Pork back fat source

[Stein]

Anyone know of a good source for pork back fat in the Everett-Mt. Vernon area?  I keep calling Sylvana, but they either don't have it or are not answering their phone.

I would drive a fair distance to get some, looking for 10-20 pounds.

[Twispriver]

You might try Del Fox Meats just north of Stanwood - they'll at least answer the phone

[Dansk]

Double DD meats in mountlake terrace... great place. A bit farther south but worth it.  I changed from del fox after it changed hands a few yrs back...

[nwwanderer]

You might consider shoulders at costco, probably cheaper, look for a fat one

[Hilltop123]

You might consider shoulders at costco, probably cheaper, look for a fat one

Cash and Carry is another source for pork butts and shoulders.

[Southpole]

You might consider shoulders at costco, probably cheaper, look for a fat one

Cash and Carry is another source for pork butts and shoulders.

  Silvana meats is super flakey these days. Cash and carry is what I’d do.

[Mech]

I am currently going though this right now.

I live on the Peninsula 25-30 percent of the time and the rest in rural California.
So yesterday I wanted to get some pig fat to make sausage today.

I’m new to this and didn’t think it would be a problem.
Eff me.
It can not be found easily.

On the Peninsula I have friends that raise pigs and they are in the know.
There are also several local butchers I can turn to.
Here in CA I have to drive near 3 hours round trip to the Central Valley to get to a good supplier because Safeway and all the chain stores think I’m nuts for wanting this.

So yesterday I sent the wife to Safeway to get one pound of pig fat.
She came back with 4 jars of organic pig fat 1/4 pound jars at $15 per 1/4 pound jar.
It looked like white cream that an idiot would buy.
It was one pound and cost $60 plus tax.
$15 a jar.
*censored* me!!!

She is now returning it today.

So I am now thinking of other options.
I could spend a half day going to and from the Central Valley, I could have it sent via mail from Washington or.... maybe I could buy one of them greasy ass briskets from Costco and use the fat I trim  off of it.
Will beef fat work?
Heck I don’t know, but I ain’t paying $60 a pound pound for snowflake type pork fat.

[Stein]

You might consider shoulders at costco, probably cheaper, look for a fat one

Cash and Carry is another source for pork butts and shoulders.

Yeah, I could do that, but I think the back fat is much better for charcuterie since it's a lot harder than other fat and doesn't smear as easily.  That, and there is the question of what to do with a ton of lean pork when you take all the fat off it.

I'll try a couple of the sources mentioned, thanks for the help guys.

[Angry Perch]

You might consider shoulders at costco, probably cheaper, look for a fat one

Cash and Carry is another source for pork butts and shoulders.

Yeah, I could do that, but I think the back fat is much better for charcuterie since it's a lot harder than other fat and doesn't smear as easily.  That, and there is the question of what to do with a ton of lean pork when you take all the fat off it.

I'll try a couple of the sources mentioned, thanks for the help guys.

You're absolutey right about that. Huge diifeerence. I get mine at Uwajimaya, but I know that doesn't help you up north.

[Carl]

Another vote for Double DD Meats in mountlake terrace.  Maybe someone that lives south will be traveling north and meet up with you.

I've purchased pork fat here 2 times before. They know what they're doing.

Carl

[lionhunter]

I buy pork fat at the local grocery store.  There’s a butcher in the meat shop there and he orders meat every week for the store.  He can order pig or beef fat in full 60 pound boxes.   Cost is around $1.00/ pound for pork fat and .60 cents/ pound for beef fat. Every store gets boxes of beef each week.  You gotta buy a full box but you can freeze the rest and sell to friends or use it next time.

[ganghis]

Probably not the answer you're looking for, but if you call the meat dept. at whole foods they'll often save pork fat trimmings for free on a certain day of the week (Wednesdays when I used to live in Seattle @ the Roosevelt Whole Foods).  Not much on an individual trip - maybe 2-3 lbs.  So it's just a cost benefit whether it's worth multiple trips vs. paying for it and going once.  I was just messing around with making 20 lbs of sausage at the time so it made sense.

[RobinHoodlum]

If you're looking specifically for pork back fat, which is the best for sausage making, try Island Grown Farmers Co-Op in Edison or Skagit River Ranch east of Sedro Woolley. Seasonally available and a bit expensive, but worth it.