Lard is a unbelievable ingredient that many individuals love including to their dishes or baked items. You will have heard that lard ought to be refrigerated, otherwise you may need even heard the alternative. On this article, I’ll reply all of your questions on how lengthy lard can final within the fridge (and elsewhere, too!).
How Lengthy Does Lard Final within the Fridge?
So, how lengthy does lard final within the fridge? Lard tends to final for a few 12 months within the fridge. Opposite to widespread perception, it might additionally simply surpass the expiration date written on its container.
It lasts so lengthy as a result of it’s made from monounsaturated and saturated fat. These fatty acids are often extra steady than polyunsaturated fat, making lard a really long-lasting product!
Lard containers from the shop include best-by dates, however retaining lard within the fridge could make them final even previous these dates.
Pure, high-quality lard can final a few weeks, if not months, after its printed expiration date if stored in a fridge. Nevertheless, take into account that these are estimates. Primarily based on a couple of indications, you’ll have to gauge whether or not your lard remains to be good, which I’ll talk about later.
Fortunately, most lard manufacturers have a label on the container to let you know when to retailer your lard within the fridge or freezer. Completely different manufacturers even have completely different expiration dates.
Listed here are some well-known manufacturers of lard and their shelf life:
| Model of Lard | Shelf Life |
| Fatworks | 12 to 18 months |
| Morrell Snow Cap | 12 months |
| SCP South Chicago Packing | 12 months |
| Lar | 7 months |
| Correct Meals’s Leaf Lard | 2 to three months |
Most lard manufacturers declare that refrigerating lard extends its shelf life, and freezing extends it even longer.
What’s Lard?
Lard is rendered pig fats. It’s utilized in many various cooking purposes, resembling frying greens, a substitute for vegetable oil, substitute for butter, pie crust, biscuits, and rather more.
I don’t have a weblog put up on rendering lard (but!) however I do have one on rending tallow which is constituted of beef fats.
The place Do You Get Lard From?
You should buy lard from the shop or make it your self. Ask your native butcher to avoid wasting you the pork fats once you get a pig butchered, or ask a neighborhood butcher if he has any pork fats on the market. Leaf Lard is the perfect lower of fats from the pig.
You may also save the bacon grease when making bacon to make use of as lard; nonetheless, take into account that it will have a definite bacon scent. Bacon fats is sweet for frying veggies however not nice in a pie crust.
How Lengthy Does Do-it-yourself Lard Final?
Do-it-yourself lard has about the identical shelf life as store-bought lard. Do-it-yourself lard often must be rendered. By doing this, all the surplus water and different impurities are eliminated. This preserves the fats and retains it from going unhealthy.
How Lengthy Does Do-it-yourself Lard Final Within the Fridge
Do-it-yourself lard can sometimes final six months to a 12 months within the fridge after being rendered. Some folks declare they’ve stored it within the fridge for even longer as a result of it’s much less prone to go unhealthy when saved in a cool, clear space.
At Room Shelf Lifetime of Lard
Do-it-yourself lard will sometimes final about 4 to six months at room temperature after being rendered, relying on the circumstances your home made lard is stored in. That’s a fairly very long time!
Is It Essential to Refrigerate Lard?
When you don’t essentially need to refrigerate lard, it undoubtedly helps. As a result of lard retains its high quality in cooler temperatures, storing it within the fridge will last more.
Most lard manufacturers will let you know how lengthy your lard will final, relying on whether or not you refrigerate your lard or not. Ensure you at all times learn the label earlier than storing your lard.
So whereas lard doesn’t essentially NEED to be refrigerated, it’s higher to maintain it within the fridge.
Ought to Lard Be Refrigerated After Opening?
Frankly, it doesn’t matter whether or not your lard container has been opened. Opening a lard container’s lid or wrap doesn’t change something in the case of its shelf life. Storing lard that has been opened will delay its shelf life as a lot as it will if it was closed.
Lard doesn’t need to be refrigerated after opening, however it is going to last more whether it is. It’ll last as long as a 12 months or much more within the fridge and about 4 to six months at room temperature. It’s necessary to shut the lid tightly once you retailer lard, although.
Greatest Lard Storage Practices to Make It Final Longer
When storing lard, you could be certain that your container is sealed nicely in an airtight container after each use. You possibly can retailer your lard within the fridge, countertop, or pantry relying on which fits you greatest.
Methods to Retailer Lard on Your Countertop or Pantry:
- Guarantee your lard is in a well-sealed container, shielded from outer moisture.
