Gross or not?

[UnderBellyLaughs]

Long-time practice picked up from my grandma. When we cook a roast, we always save the fat - dripping - and re-use for the next roast, or roast potatoes, or to make roux for gravy.
Recently discussing fatbergs with friends, all agreeing how yucky it is that people pour fat down the sink. I said that we save fat and put it in the fridge so it solidifies. My friends looked at me, aghast, and one said, ‘but surely just to make it easier to throw away, you can’t possibly use it...’. I gave a non-committal response, but am now not sure if we’re being thrifty or whether this is a disgusting practice.
(FWIW, the dripping makes the best roast potatoes).

[Namechangeymcnamechange11]

Gross to me but I don't eat meat. I'd say it's better it's being used though rather than thrown away.
In the alternative, refrigerating it before throwing out/putting it out for the birds is far better than pouring it down the sink 😱 do your friends want to be paying for Dyno rod to come out or a mains blockage 😱

[SilverySurfer]

I wouldn't even think about having a beef sandwich if I didn't have dripping for the bread - butter and beef just don't go together IMO. I dislike olive oil so would never consider it for cooking.

[Thehouseintheforest]

My dad's favourite food was a dripping sandwich for Monday lunch!

[DontCallMeShitley]

Dripping on toast, with a little bit of salt...

Heating olive oil
scienceornot.net/2012/09/15/is-it-safe-to-cook-with-olive-oil/

[raspberryk]

Not gross at all, makes the best gravy, spuds etc. Curious as to using the juice for the next week's gravy though, why not the current roast you're making?
@custardbear what makes you think olive oil is better for you on your roasties than beef fat? You shouldn't even heat olive oil that hot.

[misspiggy19]

Dripping on toast sounds disgusting

[Waveysnail]

My grandma always did this - mum thought it was gross and I agree

[Throckmorton]

It's for turkey as regards the fat not solidifying, but the other points in the article, about salt and meat juices, still apply

[CabbagePatchKids]

I've never considered saving it before but I'm definitely saving it my next roast potatoes now! Pure genius!

[Dontsweatthelittlestuff]

Throckmorton that is for turkey fat only which is impossible to put out for the birds anyway as it doesn’t solidify

Usual cooking fats like lard and other meat fats are fine.

If you are doing a gammon joint over Christmas and you don’t eat the other fatty bit try to remove it in one whole piece then hang it from a tree in your garden for the birds to enjoy.
If you live in a flat and don’t have a garden pop it on a tree in a local park.

[Mjlp]

I think it's gross, but then I'm a vegetarian.

[Frenchw1fe]

Dd and I like to dip bread in the dripping when meat is nearly cooked. It tastes so good. Dh and ds think it’s gross.
And yes definitely keep for roasties and Yorkshire puds,

[custardbear]

I'm a meat eater but dripping is pure animal fat, terrible for you! So no I would bin it and use olive
Oil for roasties

[commanderdalgliesh]

My dad always used to do this! I'd forgotten.

[Throckmorton]

Please don't give it to birds - it's not good for them:

ww2.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/266511-big-fat-no-for-birds

[TiceCream]

YABU for wasting it on potatoes or gravy. It needs to be eaten on hot toast with a sprinkle of white pepper. Or use it to butter the bread for a sandwich made with the meat.

[Gatehouse77]

Not gross. My mum didn't reuse the fat but any meat juices underneath were added to the following week's gravy.

[UnderBellyLaughs]

Well, that’s a huge relief! My grandma and mum have always kept dripping, and so we always keep it too as just presumed this was normal.
Friends were so horrified I thought perhaps this was actually totally gross, and should stop, but very happy to find it’s actually not!
Honestly makes the best roast potatoes and base for a gravy.
Maybe I’ll use the dripping for the next time we invite said friends over for dinner and convert them!

[SilverySurfer]

Seems totally normal to me - how would you ever have dripping on a thick crusty slice of bread without? Also use it to cook Yorkshire puds.

[LoseLooseLucy]

Oooh I love dripping on toast ❤

[HowlsMovingBungalow]

I was thinking vegans/veggies might boak at the sight of a bowl of fat in the fridge - seems I'm wrong!
Totally agree with using ALL the animal.

[Rainandclouds]

I would not eat it on toast but do save it for the next time. I have duck fat in the fridge from a tin of confit duck last week. Makes amazing roast spuds

[StressedTonightHelp]

I don't think it's gross and I'm a vegan! If the animal has already been killed, might aswell use it as much as possible so as not to waste

[ItsJustTheOneSwanActually]

I put any waste oil in the compost bin. I have kept goose fat in the fridge for roast potatoes - v nice

[Fr0g]

thanks @Dontsweatthelittlestuff - hadn't though of that. will see if my chickens like it, or take it to the park.
This thread has given me a sudden yearning for fried bread though!