How Long Does Lard Last in the Fridge? We Tested It Ourselves….

Lard is a fantastic ingredient that many people love adding to their dishes or baked goods. You may have heard that lard should be refrigerated, or you might have even heard the opposite. In this article, I will answer all your questions about how long lard can last in the fridge (and in other places, too!).

How Long Does Lard Last in the Fridge?

So, how long does lard last in the fridge? Lard tends to last for about a year in the fridge. Contrary to popular belief, it can also easily surpass the expiration date written on its container.

It lasts so long because it’s made of monounsaturated and saturated fats. These fatty acids are usually more stable than polyunsaturated fats, making lard a very long-lasting product!

Lard containers from the store come with best-by dates, but keeping lard in the fridge can make them last even past those dates.

Pure, high-quality lard can last a couple of weeks, if not months, after its printed expiration date if kept in a fridge. However, keep in mind that those are estimates. Based on a few indications, you will have to gauge whether your lard is still good, which I’ll discuss later.

Luckily, most lard brands have a label on the container to tell you when to store your lard in the fridge or freezer. Different brands also have different expiration dates.

Here are some well-known brands of lard and their shelf life:

Brand of Lard	Shelf Life
Fatworks	12 to 18 months
Morrell Snow Cap	12 months
SCP South Chicago Packing	12 months
Lar	7 months
Proper Food’s Leaf Lard	2 to 3 months

 

Most lard brands claim that refrigerating lard extends its shelf life, and freezing extends it even longer.

What is Lard?

Lard is rendered pig fat. It’s used in many different cooking applications, such as frying vegetables, a replacement for vegetable oil, replacement for butter, pie crust, biscuits, and much more.

I don’t have a blog post on rendering lard (yet!) but I do have one on rending tallow which is made from beef fat.

Where Do You Get Lard From?

You can buy lard from the store or make it yourself. Ask your local butcher to save you the pork fat when you get a pig butchered, or ask a local butcher if he has any pork fat for sale. Leaf Lard is the best cut of fat from the pig.

You can also save the bacon grease when making bacon to use as lard; however, keep in mind that this will have a distinct bacon smell. Bacon fat is good for frying veggies but not great in a pie crust.

How Long Does Homemade Lard Last?

Homemade lard has about the same shelf life as store-bought lard. Homemade lard usually needs to be rendered. By doing this, all the excess water and other impurities are removed. This preserves the fat and keeps it from going bad.

How Long Does Homemade Lard Last In the Fridge

Homemade lard can typically last six months to a year in the fridge after being rendered. Some people claim they have kept it in the fridge for even longer because it’s less likely to go bad when stored in a cool, clean area.

At Room Shelf Life of Lard

Homemade lard will typically last about 4 to 6 months at room temperature after being rendered, depending on the conditions your homemade lard is kept in. That’s a pretty long time!

Is It Necessary to Refrigerate Lard?

While you don’t necessarily have to refrigerate lard, it definitely helps. Because lard retains its quality in cooler temperatures, storing it in the fridge will last longer.

Most lard brands will tell you how long your lard will last, depending on whether you refrigerate your lard or not. Make sure you always read the label before storing your lard.

So while lard doesn’t necessarily NEED to be refrigerated, it’s better to keep it in the fridge.

Should Lard Be Refrigerated After Opening?

Frankly, it doesn’t matter whether your lard container has been opened. Opening a lard container’s lid or wrap does not change anything when it comes to its shelf life. Storing lard that has been opened will prolong its shelf life as much as it would if it was closed.

Lard doesn’t have to be refrigerated after opening, but it will last longer if it is. It will last up to a year or even more in the fridge and about 4 to 6 months at room temperature. It’s important to close the lid tightly when you store lard, though.

Best Lard Storage Practices to Make It Last Longer

When storing lard, you must ensure that your container is sealed well in an airtight container after every use. You can store your lard in the fridge, countertop, or pantry depending on which suits you best.

