Cooking with Lard

Fordman4ever · 06-08-2013, 07:57 PM

Does anyone still cook with lard? I just smoked two 10lb pork butts and before I put them on the smoker I trimmed them a little. I took the extra fat and rendered it down into about 5 cups of pure lard. I've been looking up a lot of recipes that use lard but I wanted to know if anyone here still used the stuff.

Zane · 06-08-2013, 08:06 PM

My mom still does.........

maninblack · 06-08-2013, 08:11 PM

I like pie crusts made with lard. My grandmother used it alot.

oooo35980 · 06-08-2013, 08:16 PM

It isn't really much different than using Vegetable Shortening. You can use it to cut pastry (including biscuits), you can fry in it, etc.

It also isn't really any more unhealthy than other saturated fats, plus it's more natural than vegetable shortening.

emopunker2004 · 06-08-2013, 08:20 PM

I know it's slightly different but I love lubing the pan with bacon grease when I eat scrambled eggs.

CigarNut · 06-08-2013, 08:54 PM

I cook with bacon grease and it's not much different than that (except lard is much more bland).

Fordman4ever · 06-08-2013, 08:55 PM

I've been reading up on it and I really like what I'm finding. Healthier for you than a lot of the commercially produced oils or fats out there.

emopunker2004 · 06-08-2013, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordman4ever

I've been reading up on it and I really like what I'm finding. Healthier for you than a lot of the commercially produced oils or fats out there.

No doubt. Natural > Processed.

Chainsaw13 · 06-08-2013, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordman4ever

I've been reading up on it and I really like what I'm finding. Healthier for you than a lot of the commercially produced oils or fats out there.

It is if the animal was pasture raised. I'll see if I can find the link to a study done on factory farmed vs pasture raised.

T.G · 06-08-2013, 09:07 PM

I do...

It and tallow (beef fat) are both awesome to cook with once you get used to them. You can get textures, flavors and savory characteristics that you simply can't get any other way.

Stir fry, pan fry, baking, all great with lard as it's a bit more neutral than tallow. Deep frying can be tricky as lard's smoke point and the temperature needed for a good deep fry are very close, so there is little margin for over-temp errors.

Where the fat comes from on the animal can affect the flavor of the lard and what you can do with it. The lard you rendered, being that it came from the shoulders, will be good for cooking and some baking purposes, but might or might not be suitable for delicate pastries or cookies due to it possibly having a flavor of it's own. This is something you will have to determine yourself.

Despite this, what you have is far better than the blocks of crap you see in the stores as they are hydrogenated and who knows what else.

Now, home made flour tortillas or a pizza crust (my apologies to Moe) made with lard, oh yeah...

Chainsaw13 · 06-08-2013, 09:12 PM

Oh, you can use it to make soaps too. My friends who raise pigs have it made. So much nicer than commercial stuff.

ironchefscott · 06-08-2013, 10:04 PM

Love pork fat! I don't know which animal fat I love more pork or duck fat.

Fordman4ever · 06-08-2013, 10:50 PM

Haven't had a chance to do any cooking with duck fat yet. I really want to though

bobarian · 06-08-2013, 11:02 PM

Carnita's baby!

ironchefscott · 06-09-2013, 12:14 AM

I love cooking potatos and eggs in duck fat...but I also love doing it with bacon grease or lard from the mexi market(tan colored and way more flavor than the white bricks you get at the supermarket...but that white stuff is better for baking!)

AdamJoshua · 06-09-2013, 12:27 AM

There was a great recipe for ham and cheese biscuits made with lard, it was alton brown or someone on food network, either way I have made them and they were delicious, if you are interested I'm sure you could google them.

Edit: here ya go ham and cheese biscuits. For the record it was Emeril.

Fordman4ever · 06-09-2013, 07:52 AM

Awesome thanks.

bstarrs · 06-13-2013, 12:30 PM

You should try doing some french fries in it. I know you can do fries in tallow so I'm assuming you can do them in the pork lard.

Drphilwv · 06-13-2013, 04:34 PM

Tamales made with good lard are the stuff. Use some pulled pork or even diced jalapenos as the filling. That is the best application. Tallow... oh boy. Yorkshire pudding made with tallow...

kansashat · 10-19-2013, 02:39 AM

We recently bought a tortilla press. I plan to make homemade tortillas with Masa & lard. Mario has an intriguing recipe for homemade tacos made with skirt steak & homemade tortillas with a sauce made with dried chilis, serrano peppers, oranges, limes, cilantro, & onions, dressed with crumbled queso fresco.

I'm looking forward to it. Will try to report back our results.

06-08-2013, 07:57 PM	#1
Fordman4ever Redneck driving a ricer!! Join Date: Dec 2010 First Name: Earl Location: A place too cold to smoke outside Posts: 2,508 Trading: (26)	Cooking with Lard Does anyone still cook with lard? I just smoked two 10lb pork butts and before I put them on the smoker I trimmed them a little. I took the extra fat and rendered it down into about 5 cups of pure lard. I've been looking up a lot of recipes that use lard but I wanted to know if anyone here still used the stuff. __________________

06-08-2013, 08:06 PM	#2
Zane Have My Own Room Join Date: Aug 2012 First Name: Zane Location: Noblesville, IN Posts: 1,508 Trading: (23)	Re: Cooking with Lard My mom still does......... __________________ COO BlindMan's Puff

06-08-2013, 08:11 PM	#3
maninblack Will smoke for food Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Kevin Location: Where the hoot owls f$ck the chickens Posts: 10,637 Trading: (80)	Re: Cooking with Lard I like pie crusts made with lard. My grandmother used it alot. __________________ Proud member of the GMCGTPWHAFA

06-08-2013, 08:16 PM	#4
oooo35980 Feeling at Home Join Date: Mar 2011 First Name: Isaiah Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 569 Trading: (3)	Re: Cooking with Lard It isn't really much different than using Vegetable Shortening. You can use it to cut pastry (including biscuits), you can fry in it, etc. It also isn't really any more unhealthy than other saturated fats, plus it's more natural than vegetable shortening.

