There are occasions when you’re cooking that nothing can surpass rendered pork fat. You’ll be amazed at how much more flavourful your meals are when cooked in pork fat. I use pork fatback which is firm and white, and readily available from your butcher – I phone ahead first.
Start by cutting 1- 1.5 kgs of fat into 3cm squares. Cook at 100C, Reverse Speed Soft for 4 to 5 hours until the last bits of oil have come from the fat. As the fat renders, amber-colored crispy cracklings will form.
Pour the liquid lard very carefully into a Reusable Pouch or jars using a section of cheesecloth to strain. Set aside the pork crackling crumbs to use in salads.
When properly rendered, lard will store at room temperature just like olive oil; however, you can also store it in the refrigerator with no change to flavour or texture. One kg of raw fat should yield 500 ml of lard.
