National Lard Day 2023: Date, History and Amazing facts about Lard

National Lard Day 2023: Every year on December 8, people celebrate National Lard Day. Lard, once disapproved of for many years, is making a comeback as a healthier alternative to butter and processed oils. Discover how to incorporate lard into your regular cooking on this day, from baking and frying to straightforward pan searing.

Because of its versatility, lard can be used in any kind of food. Furthermore, lard undergoes less processing than other artificial trans fats. Find out more about the advantages of this animal fat for your health in today’s food culture.

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The National Lard Day History

For centuries, pig fat has been a common ingredient in many types of cooking. It was actually thought to be just as valuable as pork itself. Lard gained the same level of popularity as butter in the 19th century. North America and Europe saw a sharp increase in its popularity, and its supply and demand peaked.

Due to its greater availability and lower cost, lard replaced butter and vegetable oils as the most popular fat substitute by the 20th century. But after claims that it was less healthy than other types of oil, lard’s reputation quickly suffered from negative press. The publication of Upton Sinclair’s book “The Jungle,” which fanned the flames even more, further damaged Lard’s reputation.

Vegetable shortening was first introduced in the early 1900s as a response to the negative publicity surrounding pig fat. This allowed vegetable oils to be used as a solid fat that was perfect for baking. The German chemist E.C. Kayser was the one who formally presented this innovation to the food industry. He presented the fat ball to Procter & Gamble in 1907.

It cooked and appeared like lard, but it didn’t contain any pig fat. It was hydrogenated cottonseed oil instead. This innovation gave rise to the well-known product Crisco, which completely revolutionized cooking.

Crisco was mostly used as a lard substitute in June 1911. It took over American cuisine culture gradually but surely, and by the 1960s, it was a mainstay in every home. By now, lard had been substituted nearly completely.

Only in the 1990s did chefs and food experts rediscover the distinctive qualities of lard. This comeback coincided with the identification of the negative trans fat content in vegetable oil. Lard’s appeal persisted into the 2000s, and the culinary industries in North America and Europe are once more in need of it.

National Day Of Lard Day Events

Purchase lard at the nearby market.

You can help local farmers by purchasing lard from the market. Both the local economy and the lard industry will benefit from this.

Savor a platter of fried chicken that is crispy.

Fried chicken is among the dishes that use lard the most frequently. Fried chicken is the best when it’s juicy and crispy. It can be elevated to a whole new level with the help of lard.

Make your preferred dessert.

Not all cooking uses for lard are savory. It’s also renowned for giving pie crusts a flakier texture and a deeper flavor. Lard makes a great replacement for butter in baking, whether it’s for pastries, cakes, or pies.

Five Amazing Facts About Lard

It contains big, fat crystals.

Lard has big fat crystals that are perfect for shortening, unlike oil.

It smokes at a high point.

Lard has a higher smoking point than butter.

It doesn’t require refrigeration.

Solid fat can be kept at room temperature.

Lard has passed its expiry date.

The shelf life of lard is only a few months after it is manufactured.

A fantastic lard substitute is leaf lard.

Leaf lard is a type produced from the kidneys of pigs.

Why this day is great

It’s a novel concept.

Lard is a novel substitute for butter that you might want to try if you grew up using it in your food. It is not only less expensive, but it is also barely processed.

It adds richness to everything.

Lard is the solution if you want to add more flavor to your food. Because of its increased fat content, food of all kinds tastes better, is richer, and is more decadent.

It is environmentally beneficial.

Because it doesn’t oxidize or degrade, lard produces fewer dangerous free radicals. When cooking at high temperatures, lard produces no carbon footprint, in contrast to other oils like extra virgin olive oil.

NATIONAL LARD DAY DATES