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Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: predatorG on July 21, 2021, 03:24:16 PM


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Title: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: predatorG on July 21, 2021, 03:24:16 PM
I killed one a couple years ago during early archery elk. It had an unseasonably large amount of fat on him. I probably won’t be in state enough to hunt them this year, but the question of rendering fat has always been in my mind. I see lots of people talk about it on here. Is it really worth it? I think I’ve mixed some bear in with deer sausages, but have never rendered the fat just for the sake of having it. Pros? Cons? I’d love to know.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Special T on July 21, 2021, 03:27:41 PM
I killed one a couple years ago during early archery elk. It had an unseasonably large amount of fat on him. I probably won’t be in state enough to hunt them this year, but the question of rendering fat has always been in my mind. I see lots of people talk about it on here. Is it really worth it? I think I’ve mixed some bear in with deer sausages, but have never rendered the fat just for the sake of having it. Pros? Cons? I’d love to know.

My wife has made soaps out of it. Lots of folks use it in baking. If you going to use it as a leader conditioner then yes as well.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Katmai Guy on July 21, 2021, 03:28:30 PM
Grandma thought so, made the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had!  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on July 21, 2021, 03:37:27 PM
Yes 100%!!   

It is great for cooking, baking and leather conditioning.   I haven’t used it for anything else but it is a huge hit in my house.   
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Jonathan_S on July 21, 2021, 04:05:05 PM
Crime not to!
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: MtnMuley on July 21, 2021, 04:17:00 PM
I'd rather have 5 lbs of rendered bear fat than 5 lbs of bear tenderloin/backstraps. Best pie/pastry crusts bar none. Leftovers can be rubbed into boot leather.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Farmer72 on July 21, 2021, 04:24:18 PM
We used it to waterproof leather boot. And it worked good on my bicycle chain.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: huntnnw on July 21, 2021, 04:42:27 PM
100% up to you. If you have a use for it then yes. If you have no use then no
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Okanagan on July 21, 2021, 07:07:12 PM
A French chef told my mother that bear fat is the finest pastry shortening in the world.  We use it in every pie crust.  People always ask how we get such light flaky pie crust.  Rendered pure bear lard is a major factor, though I add in some butter for its flavor.

Bear meat runs the widest gamut of excellent to bad flavor of any animal I’ve eaten enough times to base my opinion on a sample of many animals.  I will pass on bear meat rather than play Russian roulette flavors.  Most bear is good.   
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: predatorG on July 22, 2021, 05:20:53 AM
A French chef told my mother that bear fat is the finest pastry shortening in the world.  We use it in every pie crust.  People always ask how we get such light flaky pie crust.  Rendered pure bear lard is a major factor, though I add in some butter for its flavor.

Bear meat runs the widest gamut of excellent to bad flavor of any animal I’ve eaten enough times to base my opinion on a sample of many animals.  I will pass on bear meat rather than play Russian roulette flavors.  Most bear is good.

Luckily none of our bears feed on salmon. Sweet meat like huckleberries  :drool:
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: hunter399 on July 22, 2021, 05:41:31 AM
A French chef told my mother that bear fat is the finest pastry shortening in the world.  We use it in every pie crust.  People always ask how we get such light flaky pie crust.  Rendered pure bear lard is a major factor, though I add in some butter for its flavor.

Bear meat runs the widest gamut of excellent to bad flavor of any animal I’ve eaten enough times to base my opinion on a sample of many animals.  I will pass on bear meat rather than play Russian roulette flavors.  Most bear is good.

Luckily none of our bears feed on salmon. Sweet meat like huckleberries  :drool:
I was once told that some of the natives will park at the trash dump at night and shot bears.(on the reservation).
I bet those are some tasty ones.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Jonathan_S on July 22, 2021, 06:17:27 AM
While the flavor of meat does vary quite a bit, I've found the flavor to not be a gamble. It's extremely predictable based one where they are :dunno:
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: hunter399 on July 22, 2021, 06:25:26 AM
MMMMMMMM.........
Trash bear fat extra greasy ,just perfect.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Jonathan_S on July 22, 2021, 06:34:24 AM
Exactly, shooting a trash bear is extremely predictable to taste like trash.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: hunter399 on July 22, 2021, 06:36:30 AM
Exactly, shooting a trash bear is extremely predictable to taste like trash.
That's what a native friend told me years ago. He was offering for me to come try it out. I respectfully declined.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: trophyhunt on July 22, 2021, 06:44:40 AM
My spring bears have always been good, fall bears with berries all over, excellent.  Never did the fat thing though, guess I'll look into it.  But no way was I packing any extra weight out of the back country last year, think I had a slight heart attack packing that guy out alone.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: predatorG on July 22, 2021, 07:19:25 AM
My spring bears have always been good, fall bears with berries all over, excellent.  Never did the fat thing though, guess I'll look into it.  But no way was I packing any extra weight out of the back country last year, think I had a slight heart attack packing that guy out alone.

