If you don't use paper towels...

jennypants

Hi, I am trying to use fewer paper products, but it's hard to break old habits. I have been using cloth for napkins and spills and the table and that is working fine. But, for those of you who don't use paper towels what do you do for cooking applications such as soaking/blotting grease from things like bacon and fried foods when you cook?

Lucyboo25

I don't cook bacon or fried foods,  but you could have a clean towel that you designate as the "grease towel". Use that, and then throw it in the washer when you're done.

Wilwarin

The problem with that is that you aren't supposed to put grease-soaked cloth in the dryer, I thought.  I haven't had that issue come up yet, but I think I will use paper towels for that situation instead of my towels.  We still keep paper towels around as we make the transition.

CDMay2006

Wilwarin:

The problem with that is that you aren't supposed to put grease-soaked cloth in the dryer, I thought.  I haven't had that issue come up yet, but I think I will use paper towels for that situation instead of my towels.  We still keep paper towels around as we make the transition.

Or the washer, for that matter.  Big, fat fire hazard. 
We don't generally use paper towels, or cook things that require them... For blotting you can use newspaper (British style) or brown paper bags, then compost.  For bacon you can bake it on a wire rack over a cookie sheet (or whatever) and the grease drains away as it cooks.  Use a scraper and then wash the pans as usual.  (I've never done this, but i've heard from several people who have had success with it.)

ShamW0W

I don't fry bacon. I bake bacon on a rack in a pan in the oven. That way the fat drips off and you can load the bacon up with seasonings like brown sugar and don't have to worry about all the grease in the pan.

SulliTheBotanist

I still use paper towels for things like the (very rare) fried food and cleaning up kitty puke and other really nasty jobs. So it's cloth 95% of the time, and I'm fine with that balance.

SuperGreen

SulliTheBotanist:

I still use paper towels for things like the (very rare) fried food and cleaning up kitty puke and other really nasty jobs. So it's cloth 95% of the time, and I'm fine with that balance.

This is us too.

MadameFancyPants

I keep a package of 7th generation napkins hidden in the kitchen for adding fat to my cast iron when I season it.  For my fried foods, i use a cooling rack with a pan underneath to catch the drips. 

I should start using newspaper for my cast iron so I can get the napkins out of my kitchen.  

toadstool

SuperGreen:

SulliTheBotanist:

I still use paper towels for things like the (very rare) fried food and cleaning up kitty puke and other really nasty jobs. So it's cloth 95% of the time, and I'm fine with that balance.

This is us too.

Us as well.

heather&edwin

toadstool:

SuperGreen:

SulliTheBotanist:

I still use paper towels for things like the (very rare) fried food and cleaning up kitty puke and other really nasty jobs. So it's cloth 95% of the time, and I'm fine with that balance.

This is us too.

Us as well.

Same here. Great. I was going to ask this question--occasionally I will fry something to keep my husband happy :-)

rikkiandjulie

I put a strainer over a bowl and let the grease drip down. I do this even though I do use paper towels. . . :-(

jennypants

Thanks everybody.

Magdala9

CDMay2006:

Wilwarin:

The problem with that is that you aren't supposed to put grease-soaked cloth in the dryer, I thought.  I haven't had that issue come up yet, but I think I will use paper towels for that situation instead of my towels.  We still keep paper towels around as we make the transition.

Or the washer, for that matter.  Big, fat fire hazard. 
We don't generally use paper towels, or cook things that require them... For blotting you can use newspaper (British style) or brown paper bags, then compost.  For bacon you can bake it on a wire rack over a cookie sheet (or whatever) and the grease drains away as it cooks.  Use a scraper and then wash the pans as usual.  (I've never done this, but i've heard from several people who have had success with it.)

 The local agricenter has told us not to compost grease.   

displaced kiwi

We are mostly cloth instead of paper... but paper towels still have 2 uses in our life:

1. soaking up bacon grease

2. cleaning up dog/cat puke 

 So we keep a roll on hand, and still feel proud of ourselves for not needing them any other time