I got my pig back today! Yeah! I will be rendering the fat. I was going to put in in my roaster at about 130 degrees and melt it in there. How would you suggest I store it? My cousin said coffee cans but that seems to big, I was thinking it needed to be kept in the fridge if not frozen? Is that right? What do you do. Here is a pic of the fat in bags! I will post pics as it is melting! Is there anything I need to do to prep it before melting? TIA, Brenda
I bake the fat to render it and put it in jars. Then I refrigerate or freeze. It will keep a while without, but I have room so better safe than sorry.
Baking it works but causes alot of smoke if you're not careful. Here's a link to the way I do mine: http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1141.html
We put a little water in a BIG cast-iron skillet and put it over a very, very low fire on the range until it's rendered. You'll get used to the smell...eventually.
I've never had that much fat at one time to render - I generally just render out the fat from poultry - but find that a slow cooker works beautifully. I usually do this outside, as my DH is very sensitive to the smell.
I add water to it, boil it, pour off the water, collect the fat that rises to the top, slowly cook the leftover bits till they get a bit crunchy, add water, drain off, and just keep doing it that way.. I store it in plastic bags in the freezer.. If you leave it out, it can get a rancid smell, and thats not what I want in my soap
I will use it for pie and to fry with. Some people say it will be good left in a cool dark place, but I think I will freeze and refrigerate it. Brenda
