Fried food often accumulates black residue in the used oil due to food crumbs and burnt bits. Instead of discarding the oil, there is a simple and effective method for women to filter out the residue.
Simple Method to Filter out Residue
To filter out residue, you will need about 2-4 tablespoons of cornstarch or tapioca starch. Mix the starch with water. Once the oil has cooled completely, pour in the starch mixture and stir over low heat until the starch forms a clump.
Remove the clump of starch, along with all the black residue and burnt food crumbs.
Note: Filtering the oil in this way may still leave some oil that has been used multiple times tasting fresh. However, for health reasons, it is recommended that you only filter and reuse the oil 1-2 times.
Dangers of Reusing Cooking Oil You Should Know
1. Increases LDL Cholesterol:
Cooking food with used oil can raise levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Increases Gastric Acid Secretion:
Eating fried food cooked in reused oil can cause a burning sensation in the stomach and throat, indicating increased gastric acid secretion. It is advisable to avoid fast food and processed foods to reduce gastric acid reflux.
Boiling used cooking oil repeatedly can alter its composition and release acrolein, a toxic chemical that can cause cancer. Reusing cooking oil can also increase the production of free radicals in the body, leading to inflammation, which is the root cause of many dangerous chronic diseases including cancer, obesity, and diabetes.