Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I generally use olive or peanut oil for sautéing and pan-frying. Being a lard newbie, I recently started using fresh lard in place of the oils, and ... well, there's this odor. When the lard is hot in the pan, it gives off a very strong, unpleasant odor. I was under the impression that lard was very neutral, so I'm a bit surprised at the smell.

I should add that I've had no problems with food I've cooked in lard picking up any flavor or odor. Even so, my wife is about to ban it from the kitchen because of the odor. Is this normal for lard? Am I using too much heat? Could there be impurities in the lard I'm using (purchased at the local farmers-market)?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

flag	asked Jan 24 2011 at 3:12 smcdow 1,083●5●17

	I have cooked with lard recently as well and it does have an odor I do not like. I'm not sure how to describe the odor so I'm not sure it's the same issue your wife is having. It really just smells like meat sort of I guess but that doesn't even describe it well. The food tasted good after being fried in the lard and I didn't smell the odor on the food but it really bothered me. I had to breathe through my mouth to avoid it! – HeatherC Jan 24 2011 at 4:21
	I COMPLETELY AGREE! I got ~8 lbs of heritage-breed, pastured pork leaf lard for free from a local farmer. So I carefully (low temp) rendered and strained it, and obtained this beautiful snow-white creamy lard. I was sooo excited to use it! But sadly, I can't stand the smell of it! Too rich and gamey for me. I've switched to chicken schmaltz for savory dishes, and organic palm shortening for baking. – Jess D. Aug 28 at 18:45

Helen · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-24 19:00:53Z UTC

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That is the normal smell of lard, especially the home-rendered kind.

answered Jan 24 2011 at 19:00

Helen
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WordVixen · Answer 2 · 2011-01-24 05:29:49Z UTC

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I've noticed the same when cooking with lard. To me it smells just a little like slightly over ripe pork. Not quite spoiled, but... off. There doesn't seem to be an actual taste to it, though, and everything I cook in it is delicious. Maybe mine doesn't smell as strongly as yours though, since my husband hasn't complained yet.

answered Jan 24 2011 at 5:29

WordVixen
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	The smell of over ripe pork -- that's exactly what we're smelling. – smcdow Jan 24 2011 at 14:52
	I'm pretty sure that's normal then. I'm a little relieved that everyone else seems to smell the same thing- I was afraid that mine had gone off. :-) – WordVixen Jan 24 2011 at 18:47

Efaitch · Answer 3 · 2011-01-24 07:58:32Z UTC

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I have the same problem and use beef dripping (UK) instead of pork lard. Beef dripping is more saturated than lard & has a better taste IME.

answered Jan 24 2011 at 7:58

Efaitch
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Riveted · Answer 4 · 2011-01-24 16:45:51Z UTC

My wife and daughter have banned it from our kitchen. I don't mind the smell, but it permeates everything in our very open-concept home. We all end up smelling like an old-school deep fryer (before transfats). I use it in small amounts and when nobody's looking, but I've generally stopped to save my 7-year-old from acquiring some esteem crushing beef-related nickname at school.

gilliebean · Answer 5 · 2011-01-24 19:08:10Z UTC

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Use lower heat. We get that smell when the lard starts to smoke.

answered Jan 24 2011 at 19:08

gilliebean♦
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I was wondering about that. I'll give it a try. – smcdow Jan 24 2011 at 19:24

Jay · Answer 6 · 2011-01-24 03:46:49Z UTC

How long have you had it? Suet goes bad prety fast, but rendered fat (like lard and tallow) should last longer. That said, on occasions when I've used slightly expired suet, the first sign is a funky odor when it is heated, which sounds like what you're describing.

Jodi · Answer 7 · 2011-01-24 18:57:03Z UTC

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I've noticed this too, so I usually go with bacon grease or coconut oil.

answered Jan 24 2011 at 18:57

Jodi
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Rob · Answer 8 · 2012-06-15 00:20:06Z UTC

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Yeh the smell from lard has really put me off using it. I think I'm gonna try cooking with ghee next time

answered Jun 15 at 0:20

Rob
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Funky odor when cooking with fresh lard?

8 Answers