Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Kitchen Tip - draining grease from a pan

I have many recipes that instruct you to brown ground meat, then drain. But you know, it's not easy to do sometimes with a hot pan full of hot grease. Besides, who wants to clean up grease drips all over the counter?

As I bemoaned this problem early on in our marriage, my resourceful husband suggested I use a turkey baster to drain the pan.

Could it be that easy?

Why, yes is could!

Here's how I do it. I tilt the pan and let as much grease as possible flow to one side. If there's any meat in the pan, I use a spatula to keep it to the other side. Then I draw as much out as possible with the turkey baster.


Of course, I keep a small bowl right beside the pan to collect the grease so there are no drips. I just squeeze it out of the turkey baster into the bowl and try to suck up some more from the pan! I can dispose of it later.

I can't tell you how much annoyance this little tip has spared me!

For more helpful tips, visit Works for Me Wednesday over at We are THAT Family.

4 comments:

  1. That sounds so much easier than taking out all the meat and pouring out the grease, like I do. I think I might have to get myself a turkey baster, LOL! (My sister-in-law does Thanksgiving at her house, so I don't really have all the turkey-making stuff.)

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  2. I always tip the pan half off the burner, so it is on an angle - push all the meat to the high end and then spoon the grease out into an old can, which is put int he freezer door until full and then tosses out - no mess and no removing the meat.

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  3. WOW! I usually do it how Kim does but I never seem to be able to get it all out. I LOVE this idea! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Works well, but I keep melting my cheap turkey basters that way!

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