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Camile · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:45 pm Post subject: Lard

Hi guys,

Would anyone has a recipe for lard I could use ?

I have plenty of pig fat to be rendered and haven't found a way yet.

Thanks,
Camile

dara · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 183 Location: Mayo

To render fat you'll need good water and a very big pan.
To every 4 lb's of fat in your pan you need to add a large cup of water.
Put the pan over a very low heat - very low. The fat must not boil or it will be useless. You render it - stirring every now and then until all the water has evaporated at which point you take it off the heat and pass it into a bowl through a colander lined with muslin or something like it. If there's any sediment in the bottom of the pan throw it out.
It will keep for a long time in the fridge.

phil · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject:

Ive never heard of putting water in while rendering fat,what is the reason for the water.

Camile · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks Dara,

I actually ended up freezing the fat to be rendered later on because I still have a small bucket of lard from a friend's pig ...

but will put the recipe to good use when needed.

Camile

dara · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 183 Location: Mayo

The water just helps keep the temp' stable while all the fat melts - i've not tried it without it but suspect that fat alone would begin to boil befor it has all had a chance to melt.

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Hi Camile,
Dara's advice is spot on. I've even just boiled it (goat fat) up and then as the water cools the fat rises to the top and forms a thick disc floating on top of the water, followed by impurities on the underside which can be scraped off.
You could use the lard for frying, to make things like comfrey cream or milking fat with Calendula for milking your goats, or you could even make soap.

phil · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject:

Fair enough just never heard of it before.