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Grease 101: 4 Safe Ways to Transfer Hot Used Cooking Oil from Your Commercial Kitchen's Fryers

1. Outdoor Bins

Your typical outdoor used cooking oil container is similar to a trash receptacle, except it is used strictly for used cooking oil. Kitchens that utilize this setup require manual transfer of the oil from fryer to tank, meaning that a restaurant employee must carry the used cooking oil from kitchen, out the door and pour it into the grease receptacle. This may be the only feasible option for some restaurants, but it does have a small margin of error and is the least safe of the four ways to transfer used cooking oil. Manual transfer usually involves the employee using a bucket or bin to carry the hot used oil outside. This makes spills, burns, slips and falls more likely to happen. These spills could also cause environmental issues that come with significant legal costs or fines.

Beyond that, outdoor storage containers and the manual transfer process make businesses more susceptible to grease theft. Outdoor containers are not as protected as automated indoor systems. The manual transfer process also requires employees to exit the building, often at night to dispose of the used cooking oil. This leaves the restaurant door open and unlocked, leaving the kitchen vulnerable and putting employees at risk.

Sometimes, an outdoor bin is the only viable option, and it is still a good solution if you simply don’t have the capacity to implement another system. If this is the case, it’s important to provide the proper upkeep of your outdoor bin to eliminate future issues down the road.

2. Automated Used Cooking Oil Storage Containers and Caddy System

The indoor caddy system offers a simple alternative to outdoor oil collection. Instead of carrying a pot of hot used oil outside, an employee can wheel the caddy to the fryer, connect it to the fryer via a hose and drain the used oil into a portable cart. Afterward, the caddy is wheeled to an automated storage container and drained via hose as well. With the proper safety gear, this method will reduce the risk of spills, burns and other accidents, eliminating liability for restaurants and saving time in the process.

The caddy option allows flexibility in terms of where the used cooking oil storage container is placed. Because it provides a safer way to transfer hot used cooking oil longer distances, the storage tank can be placed further away from the fryer. If your kitchen has limited space or ceiling height restrictions, this could be an ideal fit.

3. The Pump Station

When it comes to preventing accidents, the indoor pump station is a simple, safe solution for used cooking oil transfer. This handy tool eliminates manual labor with the use of a wand that siphons used cooking oil into an automated storage container. When used with the proper safety gear, this technology can drastically lower the risk of spills, burns and other oil-related accidents.

The pump station and wand must be located on a wall near the fryer banks and storage tank. The reason for this is that it needs to be close enough to connect to the fryer’s hard piping. The average range of reach for a pump station is between seven and 15 feet. This is worth considering when deciding where to place your storage tank as well as your fryer vats. Your used cooking oil recycling service provider can advise if this solution would work for your store.

4. Direct Pump Connection: The Superior Option

The direct pump system is the easiest and safest way to transfer used cooking oil. This simple process consists of the automated used cooking storage container connecting directly to your fryer. While direct connection is more often seen with indoor oil storage systems, this option is still viable with outdoor tanks, so long as the tank rests close to the building on an exterior wall that is close to the fryer vats.

Most modern fryers are compatible with the direct pump connection, but adaptation kits are also available in the event your fryers are not. Once installed, restaurant employees can flip a switch and pump hot grease out of the fryer and into a storage receptacle. The best part is that no special safety gear is required. In short, this tool eliminates manual labor, reduces the risk of injury, prevents grease theft, and increases kitchen efficiency.

DAR PRO Solutions offer all four used cooking oil recycling transfer options. Our equipment is the best in the industry and our diverse selection is a fit for any kitchen footprint. Reach out to a DAR PRO representative today and find out how your business can benefit from our program. Call us 24/7/365 at 855-DAR-PRO1 (844-595-2082).

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12/16/2019