That definitely played a factor into my bear, nothing like shooting an animal deep down in a wet side hole to remind you why weights important. My brother and my dad each got one over the last couple years after I moved out... right behind our house. Unfair!
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: trophyhunt on July 22, 2021, 08:50:31 AM
Well, looks easy to render, just put in a crock pot on low and then strain out the fat chunks.  You guys eat the fat chunks? Wonder if they’d be good deep fried?
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: bustedoldman on July 22, 2021, 09:32:50 AM
Well, looks easy to render, just put in a crock pot on low and then strain out the fat chunks.  You guys eat the fat chunks? Wonder if they’d be good deep fried?

Bear cracklins are good....

https://hunttoeat.com/wild-food/recipes/rendered-bear-fat-cracklings/
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: 7t9cobra on July 22, 2021, 01:41:59 PM
I saved as much fat from my spring bear as possible (obviously I didn't get a whole lot) I rendered it down using a pot on the stove and I was surprised how easy it was and how nice it turned out. We've been cooking with it and my wife uses it on everything now. It's definitely worth doing. I will be rendering every piece of bear fat I can get from now on.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Twispriver on July 22, 2021, 03:03:44 PM
It's not worth it to me because we wouldn't use it but I've given a bunch of it away to people that do. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: C-Money on July 23, 2021, 11:31:41 AM
A friend got a bear years ago. I rubbed some raw bear fat into my everyday boots and they stayed soft and comfy for quite a long time.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on July 23, 2021, 11:57:48 AM
If anyone on the fence wants to try some bear fat….I will give you some.  I have some half pints frozen from last years bear that I will give away to people that want to try it.   We will be making more this year with our bears so I will have plenty. 

Clearly I will not ship and it has to be a face to face pick up.  Let me know.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: trophyhunt on July 23, 2021, 12:07:31 PM
If anyone on the fence wants to try some bear fat….I will give you some.  I have some half pints frozen from last years bear that I will give away to people that want to try it.   We will be making more this year with our bears so I will have plenty. 

Clearly I will not ship and it has to be a face to face pick up.  Let me know.
so do you rub the rendered fat on leather or the raw fat?
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on July 23, 2021, 12:14:39 PM
If anyone on the fence wants to try some bear fat….I will give you some.  I have some half pints frozen from last years bear that I will give away to people that want to try it.   We will be making more this year with our bears so I will have plenty. 

Clearly I will not ship and it has to be a face to face pick up.  Let me know.
so do you rub the rendered fat on leather or the raw fat?

Rendered so it does not stink like raw bear fat.  Also we cook with it a lot.   Come pick some up when your buying that rifle. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: trophyhunt on July 23, 2021, 12:15:58 PM
If anyone on the fence wants to try some bear fat….I will give you some.  I have some half pints frozen from last years bear that I will give away to people that want to try it.   We will be making more this year with our bears so I will have plenty. 

Clearly I will not ship and it has to be a face to face pick up.  Let me know.
so do you rub the rendered fat on leather or the raw fat?

Rendered so it does not stink like raw bear fat.  Also we cook with it a lot.   Come pick some up when your buying that rifle.
That is still for sale???  Wow, I would have thought someone would have jumped on that by now!!  These guys on here are so damn picky.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on July 23, 2021, 12:18:57 PM
If anyone on the fence wants to try some bear fat….I will give you some.  I have some half pints frozen from last years bear that I will give away to people that want to try it.   We will be making more this year with our bears so I will have plenty. 

Clearly I will not ship and it has to be a face to face pick up.  Let me know.
so do you rub the rendered fat on leather or the raw fat?

