, I use a few tablespoons of the broth in a soup or stew for flavor.
Wed, Jan 16, 2008
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