We all know it’s a no-no to pour cooking oil down the drain, but that doesn’t mean you need to toss it out just because it’s past the sell-by date.
Every resource counts in survival situations, and expired cooking oil can be one of those overlooked lifesavers.
While it’s not something you’d want to consume, it’s far from useless.
In fact, the versatility of expired cooking oil makes it a key player when resources are scarce and you need to think outside of the box.
Check out this list of 20 survival uses for expired cooking oil, and you’ll never look at those old bottles the same way again.
1. Emergency Fuel
Cooking oil can be used in an emergency to make biofuel. In survival situations where access to traditional fuel sources is cut off, being able to repurpose expired cooking oil as fuel could keep your critical devices running.
But don’t just pour it into your fuel tank! This will destroy your engine. Learn how to properly convert cooking oil into biofuel.
2. Lubricate Tools
From power tools to chainsaws, expired cooking oil works surprisingly well as a lubricant.
In a survival scenario, maintaining your tools is essential for staying safe and efficient.
Using cooking oil as an alternative lubricant can extend the life of your equipment when more specialized products are unavailable.
3. Keep Pests Away
Pests can quickly become more than a simple nuisance in crisis. They can threaten food supplies and your health!
Keep pests away using a mixture of dish soap, vegetable oil, and water.
Mix one tablespoon of dish soap, a teaspoon of oil, and one quart of water. Store in a spray bottle and use as a pest control spray.
4. Protect Against Rust
Cooking oil can be used to remove rust. It can also protect against future rust.
Oil and water don’t mix, so coating steel, cast iron, and essential tools with cooking oil can keep them from getting rusty.
5. Protect Wooden Tools
Similar to how cooking oil protects metal from rust, it also protects wood by repelling water.
Coat the wooden handles of tools, such as shovels and rakes, to protect against rot.
6. Squeaky Hinges
In some survival situations—especially if chaos really erupts—you may want to be extra quiet. In that case, a squeaky door will be your enemy.
Cooking oil is a good substitute for WD-40.
It can be applied to squeaky hinges and joints to reduce noise and make things easier to open.
7. Oil Lamp
If you have oil lamps, you can use cooking oil to fuel them in an emergency. Or you can entirely make your own!
Add a third cup of expired cooking oil to a jar with some salt and a cotton ball to make a small DIY oil lamp.
8. Survival Candles
While we always recommend having emergency candles and lights, there may come a time when you don’t have any.
You can use cooking oil to make a small survival candle in a pinch.
Use something shallow, like the bottom of a soda can, and fill it with cooking oil. Add cotton string to use as a wick.
9. Control Mosquitos
In survival situations, mosquitos aren’t just an annoyance. They can carry diseases that could compromise your health, especially without access to medical care.
If you have standing water on your property, such as in ponds or puddles, adding a thin layer of cooking oil can disrupt the mosquito life cycle by suffocating larvae, reducing the population and lowering the risk of bites and the spread of disease.
10. Lubricate Locks
When every tool counts, malfunctioning locks could be a major inconvenience and even a security risk.
If your keys are getting stuck, you can use expired cooking oil to lubricate locks and keep them functioning properly without needing to buy specialty products. (Which will likely be sold out, anyway.)
11. Remove Splinters
In a survival scenario where medical care and supplies are hard to find, a simple splinter could lead to infection if not treated properly.
Soaking the affected area in cooking oil softens the skin, allowing for easier removal of splinters and reducing the chance of inflammation or infection.
12. Make Lye Soap
Keeping clean in a survival situation is crucial for preventing illness and infection.
Cooking oil can be repurposed to make lye soap, which is essential for hygiene when other soaps and cleaning products are in short supply.
Follow this basic recipe to transform your old cooking oil into a valuable multipurpose survival item.
13. Make Herbal Salves and Lip Balms
In harsh conditions—like biting winds and extreme heat—your skin is often exposed to the worst kind of elements, which can lead to cracked and painful hands and lips.
Cooking oil can be used as a base to make herbal salves and lip balms, providing much-needed relief for dry skin and lips.
14. Skin Moisturizer
Keeping skin hydrated isn’t a mere luxury. Doing so can prevent cracks that lead to pain and infection.
Use expired cooking oil to moisturize dry, cracked skin and create a barrier against infection and further damage.
15. Firearm Cleaner
If you rely on firearms for protection or hunting in a grid-down emergency, keeping them clean is crucial for maintaining their performance.
Expired cooking oil can be a stand-in for gun oil to clean firearms, as well as prevent rust, when traditional cleaning supplies are out of reach.
16. Animal Feed
Add cooking oil to animal feed to make it appear more appealing to your pets. Cooking oil can also help dogs' and cats’ coats stay shiny.
17. Fire Starter
Fire is essential in an emergency. It can be used to signal for help, keep you warm, boil water, and cook food. Your life depends on it in so many ways!
That’s why knowing how to make a quick and effective fire starter is necessary.
Simply rub cooking oil on a piece of tinder, or add it to firewood, to make it easier for a fire to start and stay lit.
Another option is to add cooking oil to cotton balls, then store them in plastic bags until needed.
18. Sunburn Relief
When you're exposed to the sun without adequate protection, a sunburn is both a painful hindrance as well as a risk for blistering and skin damage.
In the absence of proper medical care, applying cooking oil to the affected area can provide temporary relief and soothe your skin.
19. Ease Bug Bites
In crisis conditions, bug bites are not just irritating. They can be itchy, painful, and even lead to infections or illness.
Cooking oil can help ease the pain and itching of bug bites, preventing you from scratching and causing further harm to your skin.
20. Cover Cuts and Shield Scrapes
In an emergency, cuts and scrapes need immediate attention to avoid infection.
While not a replacement for proper first aid, a layer of cooking oil can act as a liquid bandage, sealing the wound and offering some protection until better care is available.
Think twice before you toss that old cooking oil, friends!
In liberty,
Elizabeth Anderson
Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply
