If the oil isn't well strained or sealed, bacteria could grow and feed on leftover food bits, so take care in each step to help preserve the longevity of the oil. How many times can you reuse it?

It’s typically safe to reuse cooking oil, but there are some precautions you should take. Avoid reusing oils that were used to fry strongly flavored foods such as fish.

Deep-fried foods are a hearty and delicious cornerstone of the American diet. But can you really save money if you reuse deep frying oil at home?

Beyond that, oil can be reused by letting it cool, straining it through a fine mesh strainer, coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth, and then storing it in a dark place to fry another day.

With grocery prices high this holiday season, a reader wonders whether the oil in his Thanksgiving turkey deep-fryer can be recycled.