Shelf Life of Lard?

[Mr_Dove]

What is the effective shelf life of lard under ideal conditions?

[Andy M.]

Forever, if frozen.

I'd guess, months in the fridge.

[Robo410]

it can go rancid so keep it cool and covered
(all oils can)

[Michael in FtW]

Treat it like Crisco or unsalted butter .... on the shelf (after being opened) figure on 4-6 months, refrigerated after opening up to about 9-10 months - frozen about 2 years.

[velochic]

Not very long if you have a mouse.

We learned that 1). Mice like lard; 2). It's best kept somewhere other than the kitchen counter and 3). It's a great bait to catch mice. (The mouse is now an ex-mouse.)

Back on topic... you got great advice on duration. Here's a thought on storage. Depending on how much you have and if it's something you've rendered and haven't bought, a good way to store it is using ice cube trays. You can fill them a little less than half way, or about a tablespoon each, freeze and then store in freezer zip bags like ice cubes. You can pull one out when it's needed.

[bethzaring]

I have been told that lard will go rancid in the freezer, after say, about one year. Does anyone know know if that is true? I have lard in the freezer that has been there for about 15 months. And I also have lard in the frig the same length of time. I have not noticed the lard in the frig being rancid, but I am thinking about giving the whole lot to the birds.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Michael in FtW

Treat it like Crisco or unsalted butter .... on the shelf (after being opened) figure on 4-6 months, refrigerated after opening up to about 9-10 months - frozen about 2 years.

I'm with Michael on this. After opening my lard (aka shortening) I leave mine on the shelf for a few months, reuse it, and I haven't died yet , I discard it after a few months.

[scott123]

Crisco is oil that's been chemically altered to make it impervious to air/oxidation/randicity. It lasts for years.

Most commercial lard has been hydrogenated in the same fashion.

Butter, on the other hand, not only contains a less saturated/less impervious fat, it contains milk solids that make is especially prone to decay. Crisco/lard- sold at room temp. Butter is sold in the refrigerated case. That should tell you something. Butter can't stand a chance at room temp but criso/lard can.

Fats absorb odors. If you store lard in the freezer, it will absorb the freezer odor. If you're ever curious what 'freezer odor' tastes like, make up a batch of ice cubes, let them thaw/come to room temp and have a sip. That's the taste of freezer odor. That's the taste that you're adding to the outside of your lard.

I store my butter in the freezer, but I leave it in the package and make sure to use it within a month. With lard, it's shelf life is so long, freezing it is silly. Just store it in a clean, dry place, away from strong odors.

[Michael in FtW]

Originally Posted by scott123

Crisco is oil that's been chemically altered to make it impervious to air/oxidation/randicity. It lasts for years..

The "chemical process" is hydrogenation (hot oil is pumped into a tank containing nickle and hydrogen gas is bubbled through it until it reaches a specific concentration - then it is filtered to remove the nickle and whipped to introduce about 20% air by volume as it cools and is then deposited into containers while still soft). Since vegetable oils are low in saturated fats - they are liquid at room temp - hydrogenation alters a portion of the mono and poly unsaturated fats to mimic saturated fats (these are the trans fats) and cause them to be solid at room temp.

Crisco is only "partially" hydrogenated (not all of the mono and poly unsaturated fatty acids have been converted from CIS to Trans configuration) - therefore it is not impervious to oxidation or rancidity - although it is somewhat reduced. Crisco will, depending on how many times the can is opened and exposed to oxygen, go rancid in 12-18 months - not a matter of years.

Originally Posted by scott123

Most commercial lard has been hydrogenated in the same fashion..

True - of most TUB lard you find on supermarket shelves (like Armour). Another lard varient is "leaf" lard - and there are two kinds ... one refers to the lard from around the kidneys and the other is uses to refer to lard that has been rendered and filtered and formed into blocks like butter - and is in the refrigerated case with the butter - not on a shelf in a bucket like Crisco.

Originally Posted by scott123

Butter, on the other hand, not only contains a less saturated/less impervious fat, it contains milk solids that make is especially prone to decay. Crisco/lard- sold at room temp. Butter is sold in the refrigerated case. That should tell you something. Butter can't stand a chance at room temp but criso/lard can.

Different fats have different melting points and melting ranges - butter has a very low melting point and narrow melting range - Crisco and lard have higher melting points and a broader melting range - which is why when you're looking for both flakey and tender in a recipe for something like a pie crust you will see both used. Actually - regarding saturated fats - butter is about 62% with 33 mg/tbsp cholesterol - lard is only about 40% with 12 mg/tbsp cholesterol.

I try to watch my fat intake (regardless of the source - animal or vegetable) but knowing the facts is why I don't freak out when I use lard once in a while. The lard that goes into the biscuits is probably healthier for me than the butter I'll definately put on them with a more liberal hand.