Animal Fats
What Are Animal Fats?
Animal fats are rendered from animal meat, such as beef, pork, and poultry. They are typically solid or semi-solid at room temperature due to their higher content of saturated fatty acids. Recent archaeological research has found evidence of the early rendering of edible fat from animal bones dating back 125,000 years.
Why Do People Choose Animal Fats?
Due to their long history in the human diet, animal fats often play important cultural and culinary roles in societies around the world.
From a taste standpoint, animal fats are often chosen because of their rich savory notes. Many chefs like working with animal fats, such as lard, because of the unique, umami flavor it imparts on foods. Their functionality traits include high smoke points and the ability to create flaky baked goods.
The Value of Animal Fats Beyond Nutrition
The business of turning the fatty scraps of animal meat into sellable and consumable fats is an incredibly important part of the beef and pork industries. Rendering can be considered one of the oldest recycling systems in history, creating a product from the meat not typically consumed. It greatly contributes to the economy of industries already working with such tight margins while significantly reducing food waste and playing a critical role in animal disease prevention.
Types of Animal Fats
Additional Animal Fat Expert Resources
North American Renderers Association
National Pork Board (Pork Checkoff)
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (Beef Checkoff)