Big Game Hunting > Bear Hunting
Rendered Bear Grease
jrebel:
For those on the fence.......rendering your bear fat to make lard / bear grease is easy and super amazing. I have been waiting to kill a bear with enough fat to make it worth my time. Well this year I did just that. I rendered the fat and have about 12 pints of the whitest grease a person could ask for. I have used it to cook with and thus far no one in my family has complained. I use it in my cast iron pans to cook up deer tenderloin and........it was mouth watering good. :drool: :drool: :drool:
Absolutely no game flavor or smell. If anything it smells a little like the wild plums the bear had been eating...a slight sweet smell to it. I will be doing this with every bear I kill that has a decent amount of fat.
How I did it for those on that want to try.
1. cut all the clean fat off the bear while butchering. No blood shot fat, no hair, no anything nasty.
2. Trim as much meat off fat.
3. Put fat in freezer / fridge to harden a little.
4. Grind fat through grinder once.
5. In a pot big enough for all the fat, ad 1/2 cut of water and start warming on the lowest setting your stove top has.
6. Add about a cup of ground fat to the pot and let it start to render. When it starts to liquify, add additional fat and stir.
7. Stir occasionally and let the fat render. This will literally take hours. Mine took 7-8 hours before it started to bubble just a little bit.
8. Strain through three layers of cheesecloth into jars you want to store grease in.
9. Let it cool, put a lid on it and store in a freezer.
The video I watched and learned from was using leaf lard from a pig. It recommended the low and slow method over faster to keep the color bright white and not burn the lard causing it to turn colors. I may try a little warmer burner next time.....but definitely not to warm. I don't want it to ever boil or turn brown. The video stated the leaf lard from a pig has more Omega 3 fatty acids that fish when done on low heat.....not sure if the applies to a bear.
Everyone needs to do this.....it really is amazing and very easy.
callturner:
I use the same process without grinding it.
Skywagon_185:
Bear grease makes the very best boot grease that exists!! Mix with equal parts of beeswax, neatsfoot oil and bear grease and apply warm. Excellent waterproofing. My mom claimed it was also the best fat to use for piecrusts. Ya, I'm an old timer. Pure pork lard is a close second.
Mike
h3x0ctb1n:
Want to do this so bad! I need a bear first...
Sutherland:
That sounds amazing I must try this is I can get the time to find a bear this year! Thanks for the detailed instructions Jreble!