In a pinch, lard can also be used to … It’s also tasteless, odorless and can be stored in the fridge for up to a year – all handy benefits that our great grand parents would have savored. Kamala Harris's Indian uncle 'felt a little sorry for Pence' State tells meteorologist to 'stay home' amid hurricane It’s also not as widely used because many people do not consume foods with pork fat for religious and other dietary reasons. My mom would tell you butter. If you asked my grandmother, she’d tell you to use lard. Others swear by shortening to bind the ingredients together. Other Facts . Lard can also be made at home, an increasingly popular option for consumers who want it fresh. Used for centuries in Italian cuisine, namely that from Colonnata, a Tuscan hamlet in the Apuan Alps, this food dates back to the time when Romans were the superpower. The smoking point of lard is high in comparison to butter. There are other ways to use lard that aren’t as commonly thought about. Lard and butter used to be the only two fats used for cooking and baking before margarine and oils were created. It's still made today by curing, spicing, and aging this exceptionally fatty cut of meat to create a rich charcuterie that can be eaten in many ways. What is Lardo? The refrigeration is not required for the fresh lard. Another good kitchen use for lard is to grease pans such as pie plates and also to season cast iron cookware. Rendered pork fat creates lard, an ingredient that is used in many retro cook books. While it’s important to use the right pie baking tools, there still seems to be much debate about how to get that perfect crust. But until recently, it's been generally looked down upon, and without a truly good reason. Today, lard is a lot less popular than it once was because of its reputation for being an unhealthy food. They made their own soap with fats and ash (lye). Butter from their cows worked great for making breads, cookies, cakes, etc. The smear campaign is similar to the recent battle between corporate sugar and fat proponents. Be careful, however, as some Latin American Spanish speakers use manteca to refer to butter, or a butter and fat mixture. In North America and Europe, Lard is used as a spread on the bread. Lard is used in French fries, fry chips and breaded meats. Lard is used to form pastry dough in the Catalan cuisine. Farms would raise and slaughter their own pigs and use every part of every animal they raised. It is also combined with seasonings. It does not become rancid. Lard can be used to make soaps and candles, two items more commonly made with tallow. These would be best made with leaf lard since this type of lard has minimal smell. Lard used to be just as popular as—if not more than—butter. Crispy roast turkey skin, flaky short pie crust, slow cooked casseroles, delicate cakes and cookies are all enhanced by lard. In stores, it can sometimes be found in the Hispanic ingredients section, labeled Manteca, the Spanish word for lard. Lard is used for cooking and baking.