I have a tupperware of old cooking oil in the fridge that I've been debating throwing away - but I would rather re-use it than just toss it. Can I render it and make it into jar candles? It's basically just multiple layers of "waste" cooking oil with impurities from whatever I was making at the time. Could I render it like tallow/lard and just strain out the solids?
1 Answer
Sure you can. Bring it up to heat and let it bubble and simmer for a bit, skim off any scum that floats to the top. Then break out a good sized funnel and some cheesecloth or paper towels, line the funnel, and slowly strain the still-warm oil into a holding container. You can then use this oil for survival candles. Just remember to keep a decent supply of shallow metal or glass containers and wicking material onhand. Here's a link to an Instructable page talking about the process and how to best adjust the "candle" so that you get no soot/smoke. Best of luck!
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1In addition, I made a wire support for the wick to hold it straight up in the middle of the container, since the oil (or bacon grease in my case) won't stay solid during burning.– slyblotyCommented Apr 28, 2014 at 14:36