How to Store Lard on Your Countertop or Pantry:

1. Ensure your lard is in a well-sealed container, protected from outer moisture.
2. To ensure that your lard’s temperature remains consistent, store it in a dark, cool place away from direct sunlight, ovens, or toasters.
3. It is recommended to keep your home’s temperature below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You might have to store lard in the fridge if it’s any warmer.

Lard tends to attract vermin and pests, especially mice, so if you have a rodent problem, I suggest refrigerating or freezing your lard if you’ve had trouble in the past with this in your home.

How to Store Lard in the Fridge:

1. Tightly seal your lard in an airtight container, away from external moisture, since lard tends to absorb flavors in the air.
2. Only remove the container when you need to use your lard. This will help maintain its temperature.
3. Seal tightly after use and store it back in the fridge.

Correctly storing your lard can work wonders as it will extend your lard’s shelf life for months after its expiration date.

Can Lard Be Frozen?

You can absolutely freeze lard for an even longer shelf life. To do this, wrap your lard in wax paper and cover it with foil. This will stop your lard from being exposed to air and moisture.

You can also place your lard jar in a freezer bag, squeeze out all the air, and store it inside your freezer.

If you only want to use a small amount of lard at a time, I suggest slicing your lard into smaller cubes, lining them up on a baking sheet with parchment paper, and placing it in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours. After that, remove the baking sheet and put the lard cubes into a freezer bag. You could also freeze the lard in an ice cube tray, but the trays are difficult to clean once you’ve removed the lard.

After taking it out of the freezer, you don’t have to thaw lard. You can use it right away. It’s not recommended to refreeze already defrosted lard, though, so it’s better to freeze lard in smaller portions.

How Long Can Frozen Lard Last?

Storing lard in your freezer can extend its shelf life even further than storing it in your fridge. Freezing lard can make it retain its quality for up to two or three years!

Can You Eat Expired Lard?

It’s never a good idea to eat any expired food. The same applies here to expired lard! While eating expired lard might not make you sick immediately, it’s still not a good idea. Besides, expired lard usually tastes and has foul odors – not very tasty!

The best thing you can do with expired lard is to throw it out. It’ll probably take a while to expire if stored correctly, but if you’re unsure whether your lard is expired, you’re better off getting rid of it. Better safe than sorry.

4 Signs of Spoiled Lard

There are a few signs that your pork fat might have gone bad. I suggest getting rid of your lard if:

1. It smells foul

Spoiled lard might smell chemical or paint-like. The smell of spoiled lard might not be easy to detect, so if you are unsure of the state of your lard, try to smell it before use.

Poorly-stored lard can also pick up other scents from food in your fridge or kitchen. If that’s the case with your lard, you’re better off getting rid of it.

2. It tastes off

Spoiled lard tends to smell bitter, sour, or just off. Do a taste test before using your lard if unsure of its quality. If it doesn’t taste right, you should definitely throw it out.

3. It’s moldy

While lard is unlikely to grow mold, sometimes dirty spoons, double-dipping, or any external meddling can spoil it. (Always use clean utensils when scooping out your lard!) In the case of mold, you will need to get rid of it.

4. It’s been overused

If lard has been used too many times, heated, or warmed up more than it’s supposed to be, it’s safer to throw it out. Overusing and overheating lard can make it spoil faster.

There might be other signs that your lard went bad, so if you feel like something isn’t right, you should get rid of it. Don’t risk using spoiled lard.

What Does Rancid Lard Smell Like?

Rancid lard smells like chemicals, paint, or even nail polish remover. Pungent, foul smells such as these indicate that your lard has gone bad, and it’s time to throw it out.

Lard can be used in many different recipes and for almost all your frying needs. As long as you are rendering it properly and storing it properly, you can use it for a long time!

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How long does lard last in the fridge?

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Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple life since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to the 100-acre farm and ministry on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.

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This blog post on How Long Does Lard Last in the Fridge was originally posted on Little House Living in March 2023.