1poundpork fat, fatback, pork scraps or other unsmoked, uncured pork pieces
1/3cupwater
Specialized Hardware
6- to 8-quart Dutch oven
ACTIVE TIME: 15minutes
TOTAL TIME: 3hours15minutes
Yield: 11/2 cups
Procedure
Heat oven to 300ºF.
Cut the fatback into 1/4-inch cubes, place in a 6- to 8-quart Dutch oven, and pour the water over. Put in the oven, uncovered, and stir every 30 to 40 minutes, pressing the pieces against the pan to help them melt. Cook until the fat has melted, the water has evaporated, and the pieces begin to brown slightly, 3 to 4 hours.
Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof container and allow the fat to cool completely before covering and storing in the refrigerator.