Last Updated on December 17, 2024 by Michelle
In case you didn’t know, we raise pigs every year on our homestead.
And one thing nobody tells you about raising your own pigs is that unless you want to throw away valuable fat (I don’t), or don’t like lard (I do), you’ll be basically drowning in lard. Not that it’s a problem. It’s actually a great thing. But especially when I first started learning to cook from scratch, having jars upon jars of lard to use up was very overwhelming at first.
Eventually, the lard became one of my top reasons for raising pigs. Seriously. It’s that good.
So let’s talk about a million ways to use lard. Well, actually, 11 ways to use lard. But who’s counting. Oh, wait, we are.
11 ways to use lard.
BTW, curious how to make your own lard? See my complete guide to pork lard.
Why should I use lard in baking?
When we think of baking cookies or pies, we think of using butter. But why? Lard is a great option for all kinds of baking projects, and, in fact, it makes most baked goods more tender and fluffy, and more rich and flavorful.
Not to mention it’s good for you.
Want some encouragement to use lard as one of your primary oils in your kitchen? Go here for the full scoop about how to bake with lard and why you should.
Want the cliff notes on that article? Lard is an all-natural, unrefined oil that contains lots of vitamins and minerals your body craves, and it actually helps you absorb more nutrients from the other foods you’re eating with it! Pretty cool, right?
RuthAnn Zimmerman and I chat about the wonders of tallow and lard in this podcast episode that I think you’ll love:
Listen to episode xxx on apple or spotify.
Or join RuthAnn and I on youtube:
But, bottom line, (and most importantly!) it tastes really good. Muffins made with melted lard instead of a liquid oil or melted butter? The softest muffins you’ll ever make. Pie crust made with lard instead of butter? Devine. Struggling to make soft tortillas? Use lard.
Lard is basically the magic formula you’ve been looking for in all your baked goods. I can’t really explain the science behind why lard is so amazing, so let’s just say it’s magic, m’kay?
Why should I cook with lard?
Lard is not only great for baking, it’s also amazing for cooking. One reason I reach for lard as my main cooking fat is because not only is it a great alternative to unhealthy oils, but it also has a really high smoke point. This is great for two big reasons.
#1 it can withstand high heat cooking projects without, well, smoking. This is great because it allows the fat to stay intact and remain a healthy, safe option to eat.
#2 because when oils smoke, that means they’re hot enough to break down and release free radicals. The smoking point of fats usually means they’re not as safe to consume when they’re over their smoking point.
So if you’re cooking with lard, you have a lot more opportunities to enjoy eating a healthy, vitamin-rich fat. Without the risk of eating free radicals without even knowing it.
11 ways to use lard
1) Use lard for frying. My personal favorites to fry in lard are pork cutlets and french fries, obviously. (Fun fact: the original McDonald’s fries were fried in tallow, which is the lard equivalent from cows.)
2) Use lard for seasoning cast iron. Thanks to its high smoke point, lard is my favorite fat to use when re-seasoning my cast iron. I simply wash and dry my pan well, place it (dry) on a stove burner on med-high, allow it to completely dry out and warm up, then apply a thin layer of lard with a paper towel. Leave the pan on the burner until it soaks in some, then remove it from the heat and set it aside to finish drying.
3) Use lard to help your meat rubs stick and keep your meat juicier. Instead of slathering your meat with liquid oils before rubbing it with your favorite meat rub, try using lard. It will melt as the meat cooks, keeping your meat super tender and making it oh-so-flavorful.
Go here for my directions on how to make a meat rub that will be your forever favorite.
4) Use lard in place of butter (or liquid oil) in literally any recipe. Seriously, it’s that simple. If a recipe calls for a liquid oil, simply melt your lard and use it 1-1 as a replacement for oil. To use lard as a replacement for butter, store it in the fridge so it’s nice and cold, and replace butter at a 1-1 ratio. My favorite things? Chocolate chip cookies baked with lard, biscuits, pie crusts, and I always use lard for making these homemade tortillas made with fresh flour.
5) Use lard as a spoon and board butter. I don’t know about you, but my wooden kitchen utensils can use some love from time to time. It’s a great idea to use a cream or butter to help them last a long time. I use this recipe using lard.
6) Use lard on grilled cheese sandwiches instead of butter. My husband loves a good grilled cheese sandwich, but with the prices of butter these days (especially high-quality butter!), I feel much better about giving him a lunch with an added dose of minerals from lard. Plus, it tastes really good, too.
7) Use lard in tamales or refried beans (the way the Mexican restaurants do).
8) Use lard to make roux to thicken soups, stews, and gravies. My go-to roux is simply melted lard, add your flour into the lard on medium heat, whisking, allow it to cook for a minute (nobody likes raw flour taste!), then add milk, whisk until smooth, and you’re on your way to remarkably thick soups and gravies.
9) Use lard to make caramelized onions (instead of butter). The best onions you’ll ever eat are just a jar of lard away. (I made a caramelized onion baked chicken last week using lard in place of butter and my husband claimed they were the “best onions he’d ever had” and that he “wanted to put these onions on everything he eats from now on.” So, yeah, they were good.)
10) Use lard in Yorkshire pudding (this is a great way to use lard because of its high smoke point).
11) Use lard in mashed potatoes for a fatty, bacon-y flavor vs butter. What can go wrong with creamy mashed potatoes + pork fat? The answer is nothing. Aside from Aunt Susan will want your recipe and you’ll have to answer a million questions about lard at the Christmas dinner table. Ha.
More like 11 ways to use lard in baking & cooking:
- Complete Guide to Pork Lard
- Are Lard and Tallow Good fat?
- How to Bake with Lard (and why you should!)
- Chocolate Chip Cookies Made With Lard
- Complete Guide to Rendering Lard