- To make sure that your lard’s temperature stays constant, retailer it in a darkish, cool place away from direct daylight, ovens, or toasters.
- It’s endorsed to maintain your house’s temperature beneath 75 levels Fahrenheit. You may need to retailer lard within the fridge if it’s any hotter.
Lard tends to draw vermin and pests, particularly mice, so if in case you have a rodent drawback, I counsel refrigerating or freezing your lard if you happen to’ve had bother up to now with this in your house.
Methods to Retailer Lard within the Fridge:
- Tightly seal your lard in an hermetic container, away from exterior moisture, since lard tends to soak up flavors within the air.
- Solely take away the container when you want to use your lard. This can assist preserve its temperature.
- Seal tightly after use and retailer it again within the fridge.
Accurately storing your lard can work wonders as it is going to prolong your lard’s shelf life for months after its expiration date.
Can Lard Be Frozen?
You possibly can completely freeze lard for a fair longer shelf life. To do that, wrap your lard in wax paper and canopy it with foil. This can cease your lard from being uncovered to air and moisture.
You may also place your lard jar in a freezer bag, squeeze out all of the air, and retailer it inside your freezer.
Should you solely need to use a small quantity of lard at a time, I counsel slicing your lard into smaller cubes, lining them up on a baking sheet with parchment paper, and putting it within the freezer for two to three hours. After that, take away the baking sheet and put the lard cubes right into a freezer bag. You would additionally freeze the lard in an ice dice tray, however the trays are tough to wash when you’ve eliminated the lard.
After taking it out of the freezer, you don’t need to thaw lard. You should utilize it immediately. It’s not really useful to refreeze already defrosted lard, although, so it’s higher to freeze lard in smaller parts.
How Lengthy Can Frozen Lard Final?
Storing lard in your freezer can prolong its shelf life even additional than storing it in your fridge. Freezing lard could make it retain its high quality for as much as two or three years!
Can You Eat Expired Lard?
It’s by no means a good suggestion to eat any expired meals. The identical applies right here to expired lard! Whereas consuming expired lard won’t make you sick instantly, it’s nonetheless not a good suggestion. Moreover, expired lard often tastes and has foul odors – not very tasty!
The perfect factor you are able to do with expired lard is to throw it out. It’ll most likely take some time to run out if saved accurately, however if you happen to’re uncertain whether or not your lard is expired, you’re higher off eliminating it. Higher secure than sorry.
4 Indicators of Spoiled Lard
There are a couple of indicators that your pork fats may need gone unhealthy. I counsel eliminating your lard if:
1. It smells foul
Spoiled lard may scent chemical or paint-like. The scent of spoiled lard won’t be straightforward to detect, so in case you are uncertain of the state of your lard, attempt to scent it earlier than use.
Poorly-stored lard can even decide up different scents from meals in your fridge or kitchen. If that’s the case together with your lard, you’re higher off eliminating it.
2. It tastes off
Spoiled lard tends to scent bitter, bitter, or simply off. Do a style check earlier than utilizing your lard if uncertain of its high quality. If it doesn’t style proper, you must undoubtedly throw it out.
3. It’s moldy
Whereas lard is unlikely to develop mildew, typically soiled spoons, double-dipping, or any exterior meddling can spoil it. (At all times use clear utensils when scooping out your lard!) Within the case of mildew, you will want to eliminate it.
4. It’s been overused
If lard has been used too many occasions, heated, or warmed up greater than it’s presupposed to be, it’s safer to throw it out. Overusing and overheating lard could make it spoil sooner.
There could be different indicators that your lard went unhealthy, so if you happen to really feel like one thing isn’t proper, you must eliminate it. Don’t threat utilizing spoiled lard.
What Does Rancid Lard Odor Like?
Rancid lard smells like chemical substances, paint, and even nail polish remover. Pungent, foul smells resembling these point out that your lard has gone unhealthy, and it’s time to throw it out.
Lard can be utilized in many various recipes and for nearly all of your frying wants. So long as you’re rendering it correctly and storing it correctly, you should utilize it for a very long time!
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How lengthy does lard final within the fridge?
Merissa has been running a blog about and dwelling the easy life since 2009 and has internationally printed 2 books on the subject. You possibly can examine Merissa’s journey from penniless to the 100-acre farm and ministry on the About Page. You possibly can ship her a message any time from the Contact Page.
This weblog put up on How Lengthy Does Lard Final within the Fridge was initially posted on Little Home Dwelling in March 2023.
