You can use fats over and over by straining them after each use. Fry slices of potato to remove fish, onion, or other strong flavored food odors.
By Monica from Cortez, CO
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What do you keep your oil in after deep frying chicken? I deep fry in a heavy cast iron dutch oven. After I am finished and the oil is cool I transfer the oil to an empty clean milk jug for keeps. However, trying to lift and hold a heavy cast iron dutch oven while pouring the oil out is beginning to hurt my arms and hands. I didn't know if it was okay to just leave the oil in the dutch oven. Do you have a better way of deep frying and storing the oil?
I use a turkey baster to draw up the oil and a hand held strainer over the jar as I squirt it into the jar. Any type of jar will work.
Reusing cooking oil has been done throughout the ages and it's safe if you follow the following tips:
Strain it through a few layers of cheesecloth or mesh strainer to catch any food particles before storing.
Shake off excess batter from food before frying it.
Turn off the heat after you are done cooking. Exposing oil to prolonged heat accelerates rancidity.
Don't mix different types of oil.
Store oil in a cool, dark place.
Avoid iron or copper pots or pans for frying oil that is to be reused. These metals accelerate rancidity.
You might try using a ladle and dip the oil into the selected container until you get the most of it out and then it would not be so heavy, or take so long to lift and pour the last small amount out. I would hesitate to use the plastic milk jug, as it is not a plastic that is made to hold edibles for an extended period of time (it is even recommended that they not be used to store water for any length of time).
If you use a deep fat fryer, you know how smelly your oil can get after just a couple of uses. When this happens, peel a potato and heat up the oil and fry the potato. This removes odors fast and easily. Be sure to change your oil often and wipe clean your fryer. My deep fat fryer was bought in 1984 and is still in excellent working order.
By gem from VA
Very good idea, on cleanin deep fryer oil. I will try that.
Queen Bee
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