Render Fat to Make Soap at Home

Reader Contribution by Tammy Kimbler
article image
Tammy Kimbler

Learn how to render fat to make soap at home from tallow and lard. This frugal use of extra animal fat produces enough soap for a family of four for one year.

Our family prides itself on being frugal. We buy whole portions of grass-fed and pastured meat every year from our local family farm here in Minnesota. We don’t just get the choice bits either; we get almost the entire animal. That includes bones, organs, heads, tails, and feet. It also includes the fat: tallow from the beef and lard from the hogs. I use the lard in cooking, particularly for deep-frying and pastries, and both the lard and the tallow are great for candles, balms, and soap.

While making soap is not technically cooking, it was traditionally in the arsenal of old-fashioned women’s home arts. Soap is a natural extension of preservation, making use of what you have to the fullest extent possible for use in the future. Making soap is also a sustainable endeavor, using a local product like animal fat instead of buying soap made with exotic oils shipped halfway around the world. It takes fewer resources, and you have the benefit of knowing exactly what’s in your soap product.

Preparing Fat for Rendering

I had several pounds of beef and pork fat in my freezer, conveniently ground for me by my butcher. After rendering each fat, straining stray meat particles, and then “washing” it in water to remove meaty flavors, the fat is ready to be turned into soap. This can be done well ahead of time, with the fat being stored in the freezer for further use.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368