National Lard Day
National Lard Day, a celebration of pure lard, traditional, authentic animal fat that is now enjoying a resurgence within America’s food culture in restaurants, fast food operations, and home kitchens.
Celebrated on December 8, Lard Day is the brainchild of the Healthy Fats Coalition, a group of like-minded organizations, companies, and individuals that have developed an educational initiative dedicated to the proposition that healthy fats aren’t merely having a moment – they’re here to stay, as an essential part of the American diet. The HFC’s mission is simple: affirm that animal fats deserve a central place in the kitchen, on the table, and in the popular imagination.
“Artificial trans fats are out, and minimally processed animal fats like lard — for superior baking, frying, and a host of other cooking applications– are back,” says Eric R. Gustafson, CEO of Coast Packing Company, a founding member of the HFC. “The color, texture, and flavor lard imparts make it a vastly superior alternative to heavily processed, industrially produced substitutes. Lard is traditional, authentic, and impossible to duplicate. On National Lard Day, taste the difference yourself!”
VIVA Lard, a Coast Packing brand that Hispanic kitchens have enjoyed for over 45 years, really is the best ingredient for adding that little extra flavor to bread, making pie crusts crumbly, and giving that rich, authentic flavor to whatever dish you are whipping up. Lard is valued for its very high melting point and extremely low moisture content, making it one of the favorite ingredients of bakers aiming for perfectly flaky pastry and pie crusts.
“Lard is a heritage fat that has been used in cooking for generations and has incredible significance across various cuisines,” said Coast’s Corporate Chef, Greg Hozinsky. “Its low moisture content and high melting point make it an ideal, forgiving ingredient—especially for pie crusts—allowing it to be easily cut into flour without absorbing as much during baking. The result is an unmatched, perfectly flaky crust.”
Lard has been an essential cooking ingredient for centuries, once rivaling butter in popularity. However, adverse health perceptions in the early 1900s led to the creation of vegetable shortening, such as Crisco, which replaced lard by the 1960s. In the 1990s, as concerns over trans fats grew, lard’s qualities were rediscovered, leading to its resurgence in culinary uses.
Lard is surprisingly nutrient-rich. Packed with Vitamins D and B, it’s a potential immunity booster. One tablespoon of lard contains 1,000 international units of vitamin D, a nutrient more than 40 percent of Americans are lacking. The exact amount of butter contains 9 IU, and olive oil contains none. Scientists rank lard #8 out of the 100 most nutritious foods, describing it as “a good source of B vitamins and minerals. Pork fat is more unsaturated and healthier than lamb or beef fat.”
Healthy animal fats are now on trend for flavor, wellness, and sustainability. More and more consumers seek food made with integrity and respect for culinary traditions. Natural, healthy animal fats are a big part of authenticity in cooking.
To celebrate this national holiday, purchase lard and find a recipe that traditionally uses butter or cooking oils and substitutes it with lard. If you enjoy cooking with lard, share its benefits on social media using the hashtag #NationalLardDay. Let everyone know how beneficial lard can be in a healthy diet!