06-08-2013, 08:20 PM	#5
emopunker2004 Central Fla rollin Join Date: Jan 2011 First Name: Justin Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 6,171 Trading: (46)	Re: Cooking with Lard I know it's slightly different but I love lubing the pan with bacon grease when I eat scrambled eggs. __________________ Cigar Asylum: Where all are equal, unless you are from CA, then you are more equal.

06-08-2013, 08:54 PM	#6
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: Cooking with Lard I cook with bacon grease and it's not much different than that (except lard is much more bland). __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

06-08-2013, 08:55 PM	#7
Fordman4ever Redneck driving a ricer!! Join Date: Dec 2010 First Name: Earl Location: A place too cold to smoke outside Posts: 2,508 Trading: (26)	Re: Cooking with Lard I've been reading up on it and I really like what I'm finding. Healthier for you than a lot of the commercially produced oils or fats out there. __________________

06-08-2013, 09:07 PM	#10
T.G Grrrrrr Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: The Other Adam Posts: 15,557 Trading: (37)	Re: Cooking with Lard I do... It and tallow (beef fat) are both awesome to cook with once you get used to them. You can get textures, flavors and savory characteristics that you simply can't get any other way. Stir fry, pan fry, baking, all great with lard as it's a bit more neutral than tallow. Deep frying can be tricky as lard's smoke point and the temperature needed for a good deep fry are very close, so there is little margin for over-temp errors. Where the fat comes from on the animal can affect the flavor of the lard and what you can do with it. The lard you rendered, being that it came from the shoulders, will be good for cooking and some baking purposes, but might or might not be suitable for delicate pastries or cookies due to it possibly having a flavor of it's own. This is something you will have to determine yourself. Despite this, what you have is far better than the blocks of crap you see in the stores as they are hydrogenated and who knows what else. Now, home made flour tortillas or a pizza crust (my apologies to Moe) made with lard, oh yeah...

06-08-2013, 09:12 PM	#11
Chainsaw13 Møøse bites can be nasty Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Bob Location: The Enchanted Mitten Posts: 7,176 Trading: (96)	Re: Cooking with Lard Oh, you can use it to make soaps too. My friends who raise pigs have it made. So much nicer than commercial stuff. __________________ My neighbor came by my house this morning at 2AM, pounding on the door. Good thing I was still up playing the drums.

06-08-2013, 10:04 PM	#12
ironchefscott Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Apr 2012 First Name: scott Location: Portland, OR Posts: 363 Trading: (5)	Re: Cooking with Lard Love pork fat! I don't know which animal fat I love more pork or duck fat.

06-08-2013, 10:50 PM	#13
Fordman4ever Redneck driving a ricer!! Join Date: Dec 2010 First Name: Earl Location: A place too cold to smoke outside Posts: 2,508 Trading: (26)	Re: Cooking with Lard Haven't had a chance to do any cooking with duck fat yet. I really want to though __________________

06-08-2013, 11:02 PM	#14
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Cooking with Lard Carnita's baby!

06-09-2013, 12:14 AM	#15
ironchefscott Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Apr 2012 First Name: scott Location: Portland, OR Posts: 363 Trading: (5)	Re: Cooking with Lard I love cooking potatos and eggs in duck fat...but I also love doing it with bacon grease or lard from the mexi market(tan colored and way more flavor than the white bricks you get at the supermarket...but that white stuff is better for baking!)

06-09-2013, 12:27 AM	#16
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: Cooking with Lard There was a great recipe for ham and cheese biscuits made with lard, it was alton brown or someone on food network, either way I have made them and they were delicious, if you are interested I'm sure you could google them. Edit: here ya go ham and cheese biscuits. For the record it was Emeril.

06-09-2013, 07:52 AM	#17
Fordman4ever Redneck driving a ricer!! Join Date: Dec 2010 First Name: Earl Location: A place too cold to smoke outside Posts: 2,508 Trading: (26)	Re: Cooking with Lard Awesome thanks. __________________

06-13-2013, 12:30 PM	#18
bstarrs Still Watching My Back Join Date: May 2013 First Name: Braeden Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 223 Trading: (3)	Re: Cooking with Lard You should try doing some french fries in it. I know you can do fries in tallow so I'm assuming you can do them in the pork lard.

06-13-2013, 04:34 PM	#19
Drphilwv Just in from the Storm Join Date: Jun 2013 First Name: Phil Location: West Virginia Posts: 28 Trading: (1)	Re: Cooking with Lard Tamales made with good lard are the stuff. Use some pulled pork or even diced jalapenos as the filling. That is the best application. Tallow... oh boy. Yorkshire pudding made with tallow...

10-19-2013, 02:39 AM	#20
kansashat Just in from the Storm Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Alan Location: Kansas Posts: 26 Trading: (0)	Re: Cooking with Lard We recently bought a tortilla press. I plan to make homemade tortillas with Masa & lard. Mario has an intriguing recipe for homemade tacos made with skirt steak & homemade tortillas with a sauce made with dried chilis, serrano peppers, oranges, limes, cilantro, & onions, dressed with crumbled queso fresco. I'm looking forward to it. Will try to report back our results.