Rendered so it does not stink like raw bear fat.  Also we cook with it a lot.   Come pick some up when your buying that rifle.
That is still for sale???  Wow, I would have thought someone would have jumped on that by now!!  These guys on here are so damn picky.

Yeah not a lot of interest at this point.  Even offered up powder and bullets so someone could be loading ASAP. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: dilleytech on July 23, 2021, 01:43:20 PM
Yes it’s absolutely worth rendering. I don’t waste a ounce of fat in any of my bears. It’s a very high quality oil that is a good healthy high burning temp replacement for vegetable oil.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: dilleytech on July 23, 2021, 01:49:28 PM
I have been sampling a lot of bear in recent years and the only thing I like about shooting big bears is the fat. Small bears  are much better eating but they don’t have the same fat layer.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: logola512c on July 23, 2021, 04:07:46 PM
A French chef told my mother that bear fat is the finest pastry shortening in the world.  We use it in every pie crust.  People always ask how we get such light flaky pie crust.  Rendered pure bear lard is a major factor, though I add in some butter for its flavor.

Bear meat runs the widest gamut of excellent to bad flavor of any animal I’ve eaten enough times to base my opinion on a sample of many animals.  I will pass on bear meat rather than play Russian roulette flavors.  Most bear is good.

I got about 1.5 gallons of rendered bear fat from a big bear I shot last fall and it was really good for baking and just all around cooking use.  I especially enjoyed the flavor it added to muffins of all sorts.  I should add that I only harvest the berry-eating bears in the mountains, and they have all tasted good.  I am also really diligent about getting the meat cooled quickly and making sure there isn't any hair in it.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Seabass on July 24, 2021, 03:20:33 PM
Just recently learned that, at one point in our history, bear fat was so valuable it was used as currency and even had its own measurement for trade.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: WoodHacker on July 29, 2021, 05:44:20 PM
I would not let any of the fat go to waste. This one gave me 46 pints from about 50# of fat.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVtvQHUIhZOLQNv-JvhYIGWfTtB-eiP-6ej8GYGIr8ruPAgjWuryTR6Slu6qupkiFrxhJ3tXCLP4spBTpNckePhJ1ypiFsu5Jy45fD7RtvRhddOc1b3c1QZf_iv4pwo5V4B7IvdX3WGmfyBdJYVZuJgdQ=s810-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUq74MYl5VMdIcnRezB6yMTxKsxbpE3z6v6gpClEXOGJ_Cilw86pPFWgwYMegh323ga7PpmZy-L0-O_Gj9qECbhMaSCc1yJeavV8pvkS7G3Q6IMKguFnkiJ9t1ra3C2sC9FVTmORj6GYCUHU-TdJ0f-Ug=s810-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: hunter399 on July 29, 2021, 06:09:13 PM
I would not let any of the fat go to waste. This one gave me 46 pints from about 50# of fat.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVtvQHUIhZOLQNv-JvhYIGWfTtB-eiP-6ej8GYGIr8ruPAgjWuryTR6Slu6qupkiFrxhJ3tXCLP4spBTpNckePhJ1ypiFsu5Jy45fD7RtvRhddOc1b3c1QZf_iv4pwo5V4B7IvdX3WGmfyBdJYVZuJgdQ=s810-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUq74MYl5VMdIcnRezB6yMTxKsxbpE3z6v6gpClEXOGJ_Cilw86pPFWgwYMegh323ga7PpmZy-L0-O_Gj9qECbhMaSCc1yJeavV8pvkS7G3Q6IMKguFnkiJ9t1ra3C2sC9FVTmORj6GYCUHU-TdJ0f-Ug=s810-no?authuser=0)
That is Alot of bear grease 😲
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: krolelov on July 30, 2021, 09:11:36 AM
I would not let any of the fat go to waste. This one gave me 46 pints from about 50# of fat.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVtvQHUIhZOLQNv-JvhYIGWfTtB-eiP-6ej8GYGIr8ruPAgjWuryTR6Slu6qupkiFrxhJ3tXCLP4spBTpNckePhJ1ypiFsu5Jy45fD7RtvRhddOc1b3c1QZf_iv4pwo5V4B7IvdX3WGmfyBdJYVZuJgdQ=s810-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUq74MYl5VMdIcnRezB6yMTxKsxbpE3z6v6gpClEXOGJ_Cilw86pPFWgwYMegh323ga7PpmZy-L0-O_Gj9qECbhMaSCc1yJeavV8pvkS7G3Q6IMKguFnkiJ9t1ra3C2sC9FVTmORj6GYCUHU-TdJ0f-Ug=s810-no?authuser=0)
This looks amazing!
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: logola512c on July 30, 2021, 09:54:04 AM
I would not let any of the fat go to waste. This one gave me 46 pints from about 50# of fat.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVtvQHUIhZOLQNv-JvhYIGWfTtB-eiP-6ej8GYGIr8ruPAgjWuryTR6Slu6qupkiFrxhJ3tXCLP4spBTpNckePhJ1ypiFsu5Jy45fD7RtvRhddOc1b3c1QZf_iv4pwo5V4B7IvdX3WGmfyBdJYVZuJgdQ=s810-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUq74MYl5VMdIcnRezB6yMTxKsxbpE3z6v6gpClEXOGJ_Cilw86pPFWgwYMegh323ga7PpmZy-L0-O_Gj9qECbhMaSCc1yJeavV8pvkS7G3Q6IMKguFnkiJ9t1ra3C2sC9FVTmORj6GYCUHU-TdJ0f-Ug=s810-no?authuser=0)

