Creative Ways to Deal with Leftover Cooking Oil This Holiday Season

Chanukah is synonymous with frying, there's no doubt about it.

Frying donuts, frying sfinj, frying latkes... and we're left with lots of oil. So, what should we do with the leftover oil from frying? Many people might not know this, but frying oil–whether it's cold or hot–should never be poured down the sink or toilet. If you do, you might end up causing significant damage to your plumbing worth hundreds of dollars, often leading to clogs without knowing the source.

But that's not all.

If you live in an apartment building with shared plumbing, you could also cause clogs in your neighbor's sinks, violating the principle of 'value your neighbor's property as much as your own.'

Though there’s a common belief that it's okay to pour leftover oil into the toilet, this is not accurate because oil sticks to the sides and coats everything it touches. Since water and oil don’t mix, water certainly won’t help remove the oil. They simply can’t overcome it.

Throwing it in the neighborhood trash isn’t ideal either. It attracts pests and rodents like mice, cockroaches, and other nuisances that can 'stick' to your home without you knowing why.

So, how can you properly dispose of this oil? Here are two methods—one uncreative and one creative:

The uncreative method is to pour the oil, once it has cooled, into a large piece of sturdy aluminum foil. After emptying all the oil, wrap it tightly with the foil, and then place it in a sealed trash bag. Disposing of the oil this way creates a barrier between the rodents and the oil, preventing them from getting to it easily.

The creative method involves, believe it or not, making soap or candles out of the leftover frying oil. The soap should only be made outdoors and only by an adult, as making it requires caustic soda. For every liter of cooking oil, add 200 grams of caustic soda, 400 ml of hot water, and a capful of fabric softener for fragrance.

How to make soap: Strain the oil and pour it into a bucket. Add the caustic soda, but only after protecting yourself with goggles and gloves. Keep your distance and avoid inhaling the vapors emitted from your mixture. Stir the mixture with a thick wooden stick until it forms a uniform solution. Add fabric softener and pour the mixture into the mold where you want your soap. Wait for it to fully set, and then release your soap.

For making a candle from leftover frying oil—add a tablespoon of wax powder for every 100 ml of oil (available at craft stores). Heat the mixture in the microwave and add another tablespoon of wax. Insert a long wick into the container where you want your candle to be placed and stabilize it using paper, as shown in this video. Cool the mixture and trim the wick once it solidifies. Now you have your own candle.