You’ve been washing your frying pan all wrong – you need to let it cool, then scrape before scrubbing experts warn
WASHING up your pans in the sink is the normal post-dinner routine of many a British kitchen.
But it turns out scrubbing dirty pots under the tap is a really bad idea - and we should be waiting for the oil to cool before wiping it off instead.
In new official government guidance issued by , doing so could be clogging up our drains and wasting water which is consequently harming the environment.
Instead of washing up while the tap is on, they advise firstly waiting for the oil in the pan to cool.
Once this is done, you should scrape off the excess and put in the bin or in a heat-resistant container to recycle it.
Next, wipe the remainder with a square or two of kitchen roll.
Only then should you turn on the tap to ensure the pot is truly clean.
Use a sink strainer to catch any remnants left in the pan.
The Food Standards Agency said: "As long as utensils are washed appropriately after scraping out the oil, there is no health and safety issue."
These new guidelines are part of DEFRA's campaign.
If oil or fat travel down the drain it can harden and clog up pipes - and even lead to a fatberg.
They warn that just one litre down the sink can pollute a million litres of water.
Grease can also end up in the river system which can harm wildlife.
A whopping £100m a year is spent clearing blockages from sinks and toilets.
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