Make Cooking Oil Last Longer

Ugh. Shoot me now.

My camera is temporarily out of commission, so today's post will be something I dread: a product recommendation. They feel cheap (in that they're not mods at all). However I think this one's pretty cool, and it's my damn blog. So, onwards!

Buying in bulk is cool for a few reasons. You save green, of course (that's dollars), but you also reduce packaging waste and trips to the store. In that spirit I always pick up the gigantic container of veggie oil at the supermarket, which goes for $6.49/gallon.

By 'always' I mean I bought one, once, 6 months ago

The disadvantage is that I inevitably use too much oil, even if I pour from a smaller container. By wasting oil, this micro-Valdez wastes the resources used to manufacture, package, and transport my slippery friend. It's also not great for my heart, which is something you really appreciate when you bike as much as I do!

Simply using spray oil is no good either–the empty cans create dramatically more packaging waste. Those disposable cans are also chock full of chemical propellants. Even though ozone-depleting CFCs are banned, their replacement can't be too great for the planet either.

So what's the solution? Enter Misto.

Oh soh sexai

Misto is a refillable sprayer for oil, but you can also full it with lemon juice, vinegar, or anything with a smooth consistency. It holds 3 oz at a time, and is a little smaller than those disposable cans. Rather than a pump sprayer like you find in (for instance) glass cleaner, Misto has a built-in pump in the cap to pressurize its contents. The cap acts like the handle on a bike pump. After charging the canister you use it exactly like those disposable cans: push and spray!

The downsides? The pump/cap isn't recyclable, nor is the plastic insert in the box. The bottle itself is highly-recyclable aluminum though. I anticipate it lasting a long time, and it's worlds better than those disposable sprayers.

I found mine for $10 at Wegman's, so it will pay for itself after displacing 10 disposable cans. After I get my cam back up I'll be sure to post a video of it in action. It's pretty nifty stuff.

Happy modding,

Tom