Reusing vegetable oil

[Merlin5]

I made some falafels well over a week ago, frying balls of mixture in veg oil (one and a half standard bottles) in a saucepan. Normally after the oil has cooled down, I filter it through an old sieve into a glass jug to remove as much of the impurities and little black bits, then funnel it back into the bottle. I normally reuse oil a couple or 3 times before consigning it to the bin and buying some fresh oil. The oil I made these falafels with was only used once or twice I think but I forgot to get it back to the bottle, so it's been sitting in the saucepan for days. If I filter it now is it ok or does leaving it in air do something funny to oil, and if so, throw it?

 

[Ahleckz]

I often leave oil in the pan for days, and then filter it back into a bottle. Hasn't done me any harm.

 

[Merlin5]

I often leave oil in the pan for days, and then filter it back into a bottle. Hasn't done me any harm.

Cool, I'll filter it and reuse it. Worst that can happen is that I'll die so it's not that bad.

 

[Van Hellseek]

Bacteria doesn't stand much of a chance at the kind of temperatures you'll be using the oil at.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

Buy some filter paper and use it in your funnel and your oil will last much longer and its not really much hassle.

 

[DcD]

Agreed with above, think about the chippies that leave their oil stagnant every night and day before they open up. As someone said, the bacteria will have no chance at the temperatures it'll get to.

 

[charlaph]

I don't even bother filtering it. Maybe I should, but I have a bottle for chips that tends to get reused for months before being thrown out, and I don't even use it very often, can't say as I've ever noticed any issues with it.

 

[arknor]

reuse oil theres no problem with doing so.

if you had a deep fat fryer do you think you would be pouring 3-5 litres of oil away everytime you cooked something?

 

[haz_pro]

Out of interest why do you do this? Does it add taste?

I can't remember the last time I bought oil, but I can't remember it being that expensive.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

Yes, I find eating food from fresh oil less tasty than used. But once the oil is too old the food starts tasting sour.

Also oil is expensive.

 

[Glaucus]

reuse oil theres no problem with doing so.

if you had a deep fat fryer do you think you would be pouring 3-5 litres of oil away everytime you cooked something?

I just leave it in thereorbit it does need changing know, it has a fair bit of flavour to it now.

Best bit as said is to filter it back in the bottle.

 

[j.col]

I can't remember the last time I bought oil, but I can't remember it being that expensive.

around £1.50 per litre now.
I also reuse oil

 

[randomshenans]

I do, for things that won't taint the oil too much. Did some chips at the weekend, have reused that oil.

 

[One]

Your house must stink having a litre and a half of vegetable oil sitting in an open pan. Cooking with vegetable oil makes the house stink regardless though.

 

[smit101]

Your house must stink having a litre and a half of vegetable oil sitting in an open pan. Cooking with vegetable oil makes the house stink regardless though.

I don't understand why people cook with it or use it at all, it smells foul and tastes even worse, and when heated even on very low heat is easily damaged/denatured. Animal fats, butter or most preferably coconut oil are the best oils to cook with.

A neighbour regularly uses veg oil for frying/deep frying, on the rare occasion I've entered their place the veg oil smell is overpowering to the point of making me feel nauseous. To me it has an artificial, rancid type odour, due to its volatility I wouldn't be surprised if the stuff is rancid when still on the shop shelf.

 

[FrenchTart]

I don't understand why people cook with it or use it at all, it smells foul and tastes even worse, and when heated even on very low heat is easily damaged/denatured. Animal fats, butter or most preferably coconut oil are the best oils to cook with.

A neighbour regularly uses veg oil for frying/deep frying, on the rare occasion I've entered their place the veg oil smell is overpowering to the point of making me feel nauseous. To me it has an artificial, rancid type odour, due to its volatility I wouldn't be surprised if the stuff is rancid when still on the shop shelf.

I guess if someone has nut allergies or something. That's the only time I would personally use vegetable oil is when cooking food for a friend in that position.

 

[smit101]

I guess if someone has nut allergies or something. That's the only time I would personally use vegetable oil is when cooking food for a friend in that position.

I try to be nice to my friends.

If they've got a nut allergy use leaf lard, beef tallow, goose fat, Ghee, butter etc, there's loads of choice above and beyond rancid veg oil, or you could even cook them a steak on the griddle pan and use no oil at all, lets face it, no oil is preferable to veg oil! Sorry veg oil eaters. I just hate the stuff.

 

[FrenchTart]

I try to be nice to my friends.

If they've got a nut allergy use leaf lard, beef tallow, goose fat, Ghee, butter etc, there's loads of choice above and beyond rancid veg oil, or you could even cook them a steak on the griddle pan and use no oil at all, lets face it, no oil is preferable to veg oil! Sorry veg oil eaters. I just hate the stuff.

Agreed..there are many better alternatives. I was just trying to think of some feasible reason to ever use it

 

[smit101]

Agreed..there are many better alternatives. I was just trying to think of some feasible reason to ever use it

Well I suppose if you were cooking for a vegan friend with a nut allergy.

 

[One]

Olive oil?