Cooked my first ham. Using it all up

[Anonymous]

I got a very nice smoked ham from the farmers market for Christmas dinner. I froze the leftover meat in slices, and I am using the bone to make Hoppin’ John. However there is an awful lot of fat and skin left. I want to render the fat for future cooking.Can I just put it in a frying pan and heat it slowly? If you do this, what kind of dishes do you use the fat for?

[Anonymous]

I am really into project cooking, but I think in this instance you should let this almost two week old fat and skin remnant pile go.

[Anonymous]

Do you still have the bone? I'd cut off the skin and use the bone and fat as a base for a great bean soup.

[Anonymous]

To render lard, yes, heat slowly and strain out the cracklings. Lard keeps very well and makes excellent pastry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am really into project cooking, but I think in this instance you should let this almost two week old fat and skin remnant pile go.

Lol, it was frozen. Since nobody answered right away I already started heating the fat chunks in a pan. There isn’t really that much liquid fat to collect after all, but man those crispy pieces are delicious. I guess those are what’s called cracklings. I stood in the kitchen nibbling on them, thinking maybe this belongs on that thread on what you eat when you’re home alone.

Do people use this collected fat as oil for dishes like greens or potatoes?

I’ve got the bone in a pot on the stove with black-eyed peas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really into project cooking, but I think in this instance you should let this almost two week old fat and skin remnant pile go.

Lol, it was frozen. Since nobody answered right away I already started heating the fat chunks in a pan. There isn’t really that much liquid fat to collect after all, but man those crispy pieces are delicious. I guess those are what’s called cracklings. I stood in the kitchen nibbling on them, thinking maybe this belongs on that thread on what you eat when you’re home alone.

Do people use this collected fat as oil for dishes like greens or potatoes?

I’ve got the bone in a pot on the stove with black-eyed peas.

In the future, you can use the bone (and whatever is left on it) for something like the black-eyed peas, any type of beans, greens, or soup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really into project cooking, but I think in this instance you should let this almost two week old fat and skin remnant pile go.

Lol, it was frozen. Since nobody answered right away I already started heating the fat chunks in a pan. There isn’t really that much liquid fat to collect after all, but man those crispy pieces are delicious. I guess those are what’s called cracklings. I stood in the kitchen nibbling on them, thinking maybe this belongs on that thread on what you eat when you’re home alone.

Do people use this collected fat as oil for dishes like greens or potatoes?

I’ve got the bone in a pot on the stove with black-eyed peas.

In the future, you can use the bone (and whatever is left on it) for something like the black-eyed peas, any type of beans, greens, or soup.

Thank you! That’s what I’m doing. It’s one of my favorite things.

[Anonymous]

Ham and split pea soup. So good. Friend did this with her unused Xmas ham.

[Anonymous]

I often throw all the bits (bones, skin, etc) in water. Strain, put it in the fridge, and then take the fat off the top. Keep the rest for broth.

[Anonymous]

If you manage to render some fat, it’s great for refríed beans or stewed collards