Animal fat

Lard
	Wet-rendered lard, from pork fatback.
Fat composition
Saturated fats
Total saturated	38–43%:; Palmitic acid: 25–28%; Stearic acid: 12–14%; Myristic acid: 1%
Unsaturated fats
Total unsaturated	56–62%
Monounsaturated	47–50%:; Oleic acid: 44–47%; Palmitoleic acid: 3%
Polyunsaturated	Linoleic acid: 6–10%
Properties
Food energy per 100 g (3.5 oz)	3,770 kJ (900 kcal)
Melting point	backfat: 30–40 °C (86–104 °F); leaf fat: 43–48 °C (109–118 °F); mixed fat: 36–45 °C (97–113 °F)
Smoke point	121–218 °C (250–424 °F)
Specific gravity at 20 °C (68 °F)	0.917–0.938
Iodine value	45–75
Acid value	3.4
Saponification value	190–205
Unsaponifiable	0.8%

Animal fats and oils are lipids derived from animals: oils are liquid at room temperature, and fats are solid. Chemically, both fats and oils are composed of triglycerides. Although many animal parts and secretions may yield oil, in commercial practice, oil is extracted primarily from rendered tissue fats from livestock animals like pigs, chickens and cows. Dairy products yield animal fat and oil products such as butter.

Certain fats, such as goose fat, have a higher smoke point than other animal fats, but are still lower than many vegetable oils such as olive or avocado. ^[2]

Animal fats are commonly consumed as part of a western diet in their semi-solid form as either milk, butter, lard, schmaltz, and dripping or more commonly as filler in factory-produced meat, and fast-food products.^[3]

Culinary uses

Many animal fats and oils are consumed directly, or indirectly as ingredients in food. The oils serve a number of purposes in this role:

Shortening – to give pastry a crumbly texture.
Texture – oils can serve to make other ingredients stick together less.
Flavor – some may be chosen specifically for the flavor they impart.
Flavor base – oils can also "carry" flavors of other ingredients, since many flavors are present in chemicals that are soluble in oil.

Secondly, oils can be heated, and used to cook foods. Suitability for this purpose depends on flash point.

References

^ National Research Council. (1976). Fat Content and Composition of Animal Products.; p. 203. Washington, DC: Printing and Publishing Office, National Academy of Science. ISBN 0-309-02440-4
^ The Goose Fat Information Service, Goosefat.co.uk, 2012-03-19, retrieved 2012-03-19
^ Meat Products with High Levels of Extenders and Fillers, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States, archived from the original on 2019-02-07, retrieved 2012-03-16

[1] National Research Council. (1976). Fat Content and Composition of Animal Products.; p. 203. Washington, DC: Printing and Publishing Office, National Academy of Science. ISBN 0-309-02440-4

[2] The Goose Fat Information Service, Goosefat.co.uk, 2012-03-19, retrieved 2012-03-19

[3] Meat Products with High Levels of Extenders and Fillers, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States, archived from the original on 2019-02-07, retrieved 2012-03-16

[1]

[2]

[3]

Culinary uses

See also

References