Martha Stewart: Donate or compost small pieces of fabric

Question: Is it possible to recycle or compost leftover pieces of fabric?

Answer: Small fabric scraps are the heart of patchwork quilts. If creating quilts isn’t a pastime of yours, consider donating your scraps to a church, a retirement home or a charity that collects them for quilt-making or other crafts projects.

Some animal shelters accept fabric scraps for pet bedding. Martha Stewart Living donates fabric to Materials for the Arts (www.mfta.org), a New York organization that supplies schools and arts programs. Look for a similar group in your area.

Another option is the Freecycle Network (www.freecycle.org), an online community that lets you post anything you’re willing to give away.

Natural-fiber fabrics, such as cotton or wool, can be composted; cut them into small pieces, and mix them thoroughly into your compost pile. If your town provides curbside compost pickup, fabrics may be prohibited. Check with your sanitation department for guidelines.

Q: What is an oil’s smoke point? Does it affect food’s taste?

A: When cooking oil, or any fat, reaches its smoke point, it begins to break down, releasing smoke in the process. The chemical change can ruin the flavor of the food being cooked.

Different fats have different smoke points.

If you’re cooking with a lot of heat — say, deep-frying or stir-frying — choose a fat with a high smoke point; try one that’s refined or vegetable-based. Peanut and soybean oils, for example, are able to withstand up to 450 degrees — either one is perfect for stir-fried shrimp or fried chicken.

Fats with lower smoke points do well over low to medium heat; use them for sauteing or finishing pan sauces. Opt for olive oil (410 degrees) or butter (350 degrees) for these uses.

Clarified butter, which is refined by skimming off the milk solids, can withstand up to 400 degrees before smoking.

Address questions to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 601 W. 26th St., Ninth floor, New York, NY 10001. Send email to mslletters@marthastewart.com.