Abstract: Methods for recovering free fatty acids from fats and oils having high free fatty acid content are provided. In the method, fats and oils are treated with a mixture having an alcohol to result in a low-free fatty acid oily phase and an alcohol phase. The mixture may also include an alkali. The alcohol may be a monohydric alcohol and an aqueous alcohol, such as an aqueous alcohol having a concentration of at least about 15% alcohol by weight. The alcohol phase may be treated with an acid to form an aqueous alcohol phase and a lipid alcohol phase, wherein the lipid alcohol phase includes free fatty acids, which may be recovered. Fats and oils amenable to such a method may include, but are not limited to, waste fats, waste oils, high acid grease, high acid tallow, and corn oil, such as corn oil produced at an ethanol production plant.