How to Render Beef Tallow or Lard for Baking or Soap Making
Rendering is the process of separating animal fat from debris and water so that it can be used inbaking or soap making.
It is best to render small amounts of fat at a time in the kitchen. This process can be used for rendering 5 pounds of either lard (pig fat) or tallow (beef or sheep).
Place the fat in a large pot (stainless steel works best) and melt slowly to
avoid burning, allowing about 30 - 60 minutes to heat. Slow is best, don't hurry or you may burn it.
Stir melting fat occasionally.
Cool the fat slightly and carefully run through a metal sieve to
remove debris.
To the cooled fat, add twice as much cold water. Example: If you have 2 cups of melted fat, you would add 4 cups cold water.
Return to the heat, covered, and
slowly boil it for 4 hours.
Cool again and strain through the sieve into a large ceramic, metal or plastic bowl.
Refrigerate over night. The cooked fat will have settled into two or three layers.
Invert fat and unmold into a plate in the SINK. On the inverted top will be two layers. One gelatinous and one grainy.
Scrape these off leaving the pure tallow on the
bottom.
Wrap in plastic or store in rigid plastic containers in the refrigerator until used.
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