lard

[miss_thenorth]

Just curious if anyone mihgt know this? If I go to the butcher on "chicken day" (b/c I need to bring in my chickens), would they have it, or would I have to go on pig day? Or is this butcher as in slaughterhouse, or butcher at the supermarket?

 

[Farmfresh]

First I am jealous because your butcher HAS a chicken day. All of the places that used to process chickens around here are gone.

Then I guess it depends on the shop. I have gotten beef suet for rendering (I make soap with the tallow) at different times ... they had it frozen. I would call and ask them. If you are wanting the lard (or suet) ground for you it is a good idea to call ahead anyway. They might charge you a little for the grinding but it IS worth it.

 

[freemotion]

My place only has the leaf fat when they are processing pigs for people. They have it on occasion throughout the winter, but the best time is in the fall, Sept/Oct. They told me that most people don't want the fat anymore and they throw at least 60 lbs away each year!

 

[Farmfresh]

ALSO when we get a farmer purchased pig processed they always ask me about lard. The render it and everything! It comes in a bucket ready to use. You might ask them about just purchasing pre- rendered lard.

Ask them lots of questions. If it is a small family owned business (like my butcher shop is) they may have lots of things available that you did not know about. Like CASES of free dog bones with plenty of meat stuck to them for FREE.

The last pig we had butchered was taken to a bigger USDA plant by the farmer, as it was closer to them. When they were taking my cutting order they were shocked by the fact that I wanted the feet, the head and the LARD! It seems now a days many people won't even take the liver!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i'm just about thru the lard we rendered last year from our pigs. i rendered the leaf fat separately and use it for baking. the rest i use just like crisco. i cant believe i didnt know about lard before - its heavenly for baking!

the dogs also get some in their scrambled eggs. i stored mine in the freezer til i was ready to use it then put it in the fridge.

yay lard!