Fat inspiration

[bushcraftbob]

Cooked a lovely plump shoulder of Lamb today, and the amount of fat rendered off it was immense!

It got me thinking, what Bushcrafty things / projects could i use the fat for? Fuels / ointments etc?

Shame to throw it in the bin...ahem....i mean the food recycle bin.

 

[Harvestman]

Not sure if you can use it like goose fat and store meat in it in a jar. Probably. Or just keep it as dripping, or as cooking fat for roast potatoes etc. Think of it as austerity measure.

I never throw fat away if I can help it.

 

[grouse]

Reckon that if lamb fat was used in roast tatties it would make you very thirsty?

However would be a great water proof leather dressing.

 

[bushcraftbob]

Nice one grouse never thought of that!

 

[mountainm]

Bird cakes if now't else - mix some seed in with the fat then fill half a coconut shell or just make into balls - the birds will thank you for it.

 

[stinger]

lamb fat roast taties are the nicest nom nom,

 

[JAG009]

Make some fat candles

Jason

 

[bushcraftbob]

How would i go about making a candle?? Sounds like fun

 

[mountainm]

How would i go about making a candle?? Sounds like fun

I think they'll go rancid quite quickly and they'll certainly produce a lot of soot - but you just need some natural fibre to make the wick, tie a weight on the end of this - you keep dipping this in the fat and cooling it, building up coats of fat until the candle has reached the size you want.

Alternatively suspend the wick in a jar and pour the fat in to make a jar candle.

 

[JAG009]

How would i go about making a candle?? Sounds like fun

I used to use them when away fishing any fat will do get a nice big wick 1 inch wide is good, next get a large tin can and drill a hole straight through it about an inch from the top and use a bit of wire to suspend the wick fill the can with hot fat let it set and voila one fat candle ,sitting in a fishing shelter they are good and give off a bitt of heat ,the down side is they give off a bit of smoke but outside its no problem

Jason

 

[AussieVic]

-You could blend a little fat (also some charcoal) with pine resin to make it less brittle.
-Fire piston lubricant, non-petroleum lubricants are best if you have a rubber seal. Lubricate anything I guess. Lard is also supposed to be good on tools (eg shovel blade and wooden handles etc). You may have to be ware about animals taking a liking to them ?
-Lard can be added to pie crusts (baking) and are supposed to give excellent flavours.
-I've smeared lard onto damp logs to help the fire.