questions for lard lovers

[FairyRae]

I've just found a great local source for lard, $1 a lb unrendered. I've been reading a bit about it and have some questions. (I've never used it b/4.)

How long does rendered lard last in the fridge? Can it be frozen?

How much lard do you all typically go through in a week, or a month? (The source I have does not have it available every week, maybe less than once a month--I'm looking into it and trying to figure out how much I'll need to buy.)

What do you use lard for? I'm planning to do some deep frying (my sis just got me a small deep fryer for my b-day--woo!) but don't know much about it at all, or what it is good for besides that. Any ideas you all have are appreciated!

TIA for any info!

[AJP]

I've used it for pie crusts (prefer it mixed 50/50 with butter for that) and for pan frying, would love to try deep frying with it but haven't had enough to do so.

It will keep a really long time in the fridge, many months at least. Absolutely you can freeze it, airtight and frozen it should last nearly indefinitely.

[cristeen]

Once rendered, it keeps fairly indefinitely in the fridge or freezer.

As for uses... biscuits, pie crusts, pan frying, deep frying, any recipe that calls for a solid fat (like butter or shortening).

I don't use a whole lot of it just because it's expensive compared to butter, but still cheaper than CO.

[deditus]

How long does rendered lard last in the fridge? 6 months is what my farmer recommends Can it be frozen? Yes

How much lard do you all typically go through in a week, or a month? I think we're on track to use about 5 lbs of rendered lard in 6 months. I don't know how much unrendered lard this would have taken.

What do you use lard for? In place of butter since we are dairy free. Yummy on potatoes, love slices of parsnips fried in lard.

[FairyRae]

Thank you all for the responses! I'm really excited to try this out--we are dairy free as well, and this is a MUCH cheaper alternative to coconut oil or ghee (which is the one dairy we can do--lactose/casein free )

Woo hoo! I'm so excited!