Tag: Cooking with lard

Lard from pasture-raised pigs was once ranked in the top 10 most nutritious foods by a BBC study, challenging long-held myths about this fat source. Often demonized, the nutritional profile of high-quality pork fat reveals surprising advantages that warrant a second look.

According to nutrition data, a single serving of carnitas can contain a significant portion of the daily recommended fat intake. We address the key question: does carnitas have a lot of fat? and provide a comprehensive look at what makes this dish so rich, and how you can prepare it with less fat.

The proportion of fat in pork can vary dramatically, ranging anywhere from 10% to over 30% depending on the pig's breed, diet, age, and the specific cut of meat. Understanding what is the fat content of a pig is key to appreciating the nutritional and culinary differences across various pork products.

In a 2018 report, researchers who analyzed over 1,000 raw foods ranked pork fat as the eighth most nutritious food, challenging the common perception that all animal fats are unhealthy. These surprising findings reveal that the benefits of pork lard extend beyond its culinary uses, offering nutritional advantages that modern diets often overlook.

Research indicates that one tablespoon of pasture-raised lard can contain a substantial amount of vitamin D, potentially up to 1,100 IU, placing it among the richest food-based sources. The answer to how much vitamin D is in pasture raised lard is surprisingly high, a direct result of ethical farming methods.