Did you can it with a pressure cooker to keep it from going bad? 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on July 30, 2021, 10:21:46 AM
I would not let any of the fat go to waste. This one gave me 46 pints from about 50# of fat.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVtvQHUIhZOLQNv-JvhYIGWfTtB-eiP-6ej8GYGIr8ruPAgjWuryTR6Slu6qupkiFrxhJ3tXCLP4spBTpNckePhJ1ypiFsu5Jy45fD7RtvRhddOc1b3c1QZf_iv4pwo5V4B7IvdX3WGmfyBdJYVZuJgdQ=s810-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUq74MYl5VMdIcnRezB6yMTxKsxbpE3z6v6gpClEXOGJ_Cilw86pPFWgwYMegh323ga7PpmZy-L0-O_Gj9qECbhMaSCc1yJeavV8pvkS7G3Q6IMKguFnkiJ9t1ra3C2sC9FVTmORj6GYCUHU-TdJ0f-Ug=s810-no?authuser=0)

Did you can it with a pressure cooker to keep it from going bad?

We freeze ours to keep it good.  Curious if canning is an option. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: logola512c on July 30, 2021, 10:48:52 AM
Do you freeze it in jars or vacuum sealed bags?  I saw jars in the original post and immediately thought canning since I always think of jars breaking in the freezer.  But maybe that's not true with rendered fat? 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: NRA4LIFE on July 30, 2021, 10:51:32 AM
If you use real canning jars (not mayo or others) they will not break in the freezer.  I've frozen just about every imaginable substance in canning jars, including bear lard.

Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on July 30, 2021, 11:00:11 AM
Yeah we use canning jars (1/2 pint) for our lard and they have not broken in our freezer.  Works great als last a very long time. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: dilleytech on July 30, 2021, 12:33:55 PM
Do you freeze it in jars or vacuum sealed bags?  I saw jars in the original post and immediately thought canning since I always think of jars breaking in the freezer.  But maybe that's not true with rendered fat?

Jars break due to the expansion of water when it freezes. Oil doesn’t expand at all. It will actually create a seal when the oil cools. I have frozen hundreds of jars with bear oil and haven't had any break. Every now and then I try freezing canned stock and get reminded why you don’t do that without leaving the jar loose.

Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: logola512c on July 30, 2021, 12:45:49 PM
Do you freeze it in jars or vacuum sealed bags?  I saw jars in the original post and immediately thought canning since I always think of jars breaking in the freezer.  But maybe that's not true with rendered fat?

Jars break due to the expansion of water when it freezes. Oil doesn’t expand at all. It will actually create a seal when the oil cools. I have frozen hundreds of jars with bear oil and haven't had any break. Every now and then I try freezing canned stock and get reminded why you don’t do that without leaving the jar loose.

