We had a hog butchered last fall and they gave me a 5 pound tub of lard with the meat. I have never used lard, but I might want to make soap someday. How long will it keep in the fridge?

-- Debbie in Mo (risingwind@socket.net), March 25, 2002

Answers

Don't know about your homegrown variety but I've kept those store-bought blocks of Armour lard for well over a year in the refrigerator with no signs or taste of staleness.

-- Hank in Oklahoma (hbaker@ipa.net), March 25, 2002.

they gave you the lard or the fat? the lard is rendered pig fat. I have kept lard for 3 years now,, no refridgeration,, have found some with mold on it,,I just cut that part away, beofre I use it. Ive never kept pig fat arround long without rendering it

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), March 25, 2002.

Freeze it, if you are going to make soap with it , it will last forever in the freezer. Even if it gets a freezer taste , that will not affect your soap, as you must heat it before you can use it in a soap recipe. I render my own lard, and this is the way I keep it...

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), March 25, 2002.

Using lard in bisquit recipes is the best way to make them. I know it's hard on the old cholesterol and everything, but it's just a batch of biscuits. Also, lard is an excellent degreaser if your hands are all gunky from working on cars and other greasy projects.. etc.

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), March 25, 2002.

Old timers used lard to store their meat in, in cellars. Hence the name "larders" I usually can mine, when I've rendered it, while still hot I pour in clean jars and place lids on, it seals as it cools. Pretty easy....Anyone who sees my shelf of canned goods always ask what is that white stuff??? My opened lard get used up pretty quickly.

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), March 25, 2002.