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How to Render Lard and Tallow from Pork, Bear or Beef Fat

Kate Schat
Dont be scared of rendering fat! The great news is no matter the fat youre rendering, the method is the same. No fancy tools needed, although a meat grinder will make the job quicker. Years ago I did a post on rendering it in your crockpot, but I've found stovetop is quicker with a cleaner end result.
5 from 10 votes
Active Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours
Type DIY
Yields 1 varies
Calories 254 kcal

Equipment

  • Stockpot

Ingredients
  

  • Pork, Beef or Bear Fat

Instructions
 

  • Working with the fat at as frozen as possible (Its easier to handle this way) chop it into a 1 inch dice or smaller OR slice into strips that will fit in your meat grinder and run it through the meat grinder.
  • Dump your fat into a pot that fits it all, and add ½ cup water to the pot. Turn onto medium low heat
  • Gently warm your fat, giving it a stir. As soon as the "cracklings" start to turn a greyish brown and all the fat is melted, strain it through a fine mesh strainer
  • You DO NOT want the cracklings to start sizzling or they will flavour the fat. This is not bad, its just not ideal
  • Dump the strained fat into a clean pot and warm on medium low heat until no steam comes out. This way you've evaporated the water and it will last longer
  • Pour fat into containers or jars of choice. I find getting fat out of jars and cleaning them REALLY ANNOYING so I use freezer containers.
  • Let the fat cool until firm/solid, then put the lids on
  • Label it and put either in a cool dark place, fridge or if no other place, the freezer.
  • I've kept it in a cupboard at 15C/60F for a couple years without it going bad, but your climate may be different. I currently store it in my root cellar which is 5C/40F in winter and 12C/55F in summer

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcal
Tried this DIY?Let us know how it was!