Piggleston PecanpantsJan 22, 2024
The first step in turning bacon fat into lard for #SoapMaking is to clean the grease, aka render it.
Place grease into a pot with twice as much water as grease. Bring to a boil and boil for 15 minutes, until grease and water are well combined. Don't allow this mixture to boil over or you'll start a fire. After boiling, refrigerate until the grease hardens. The grease will float to the top and the water and impurities will sink. Scoop the grease from the top and save it. Discard the dirty water.
Show threadPiggleston PecanpantsJan 22, 2024
Since I boil my grease in a large stockpot it's easiest to carry the pot outside into the cold winter environment instead of placing it in the refrigerator. If you live in a warm environment you may need to render small amounts at a time in order to fit it into your refrigerator.
The grease should be rendered at least three, if not more, times until the odor is neutral and no impurities remain. #SoapMaking #DIY
Show threadPiggleston PecanpantsJan 22, 2024
This thread will be added to as I complete each step so expect a post or more a day. Please mute #soap if you have no interest. It may be a few days until I post to it again as I am busy rendering my grease into lard.
Show threadPiggleston PecanpantsMar 3, 2024
I haven't forgotten that I was detailing the rendering of bacon grease into a fat to make soap from. I just got involved in other things. Today I rendered the grease a sixth time. Though it's clean now, it still smells like bacon so doubtless, I'll render it some more.
Show threadPiggleston PecanpantsMay 9, 2024
After much delay, I have finally finished rendering my bacon grease into fat for soap making. I rendered it eight times. It's now free of impurities and virtually scent free. Soon I'll make more soap. #SoapMaking #BaconGrease #rendering
Show threadcwicseolfor (has moved!)May 11, 2024
@LilPecan Anytime I see this level of conservation it makes me absurdly happy. Brainstorming situations where it'd be possible to do this on waste-heat....
Show threadPiggleston PecanpantsMay 11, 2024
@cwicseolfor I'm big into trying to do my part. I can't stand waste. Some of my best ideas come from trying to find another use for what would otherwise be waste.
Good luck with your project!
Show threadcwicseolfor (has moved!)
@LilPecan Likewise! It demands much of creativity. I have a minor obsession with an ideal of non-waste, which I hated having no positive term for - always identifying an idea by its converse is a trap, I think. Totally circular, ideally elegant conservation in which all outputs can be inputs to something. A friend came up with "eufficiency" and I like that quite a lot.
May 11, 2024 at 10:59pmWeb