Oil Cleaning

The question was asked about Best or Better way to Clean Oil, Shortening, Fat, Lard, Deep fryer Cooking shortening.


This question has always gave some people a Issue on how to clean the Shortening 

We use a a Multi Pot cleaning method for easy of pouring Warm to hot oil through a Coffee Fitter or Cheese cloth which is either placed in a Coffee Basket or a Strainer lined with the filter or cheese cloth. the strainer holds the Coffee Filter or cheese cloth. 

Either of the Items a coffee Basket or strainer can be obtained from second hand stores or Garage sales for pennies, Coffee Filters are cheap and can be found in flat bottom of cone style, we purchase the Commercial extra large coffee basket ones. 

We will on many occasions re-season  frying pans or Flat tops while cleaning the Oils and use some of the cleaned oil or the cheese cloth or soaked coffee filter to whip out the Fry pans or grille. Then store the Coffee Filter soaked and use the Paper in a Old Coffee Can with some Charcoal or Kindling to use as a Fire Starter Aid for BBQ Coals or Fire pits. CHS said NOTHING GOES TO WAISTE.

That cleaning will strain the Particles and pieces like a Auto Oil Filter.

We will also use other method to help clean the Oil 

1) Cut up Lemon into wedges and add the Lemon to the Oil while its hot at the end of the Cooking - CAUTION is required do to the Mix of the Lemon Oil and Moisture erupting in the HOT OIL.

2) Cut up Ginger added to the Shorting also and Cooked until Brown also is safer as less violent reaction in the Oil.


1) & 2) both help Clean the Shortening and the Smell that may be in the Oils especially if you cooked Fish in the Oils.

If you use this for Chicken Cooked oil ONLY you may loose some of the KFC style Aroma it will help with mild burnt oil taste BUT will not make it 100% better, ONCE oil is Over Burnt or Scorched, You are best to replace the Oil. The likely hood of saving it is minimal and will still effect the cooking taste of ANYTHING. 

when we Clean our oils Our Principle is to add 20 - 25 % Fresh NEW oil or transfer some from our Cleanest Deep Fryer to top up the Deep Fryer BUT always add some NEW to BOTH and Add New oil to the Cleanest Deep Fryer keeping 1 always As clean as possible. We add citric acid to ALL our Cleaned Oils / Shortenings. 

Because the citric acid is a pain to blend into the Oils shortening the powder clumps we will add the citric acid and oil into a smaller with a screen screen basket and use the screen basket as a mesh to stir the Powder in while stirring it and pushing some through the wire mesh and it breaks down with no lumps. The same worked for making gravy with no lumps adding flour.

Please Add ALL other Oil Cleaning method that you Know we are always looking for ways to clean the OIL as the Cost of GREAT cooking oils have jumped 40% in cost over the last 2 years