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Writer's pictureAndrea Wenzel

9 Uses for Expired Cooking Oils

Updated: Jan 13, 2023



Expired oil in your cabinet can be a downer, but don't toss it out yet! From homemade beauty products to sprucing up your home, cooking oil past its best-by date is a ready solution for many household problems.


1. Make a Homemade Body Wrap Concoction


Homemade body wraps are a fantastic solution for minimizing cellulite, stretch marks, and, if you're lucky, temporarily losing a few inches for a special event.


Peppermint Mocha Body Wrap


1/2 cup Epsom salts

1/2 cup Coffee Grounds

1/2 cup Olive or Coconut Oil

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cocoa powder


1. Stand in your shower (water off) and scrub the area you want to wrap.


2. Wrap area with Seran wrap or a clean trash bag.


3. Layer up in a robe and blanket

.

4. Relax for 1-2 hours before removing the wrap to shower.


Repeat 3 times per week.


After this wrap, you'll have no need to apply lotion as your skin will be deeply hydrated with ZERO greasy feel.


Warning! This concoction can make the tub a little slippery so please take caution!


2. Rust Remover


Apply oil to a clean rag and polish any rusty surface for a brilliant shine.


3. Say Goodbye to Dry Hair


Dry hair is no fun, but with this easy recipe, moisture will be restored to your locks in no time at all. All you need to begin is:

  • 1 egg

  • 2 tablespoons of coconut or olive oil

  • 1 waterproof shower cap

Step 1: Whip up one egg and two tablespoons of olive or coconut oil.

Step 2: Coat the ends of your hair with the coconut or olive oil mixture and cover with a waterproof cap. Allow the oil to soak in for 1 hour or overnight for moisturized hair. Wash and style like usual.


Repeat 2-3 times a week.


4. Wood polish


Use two cups of olive oil with 1 cup lemon juice or vinegar. Apply the mixture to a clean rag to buff and disguise scratches in wood furniture.


5. Make a sugar scrub


Mix up an exfoliating scrub if the oil doesn't have a bad smell! Scrubs make excellent gifts around the holidays or any special occasion. Vegetable oil is my favorite oil for making scrubs because it has little to no odor making me free to create whatever scent I want.


Lemon Creme Sugar Scrub


1/4 cup Vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon lemon extract

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract


Dreamcycle Sugar Scrub


1/4 cup Vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon orange extract

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract


6. Cook with it!


Wait, didn't you say EXPIRED cooking oils?!


Yes. I did. Cooking oil will generally maintain its quality for four to six months past the best-by date. However, if the oil doesn't have a rancid odor, it's likely still safe to use in cooking.


7. Use on Squeaky Hinges


In a pinch, cooking oils can be used in place of WD40.


8. Give your leather items a buff


Moisturize leather furniture, coats, bags, or shoes by applying coconut oil to a clean rag. Using gentle circular motion, buff and revitalize any leather surface!


9. Use in a playdoh recipe.


Kids will spend hours playing with this dough and it's fun to teach them how to make it. Check out my recipe here.







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