That's helpful.  I think I've tried it with bone broth in jars and ended up with broken jars.  Makes sense that rendered fat wouldn't expand the same.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: krolelov on August 02, 2021, 10:53:00 AM
Clay Newcomb claims that bear grease may be stored at room temp for 1.5 years without spoiling. I keep mine in the freezer and I am happy with the results.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: logola512c on August 02, 2021, 04:39:11 PM
Clay Newcomb claims that bear grease may be stored at room temp for 1.5 years without spoiling. I keep mine in the freezer and I am happy with the results.

The last jar of mine started to go rancid in the refrigerator after about 6 months.  Maybe it was contaminated somehow -- started to turn black from the bottom of the jar in a part that hadn't been exposed to air?  But hard to believe that could be the case since it went straight from the slow simmer pot (through a cheesecloth screen) into a clean jar...
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 06, 2023, 06:07:27 PM
I just tried my hand at rendering bear fat.  I saved about 8 pints of fat and got about 5.5 pint of lard.  I was surprised that the rendering process was mostly oderless (a little like browning burger on a skillet.).  The finished lard has zero oder.

I will have to try making some biscuits with it.

I noticed it only stays semi-solid at room temp.  Does that sound  about right? 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on November 06, 2023, 06:40:17 PM
I just tried my hand at rendering bear fat.  I saved about 8 pints of fat and got about 5.5 pint of lard.  I was surprised that the rendering process was mostly oderless (a little like browning burger on a skillet.).  The finished lard has zero oder.

I will have to try making some biscuits with it.

I noticed it only stays semi-solid at room temp.  Does that sound  about right?

That sounds correct....hard as a rock when frozen, at room temp it is like scooping a sherbet.  It hardens up in the fridge but is easily managed.  We freeze our pints and keep one in the fridge.  As we use that one up we rotate.  If I need it soft, I take it out of the fridge and leave it for an hour. 

We also have one in the fridge that is used exclusively for leather boots, gloves, belts, etc.  Use an old rag and store the jar and rag in a ziplock for whenever we want to touch our leather. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 06, 2023, 08:10:01 PM
Good deal!  Thanks
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jamesfromseattle on November 06, 2023, 09:54:23 PM
Does anyone use it to mix with their venison burger?
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on November 06, 2023, 09:58:19 PM
Does anyone use it to mix with their venison burger?

I don’t mix it with my burger, will absolutely use it in the cast iron to cook my burger (ground or patty) in.  I use it as a cooking oil, like I would any other oil.   
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: MeepDog on November 06, 2023, 10:40:40 PM
Does anyone use it to mix with their venison burger?
I've heard it doesn't freeze well unrendered and will spoil. If you render it will keep forever but I wouldn't put rendered fat into sausage either. I stick to pork back fat.

That being said the only experience I've had with bear fat going sour was on a back ham in a freezer. The properties don't seem that dissimilar to pork I'm just going off what I've been told. If you test it please report back in a year.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jamesfromseattle on November 07, 2023, 06:22:37 AM
Does anyone use it to mix with their venison burger?
I've heard it doesn't freeze well unrendered and will spoil. If you render it will keep forever but I wouldn't put rendered fat into sausage either. I stick to pork back fat.

That being said the only experience I've had with bear fat going sour was on a back ham in a freezer. The properties don't seem that dissimilar to pork I'm just going off what I've been told. If you test it please report back in a year.

Awesome, thanks. That reasoning makes sense. I’m still looking for my first bear (and I’m running out of daylight this season), but a guy can dream.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on November 08, 2023, 10:30:31 AM
Exactly, shooting a trash bear is extremely predictable to taste like trash.
That's what a native friend told me years ago. He was offering for me to come try it out. I respectfully declined.
.
Late 70's and early 80's we used to shoot rats at the Darrington dump.
.
Saw lots of bear..
Honestly, wouldn't want to eat one, and it was usually not season...
But they sure had nice coats .
.
Honestly, they are so much thicker in the winter..,
.
And, yes.. I'm saying we saw bear in the winter.
They were not "sluggish" at all..
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 08, 2023, 12:20:52 PM
Bears are not true hibernators as I think we all know.  I have seen them walking around on frozen lakes in the middle of January. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: lokidog on November 08, 2023, 09:24:06 PM
It is absolutely worth it! Makes amazing soap, waterproofing, pastry, etc.

And, my dogs love the "chitlins" left over as treats.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 09, 2023, 05:39:16 AM
Is it supposed to reach a simmer when it is done?  I had a few bubbles showing, but kept the temp at 200 or lower during the 7 hours.

