For freshly flavored fried foods,
use new cooking oil.

Reusing Oil

• For fresh flavor in fried foods, use new cooking oil or shortening. However, if you wish to reuse the cooking oil or shortening after it's been used once, allow it to cool enough to handle safely.
• For cooking oil, strain it through a paper coffee filter set in a metal strainer or through a double thickness of 100 percent cotton cheesecloth. Refrigerate strained oil in a covered jar and use within a few days. When you reuse the oil, add an extra amount of fresh oil to help avoid smoking and possible flare-ups.
• For shortening, strain as directed for oil. Then, refrigerate it in a covered container and use within a few days. When you reuse shortening, it's not necessary to add an equal amount of fresh shortening.