Description
Follow step-by-step, photo illustrated instructions and learn How To Render Leaf Lard. Making your own lard at home, is much easier than you might imagine, and we’ll show you just how to do it. Leaf Lard is considered to be the finest lard for baking, especially when making pie crusts from scratch. It just takes a little time to render down, but well worth the time involved.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Leaf Fat
- 1/2 cup Water
Instructions
- Place leaf fat in freezer for 20-30 minutes prior to cutting.
- Slice the leaf fat into thin slices, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Slice again, then dice into very small cubes.
- Place water in a thick, medium size, sauce pot.
- Bring water just to a low boil over Medium heat.
- Reduce heat to the lowest setting on your stove top, add diced fat to the pot.
- Stir the diced fat and let render over the lowest setting for about 2-3 hours.
- Stir the fat and oil about every 20-30 minutes to prevent any sticking, scorching, or burning.
- Prepare a funnel, cheesecloth and jar to strain the rendered fat.
- Place cheesecloth in funnel, place that in the storage jar.
- Pour rendered fat into jar, then spoon the fat pieces in and let them drain for about 2 minutes.
- Return the fat to the pot. Place back on super-low heat and continue to render.
- After about 2 more hours, strain the next batch of liquid oil into a different container.
- Drain the “cracklin” pieces on a paper towel, reserve for later.
- Once oil has cooled, cover with lids and refrigerate or freeze as needed.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Rendered lard will store well in the refrigerator for several months. If you don’t plan to use it all within that length of time, freeze a portion for later. Leftover pieces of rendered pork may be lightly salted and eaten as is, or used later for making Cracklin Bread.
Keywords: How To Render Leaf Lard Recipe, pie crusts, made from scratch, lard, pork, render lard, southern recipes