Mine is pretty much half liquid at room temp and I am expecting it to be more like warm butter at room temp.

Perhaps I need to re heat it and get it to a simmer (but not a boil)
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on November 09, 2023, 07:11:23 AM
Mine is definitely at a simmer with small bubbles for the last hour or two.   After cooling it is white as snow. 

Have you put it in the fridge or freezer to solidify it?   I bet if you did that it would be fine.  You don’t want to leave it at room temp or it will go rancid.  Store in the fridge or freezer. 

How much water did you add to the pot when you started the process???  I would think after 7 hours it was all evaporated off.  I only add 1/4 ish inch to the bottom of the stock pot. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: dreadi on November 09, 2023, 08:55:54 AM
It is absolutely worth it! Makes amazing soap, waterproofing, pastry, etc.

And, my dogs love the "chitlins" left over as treats.
How do you get pig intestines from bear fat?


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Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 09, 2023, 09:06:36 AM
Mine is definitely at a simmer with small bubbles for the last hour or two.   After cooling it is white as snow. 

Have you put it in the fridge or freezer to solidify it?   I bet if you did that it would be fine.  You don’t want to leave it at room temp or it will go rancid.  Store in the fridge or freezer. 

How much water did you add to the pot when you started the process???  I would think after 7 hours it was all evaporated off.  I only add 1/4 ish inch to the bottom of the stock pot.

It solidifies up in the fridge.  I took one out for the night and the top 1/3 was back to clear liquid, with the bottom 2/3's white and somewhat solid, but not solid.

I actually did not add any water - I just ran the fat thru a fine grinder and put the resulting mush into the pot - it liquified pretty fast and I kept it well stirred so it would not burn into the bottom of the pot.

I am wondering if only letting it get to 195ish degrees somehow did not allow it to finish the rendering process.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: tvandy45 on November 10, 2023, 08:59:12 AM
My buddy shot an oregon coastal black bear in 2022 that had been eating nothing but blackberries all september - we probably got 30 pounds worth of fat and rendered all of it. I'm not much of a baker so I cant speak to pastries but I love searing my steaks with it as well as making soups. You can even get the smallest hint of blackberry if you get the right bite. If I pressure can my deer/elk meat ill throw rendered fat in each jar to give it some additional moisture as well

Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on November 10, 2023, 09:02:22 AM
Mine is definitely at a simmer with small bubbles for the last hour or two.   After cooling it is white as snow. 

Have you put it in the fridge or freezer to solidify it?   I bet if you did that it would be fine.  You don’t want to leave it at room temp or it will go rancid.  Store in the fridge or freezer. 

How much water did you add to the pot when you started the process???  I would think after 7 hours it was all evaporated off.  I only add 1/4 ish inch to the bottom of the stock pot.

It solidifies up in the fridge.  I took one out for the night and the top 1/3 was back to clear liquid, with the bottom 2/3's white and somewhat solid, but not solid.

I actually did not add any water - I just ran the fat thru a fine grinder and put the resulting mush into the pot - it liquified pretty fast and I kept it well stirred so it would not burn into the bottom of the pot.

I am wondering if only letting it get to 195ish degrees somehow did not allow it to finish the rendering process.

I’m gonna leave some set out and bring it to room temp and see what it does.   I can’t say I ever leave mine out of the fridge long enough to know.   I’ll run the experiment and get back to you.   It may be normal. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 10, 2023, 09:20:36 AM
Mine is definitely at a simmer with small bubbles for the last hour or two.   After cooling it is white as snow. 

Have you put it in the fridge or freezer to solidify it?   I bet if you did that it would be fine.  You don’t want to leave it at room temp or it will go rancid.  Store in the fridge or freezer. 

How much water did you add to the pot when you started the process???  I would think after 7 hours it was all evaporated off.  I only add 1/4 ish inch to the bottom of the stock pot.

It solidifies up in the fridge.  I took one out for the night and the top 1/3 was back to clear liquid, with the bottom 2/3's white and somewhat solid, but not solid.

I actually did not add any water - I just ran the fat thru a fine grinder and put the resulting mush into the pot - it liquified pretty fast and I kept it well stirred so it would not burn into the bottom of the pot.

