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Hacks for cleaning fat from mason jars?

 
Joshua Myrvaagnes
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This is the thing that takes the most time when washing dishes.

I just realized I have a solution—Rudolf, our dairy-living livestock guardian dog!  He will lick the fat out of the plastic milk jugs we get from the throwaway food for our pigs, and then destroy the jug and spread plastic bits all over the landscape. But with glass he is less likely to find a satisfying tearing sensation and the fat tends to be at the top of the jar in that shoulder where it’s hard to reach.

Anyone have other tricks for this?  A spatula that could really get in there would be so nice!

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Joshua Myrvaagnes
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Probably fingers would be best, now that I think about it. But for the deep down parts it gets tricky

I left out the context, which is I make yogurt in mason jars, in case that wasn’t clear.  Then when I’m washing the dishes I can sometimes feel this is the last straw in my day, there’s got to be an easier way.

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Matt McSpadden
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Hi Joshua,
Fingers was going to be one my suggestions :)

However, I have had a lot of luck with shaking it up. I put some hot water (needed if it is fat based, to soften/melt) along with some soap (usually dawn, but I know that is not completely natural). I would say no more than 1/4 full. Put a lid on, and shake it up. The hot soapy water slamming around inside seems to work well for me in a variety of cases where I cannot get my hand or some sort of scrubby into the container.


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I have assorted sizes of cut up washcloth that I keep for tasks like that.
I pick the one that's a good size for the jar, put it in with soap and a little bit of very hot water (1/8 of the jar capacity maybe?) and shake it well.

I do that for regular mouth jars in general, as I can't get my hand in. I have a piece of bent wire that I can use to scrub the cloth piece around inside if I need to.

I use wide mouth jars as much as I can. Not a fan of things I can't get my hand in.

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Josh Vaughan
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Perhaps the alkaline nature (saponification) of fresh wood ash mixed with hot water and a drop of detergent would work after a long soak.
 
Anne Miller
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I am a saver, so I save bits of bath soap in an old dish liquid container with water.

When this has sat until the bits are gone, the resulting liquid is handy for all sorts of things.

some of the things I use this liquid for are liquid hand cleaner, laundry spot remover, cleaning fat out of jars, etc.

I squirt some in add very hot water to jars and let the jar sit while I finish doing the dishes.

If the fat is not all gone when I pour out the water then I add more full-strength and use a dish rag to finish cleaning it out.  Then I wash the jar in the dish water.

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Josh Vaughan
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I would imagine that fresh ash from hardwood mixed with hot water and a bit of detergent and allowed to soak, would do the trick. The ash and water will make a weak lye solution to saponify the fat.
 
Jay Angler
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I have a variety of shaped silicon scrapers and some of the skinny ones can be a help. Being me, I would go to a decent kitchen shop with my jar in question in my bag and try each one to see if any are a good shape. Yes, I'll get funny looks, until people realize what I'm actually doing and decide for themselves that I might just be on to something!

However, the other thing I do is keep a stash of cut up bits of old t-shirts or napkins. I use these to wipe the jar *before* it gets to the sink. Particularly useful for peanut butter jars! I get as much of the grease out before getting it wet, and the greasy cotton/paper go into one of my secure composts in the summer and the wood stove as fire starter in the winter or maybe the pre-biochar bins awaiting charring.

The less fat that makes it to the kitchen sink, the happier I am! If it does make it to the sink, I tend to start with straight dish-soap on the jar and no water, wipe it around as best possible, and then add the water to get the fat/soap mixture out. Seems to work better. I don't know if it uses any less soap, but it does frustrate me less! Nothing worse in my mind than cleaning something only to decide when it dries that it's still greasy!

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Josh Vaughan
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Yes, keeping as much grease from the sink/septic is important. Here in Uruguay it is customary to install grease traps on the kitchen waste line. Once one maintains such a device, they will always minimize grease down the drain. Used paper towels have a second life wiping grease from pans before washing and a third life starting wood stove fires with their greasiness.
 
G Freden
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I like to pour some boiling water on the outside (not the inside) to melt the last bits and pour out.  If I'm washing the jar to use for something else, I collect the same water in a saucepan/bowl/etc and pour it inside the jar afterward, and wash out with a drop of detergent.  

If the jar is going to be used for more fat (mine usually are), I skip the washing out step and just put the lid back on the hot jar after pouring out all melted fat;  there's still a light film but it doesn't matter.

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Carla Burke
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If you're struggling to get your hand inside, I don't. When my hand won't fit, I stuff my dishcloth in, then use a utensil suitable to the jar (long/short/narrow/wide,etc), to manipulate the cloth into the nooks and crannies. I'll do the same (before it hits the water) with some form of paper, be it newspaper, paper bag, or paper towel, which then becomes a firestarter for the wood stove, smoker, or grill.

For those shaking with hot, soapy water,  both oil and soap are often used in the garden, as insect repellent - if you use the oily/soapy water for that, it becomes a multi-tasker.

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Kenneth Elwell
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Joshua, I have one of these silicone spatula/spoon thingies, they come in two sizes. It works great for getting the last of stuff out of the jar... so that you get to eat it!  therefore, less to wash out...
dreamfarm mini supoon
Hot water and a bottle brush with soap to get in there, my hands don't even fit in wide-mouth jars very well.
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Dreamfarm mini supoon
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Michael Cox
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Washing soda is your friend here.

It reacts chemically with fat molecules to form soaps. If this is something you deal with frequently you could keep a bucket specifically for soaking glass jars. Put them in overnight, then hand wash as normal.

It is corrosive stuff, so handle with care.

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Joshua Myrvaagnes
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I realize the real issue is getting the milk stuff out of the cracks of the thread of the jar. I’ve been running my fingernail in there, for it must be adding up to hours and hours of my life. I’m gonna try soaking in water, since I don’t really want to buy washing soda, and then, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to buy it then I’ll do that, (Rudolf has asked for a raise, and I can’t really afford to keep him employed on detailing the threads of the jars. )

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Jeremy VanGelder
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Kenneth Elwell wrote:Joshua, I have one of these silicone spatula/spoon thingies, they come in two sizes. It works great for getting the last of stuff out of the jar... so that you get to eat it!  therefore, less to wash out...


A few months ago someone at work was giving supoons away. So I grabbed one of the smaller ones and tried it. From the picture I thought that the curve in the handle would help you maneuver it in the jar. But it doesn't. The curve is marketed as an alternative for a spoon rest.

The spoon shape of the spatula part is handy for getting stuff out of jars. It is nice for getting into the corners at the bottom. I expect the silicone will shred after a few years of use just like other silicone spatulas.

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Joshua Myrvaagnes wrote:I realize the real issue is getting the milk stuff out of the cracks of the thread of the jar.

I bought a toothbrush just for jobs like that. It's great for cleaning out cracks or getting edges clean.

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Burra Maluca
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I wipe greasy jars out with used paper or old rags, then use them as firelighters.

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William Bronson
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I keep a brush for cleaning jars and drinking vessels.
Vinegar seems to really help.
Commercial cleaner with orange oil is fantastic on grease and fat.
I bet orange peel vinegar would work well.

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You get to wear the Genius hat today. Enjoy it.

Burra Maluca wrote:I wipe greasy jars out with used paper or old rags, then use them as firelighters.

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