Tag: Rendering

For decades, animal fats were unfairly demonized, but recent research reveals a different story. Animal fat oil, including lard and tallow, is packed with essential fat-soluble vitamins and offers unique culinary advantages that modern vegetable oils often lack.

By chemical definition, lard is classified as a fat, not an oil. While it can be melted into a liquid state for cooking, its high proportion of saturated fatty acids means it remains a semi-solid at room temperature, unlike most oils.

Originating as a way to use all parts of the pig, pork rinds, also known as chicharróns, are a beloved snack worldwide. But what part of a pig is pork rinds? This crunchy treat comes from the pig's skin, which is rendered, dehydrated, and deep-fried to perfection.

Lard is a rendered pork fat, not muscle tissue, but does lard count as meat in dietary and culinary contexts? The answer is nuanced and depends on the specific classification criteria, whether for cooking or dietary restrictions.

About one-third of the world's fish catch is processed into secondary items like fishmeal and fish oil, rather than being used for direct human consumption. This highlights the nuanced answer to the question, "Is fish an animal byproduct?" which largely depends on its intended use.

Historically, rendered animal fats like beef tallow and lard were kitchen staples for centuries before the rise of industrial vegetable oils. When it comes to frying, many home cooks and professional chefs are returning to these traditional fats and wondering, 'Is beef tallow better than lard for frying?'.

The US Department of Agriculture defines any food altered from its natural state as processed, meaning that beef tallow, created by rendering animal fat, is technically a processed food. However, the key distinction lies in the extent of that processing, which can range from minimal to ultra-processed.

According to USDA data, a single tablespoon of beef fat contains approximately 115 calories. As a high-fat, calorie-dense cooking medium, understanding how many calories are in 1 tablespoon of beef fat is crucial for those managing their dietary intake. This guide explores its nutritional profile and common uses.

Globally, nearly three-quarters of the world's extracted oils and fats are used for food applications, highlighting the widespread need for effective extraction methods. Understanding precisely how do you extract fat is a fundamental process that applies to diverse fields, from home cooking to industrial food production and laboratory analysis.

For centuries, people have included animal fats in their food and cooking, with these fats being a dietary staple before modern vegetable oils. So, what are animal fats called? The names depend on the source and processing, leading to distinct terms like lard, tallow, and schmaltz, each with unique properties and uses.