Rendering bear fat for lube

[blackbruin]

I am just double checking or if there's a better way to do it. I have always trimmed the fat of any meat or non fat items. Than put it cubed in a double boiler to melt it, skimmed any junk off top than strained it through a coffee filter or paint filter after its cooled but still liquid into a mason jar. I keep it from burning, and have reheated and strained it twice.  Any advice or new methods appreciated! Oh our camp harvested 3 bears here in pa so I have quite a rendering session(s) ahead! Thanks

[Hungry Horse]

 I'm not sure if bear fat can be rendered the same way as venison tallow, but I just boil the chunks of fat, and scraps, in a big kettle , refrigerate until the grease solidifies on top of the water, and then skim it off. I then gently heat the tallow until the execs water evaporates. After chilling in the refrigerator you wind up with a nice solid cake of snow white tallow.

                   Hungry Horse

[wattlebuster]

Try this link it works
http://nimrodsplace.com/lewisandclark25.html

[necchi]

Yeah I was going to supply Swampy's link too,
He's been swearing by the crock pot the last few years and going real slow, as you can see in the link,, he's after that liquid gold!
The Oil.

[VALongrifle]

Anyone know where one might get rendered bear fat for those of us bear-lessly challenged?

Pat

[Tink]

Raccoon works identical to bear .

[Dphariss]

I'm not sure if bear fat can be rendered the same way as venison tallow, but I just boil the chunks of fat, and scraps, in a big kettle , refrigerate until the grease solidifies on top of the water, and then skim it off. I then gently heat the tallow until the execs water evaporates. After chilling in the refrigerator you wind up with a nice solid cake of snow white tallow.

                   Hungry Horse

This works for beef, deer ect. Directions can be found on soap making sites. DON'T ADD SALT. We are not making soap.
I boil it 3 times in clean water staining if needed when hot. Boil for a time till you think you have most of the fat melted, let cool, chill, pull off the solid tallow from the water and put in clean water and boil again, repeat. I do this to make SURE there is nothing in there that might cause corrosion. Chill, remove, let air dry on some folded paper towels a couple of days then double boiler and pour in a canning jar.  I would NOT use direct heat. I know it will really screw up beeswax and don't want to go to all that work with tallow and then make it less useful by overheating.

Dan

[whitebear]

Can hog fat be prepared the same way?  For us old Georgia boys the hog lard would be more traditional.

[halfstock]

Yes it can whitebear but again "NO" salt.

[David G]

blackbruin, I've used the crock pot method, worked fine per Swampy's instruction. I think the key was using a crock pot that had a "warm" setting. If I remember right it was 24 hrs before I got enough oil to start ladeling off of the fat. The oil I ran through a coffee filter over a pitcher. Swampy advised to be sure to use clean fat and if you wanted to take the time to cut it into small pieces it should go a little  faster for you. This method is not difficult but is a little time comsuming, best plan to set aside a couple to three days depending on how much you have. I currently have about 12 pds or so of bear fat that I will get to shortly. David G.

[Penokemtnman]

A couple years back I picked up a large  box full of bear fat from a taxidermy shop off a 492# boar.  I used a large Nesco, works great you can adjust the temp. ladle out the oil as you can. It took me three weekends to finish it all, but I made over four gallons.  I still have not made that cherry pie , I better get at that.    Penokemtnman