I am wondering if only letting it get to 195ish degrees somehow did not allow it to finish the rendering process.

I’m gonna leave some set out and bring it to room temp and see what it does.   I can’t say I ever leave mine out of the fridge long enough to know.   I’ll run the experiment and get back to you.   It may be normal.

Thanks!  Greatly appreciated
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: dreadi on November 11, 2023, 09:38:58 PM
A friend in camp got a bear opening day of modern elk. About 30lbs of fat was trimmed off that bear. Post season it was ground and put into two slow cookers and strained through cheese cloth. 3.75 gallons of bear oil was made.


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Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: boneaddict on November 12, 2023, 07:33:34 AM
I have never done this.    8)
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on November 16, 2023, 02:16:10 PM
Sorry for the delay….deer season got in the way.  Got home yesterday and pulled two bear grease jars out (one from the freezer and one from the fridge) from different bears.  Let both come to room temperature and evaluated.   Both came to room temperature and neither had separation.  The consistency is that of a slushy drink (closest I could get as an example).   

Here are a few pics.  House temp is 68 degrees.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 16, 2023, 06:12:34 PM
Deer season is a much higher priority for sure.

Thanks for checking.  Mine is similar-perhaps a bit more liquid than a slurpy.

Seems like it is good to go.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on November 16, 2023, 06:15:19 PM
Just fried up blackstrap tonight using bear grease….. delicious. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 17, 2023, 06:10:35 AM
I was thinking of trying cast iron biscuits with bear grease rather than butter.    Recipe calls for 6 tablespoons of frozen butter.  I wonder if it is a 1:1 substitution if I use Bear grease instead.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: lokidog on November 18, 2023, 11:19:42 PM
It is absolutely worth it! Makes amazing soap, waterproofing, pastry, etc.

And, my dogs love the "chitlins" left over as treats.
How do you get pig intestines from bear fat?


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Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: lokidog on November 18, 2023, 11:20:37 PM
Just fried up blackstrap tonight using bear grease….. delicious.

 :tup:
Title: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: dreadi on November 19, 2023, 12:07:26 AM
It is absolutely worth it! Makes amazing soap, waterproofing, pastry, etc.

And, my dogs love the "chitlins" left over as treats.
How do you get pig intestines from bear fat?


BLACK HAMMER ARMS
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Do you not nderstand how qutes work in this situation?  :dunno: :rolleyes:
No, I’m not familiar with “qutes”.


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Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on November 19, 2023, 05:12:27 PM
I was thinking of trying cast iron biscuits with bear grease rather than butter.    Recipe calls for 6 tablespoons of frozen butter.  I wonder if it is a 1:1 substitution if I use Bear grease instead.

Tried my hand at bear grease biscuits tonight and they turned out great.   Used the meateater recipe and it worked great.   A little bit of tweaking and it will be even better.   
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: slowreflexes on November 22, 2023, 06:54:27 PM
I have made several batches of biscuits with bear grease and I prefer it over crisco.

I use 2 cups of self rising flour, 1 cup of buttermilk, ~2 tablespoons of bear grease, and some salt.

Mix the flour, salt, and bear grease first, then add the milk. Bake at 400-420 for at least 20 min.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rob on November 23, 2023, 07:16:26 AM
Made my first batch of bear grease biscuits this morning.  Best biscuits I have ever made!
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on November 23, 2023, 07:41:09 AM
Made my first batch of bear grease biscuits this morning.  Best biscuits I have ever made!

Yeah, I agree….delicious!!   Those look good.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: Rainier10 on November 27, 2023, 06:05:44 PM
Cleaned up. Let’s keep it civil.
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: jrebel on December 13, 2023, 06:21:47 PM
Bear grease biscuit pinwheels.  Delicious, and easy to make.   The gravy is a white gravy with peas  :drool: :drool:

Could be customized to just about any meat and toppings.   I want to do a breakfast sausage….white gravy (breakfast) and an over easy egg.   Just sounds right. 
Title: Re: Is bear fat worth rendering?
Post by: dilleytech on December 27, 2023, 09:16:18 AM
If you take your bear fat and cut it into little cubes and render it in a pot you will end up with pure oil and not the slushy, lumpy stuff guys are describing. All the cubes turn to the best little cracklings you have had. Best cooking oil for sure.
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