Guide to Cooking Grease, Oils, and Fuels

Introduction

Producing cooking grease, homemade soap, lamp oil, and homemade biodiesel can be a rewarding and sustainable endeavor. By growing oil plants and raising fat-bearing animals, individuals can meet their household needs while reducing their reliance on commercial products. In this article, we will explore the ease of growing and producing these essentials, focusing on sunflowers, hogs, and utilizing spent vegetable oil. We will also discuss the processes for making and storing cooking grease, homemade soap, lamp oil, and homemade biodiesel.

Growing Sunflowers

Sunflowers are an excellent choice for producing biodiesel, homemade soap, and lamp oil. They are relatively easy to grow, requiring well-drained soil, ample sunlight, and regular watering. Sunflower seeds are rich in oil, making them a valuable source for homemade products.

Pros:

• High oil content in the seeds

• Low maintenance and easy to grow

• Can be harvested and stored for future use

Cons:

• Require a large planting area for significant oil production

• Seasonal crop, limiting year-round availability

Other Oil Crops to Consider

Non-GMO soybeans, corn, canola, and cottonseed for producing biodiesel (none of these are great for human consumption). Peanuts, sesame, walnuts, mustard seed, hemp, grapeseed, and flax all produce edible oils that can be used for various food or medicinal purposes. The castor plant is extremely poisonous; however, it produces large oil bearing seeds which press to a non-toxic oil. Most seeds can be pressed for oil in varying quantities.

Raising Hogs

Hogs are another viable option for producing cooking grease and homemade soap. They are known for their high-fat content, which can be rendered into lard for various uses. However, raising hogs requires more space and effort compared to growing oil plants.

Pros:

• Abundant fat content in hogs

• Opportunity to utilize other parts of the animal

• Year-round availability with proper husbandry

• Can consume a large variety of foods and food waste

Cons:

• Requires a larger investment of time and resources

• Need suitable facilities and space for raising hogs

• May not be suitable for individuals with limited space or resources

Utilizing Spent Vegetable Oil

Another approach to producing cooking grease, homemade soap, lamp oil, and homemade biodiesel is by utilizing spent vegetable oil. This method involves collecting discarded oil from restaurants or households and converting it into usable products.

Pros:

• Environmentally friendly by repurposing waste oil

• Readily available and cost-effective, often free

• Can be used as a sustainable alternative to traditional cooking oil

Cons:

• Requires proper filtration and purification before use

• Availability may vary depending on the area

• Requires knowledge and caution when handling chemicals for biodiesel production

Processes for Making and Storing

For cooking grease, rendering the fat from hogs involves heating the oil until it melts and straining it to remove impurities. The resulting liquid can be stored in airtight containers for later use.

Cold pressing, or expeller pressing, oils involves taking seeds, putting them into a mechanical press to extrude the oil, filtering out physical debris, and then bottling/storing. This produces a higher quality oil without the worries of chemical contaminants.

Homemade soap can be made by combining rendered fat with lye and other ingredients. The mixture is then poured into molds and left to cure for several weeks before use.

Lamp oil can be obtained by filtering and purifying the oil from sunflowers or spent vegetable oil, and then mixing it in a 50% blend in regular lamp fuel. This refined oil can be stored in suitable containers and used for lighting purposes, but mark clearly! *I am not responsible for burns or fires if you try this.

https://www.instructables.com/FREE-OIL-LAMPS-with-USED-COOKING-OIL-as-an-additiv/

Homemade biodiesel production involves converting vegetable oil, including spent vegetable oil, into a fuel source. This process requires careful handling of chemicals and specialized equipment. The produced biodiesel can be stored in appropriate containers for use in diesel engines.

Conclusion

Growing oil plants such as sunflowers, raising hogs, and utilizing spent vegetable oil offer viable options for producing cooking grease, homemade soap, lamp oil, and homemade biodiesel. Each method has its own pros and cons, and individuals should consider their resources, space availability, and level of commitment before embarking on these endeavors. By exploring these sustainable alternatives, individuals can reduce their reliance on commercial products while enjoying the satisfaction of producing their own household essentials.