Lard for Goatmilk Soap

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You all have been so much help in the past. This question probably sounds strange to those of you who know but...my goats are now having their babies and we just had our pig butchered, so I want to try making goatmilk soap. I have some books and some information I got from the forum, but my question is-- when I get my lard back from my butcher, do I render it before I use it to make the soap? I think I should, but didn't know for sure. Thanks, Marilyn

-- Marilyn Gray (dgray2@leru.net), April 12, 2002

Answers

If it comes back as lard, then it is already rendered. You render the pig fat to make lard.

-- Marci in NE Ohio (Marci@amazinggrazefarm.com), April 12, 2002.

Unless it looks like crisco when you get it back, you've got a project on your hands.

I'm stewing down some lard now. = ) One of the easiest methods I'm using is to load down a big pan with the trimmings, add plenty of water, and put the pan in the oven, at 250 degrees. It's slow, but I haven't had to do anything but peek at it from time to time. If you're using a pan with a thin bottom, set it on some cast iron, to keep it from developing hot spots and sticking. For stovetop rendering, use pots with heavy bottoms, and keep plenty of water in it until after you strain out the solids. A slow stewing process doesn't get you cracklings, but I'm figuring I'm getting ALL of the lard out, the trimmings have just gone to mush, and the non fat solids settle into the water.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), April 12, 2002.


Here are two web sites that give instructions for rendering the fat. Both are great resources. -m

Kathy Miller's soap page http://users.silverlink.net/~timer/pennwaltetc.html

Walton Feed -Soap page http://waltonfeed.com/old/soap/soaprend.html

-- Margarete (forpippin@earthlink.net), April 12, 2002.


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