How to Render Lard and Tallow for Making All-Natural Candles

Rendering Lard for Candle Making

Making candles from lard, or beef tallow, allows you to create beautiful handmade candles with an all-natural wax. Rendering lard and tallow is a lost art that connects us to old-fashioned crafts and pioneer living. Once you learn the simple process, you’ll be able to make earth-friendly candles that also happen to smell delicious.

What is Lard?

Lard is pig fat that has been rendered and clarified to produce a smooth, white fat that is solid at room temperature. Beef tallow undergoes the same rendering process but comes from cattle fat. Both lard and tallow can be used to make candles that are affordable, sustainable, and non-toxic.

Benefits of Lard Candles

There are several key reasons why lard makes an excellent candle wax:

• All natural and non-toxic - Lard comes from pigs raised on a natural diet without hormones or antibiotics.
• Affordable and sustainable - Lard can be produced at home for pennies per pound.
• Long burn time - Lard candles burn slowly and evenly for up to 8 hours.
• Lovely scent - The faint meaty aroma is pleasing and appetizing.
• Hard finish - Lard wax leaves no oily residue on surfaces when burned.
• Easy to color and scent - You can customize the look, aroma and vibe of your lard candles.

How to Render Lard and Tallow

Rendering lard is the process of cooking fatty pork trimmings to extract and clarify the lard. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Start with pork fatback, skin trimmings or other fatty cuts like jowls or back fat. Rinse if needed to remove blood, hair, etc.
2. Chop the fat into 1-inch cubes so it melts evenly. Do not grind it.
3. Place the chopped fat in a heavy pot, Dutch oven or slow cooker.
4. Cook over low heat. The fat will slowly melt and liquify, separating from connective tissues.
5. Stir frequently to prevent burning on the bottom. Add a cup or two of water if needed to prevent sticking.
6. Simmer for at least 2 hours. The liquid fat is the lard; the leftover crispy bits are called cracklings.
7. Strain out the cracklings through a cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer.
8. Pour the hot, liquid lard into jars, allowing 1 inch of headspace. Seal lids.
9. Allow to cool completely. Refrigerate until solid for everyday use as cooking fat. For candles, pour into molds before it solidifies.

The process for making beef tallow is the same. Start with beef fat trimmings, kidney fat or suet. Simmer, strain and pour into containers or molds.

Making Candles with Lard

To make candles from lard, you’ll need candle wicks, jars or molds, and lard that has been properly rendered and strained. Essential oils, candle dye and other additives are optional.

Follow these steps:

1. Prepare your candle jars and wicks. Allow ample wick length for the jar depth so the wick stays centered as the candle burns.
2. Melt rendered lard in a double boiler or small slow cooker until liquid. Small batches melt quicker.
3. Add candle dye a few drops at a time until desired color is reached. Stir in essential oils for fragrance.
4. Carefully pour the melted lard into the candle jars around the centered wicks. Leave 1⁄4 inch of headspace.
5. Allow candles to cool completely before lighting. Trim wicks if needed.
6. Display proudly and light the wicks to release the welcoming, fatty glow of your homemade lard candles!

Tips and Precautions

Here are some handy tips for rendering lard and making perfect tallow candles every time:

• Use heat-safe jars with lids for rendering and storing lard. Canning jars work wonderfully.
• Strain for clarity. Cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer removes cracklings and impurities.
• Render in a well-ventilated area. Lard processing can get smelly.
• Don’t leave unattended. Stir often to prevent sticking or burning.
• Add beeswax for stability. A 15% beeswax addition helps combat melting in hot weather.
• Test wick height as the candle burns to prevent excess smoking.
• Snuff out candles before they reach the last 1⁄2 inch of wax to prevent jarring breakage.
• Handle hot lard carefully to avoid burns. Use thermal gloves if needed.

With these simple homesteading tips, you’ll see how easy and satisfying it is to make all-natural lard candles. Not only can you control the ingredients, but you’ll also connect with traditional crafts and be more self-sufficient. Light up your space with the cozy glow of sustainable lard candles.

FAQs

What is the benefit of beeswax in lard candles?

Adding about 15% beeswax to your candle wax blend helps harden the candles so they retain their shape better in hot weather. Beeswax also helps the candles burn brighter.

Can I use a crockpot to render lard and tallow?

Yes, a slow cooker or crockpot on low heat works excellently to gently render fat into lard or tallow over 2-3 hours. The constant low heat prevents burning.

How long do lard candles burn?

Properly made lard and tallow candles burn slowly and evenly, lasting up to 8 hours per ounce of candle wax. The burn time depends on wick size, wax purity and dimensional shape.

Why are my lard candles smoking excessively?

Smoking issues typically come from wicks that are too large for the candle diameter. Try a narrower wick or trim the exposed length to 1⁄4-inch to reduce excess smoking from lard candles.