Using fat as a preservative,
I want to make big batches of Boerewors (A traditional South African fresh sausage) and was wondering if I could immerse it in fat or lard and then preserve it this way?
Can fat be used to seal the meat and keep it from spoiling or is this a bad idea? Does it still need to be refrigerated? The idea is to not have to freeze and then wait for it to thaw. Sometimes I just need a quick pick-me-up and a little sausage with some bread looks like it should do the trick.
Best Answer
Refrigerate them.
When it comes down to meat, you should play it safe. Spoiled meat can develop salmonella and other forms of bacteria. Read more about it on the CDC website.
That said...
I believe the method of preserving you are referring to is confit:
In chilly European kitchens before refrigeration, it was common to salt meat, usually duck, goose or pork, and then to cook it slowly in the animal's own fat. The rendered fat was then poured over the meat in a crock, completely covering it and sealing it off from the air. In an oxygen-free environment, the meat would keep a long time without spoiling.
While confit is a real thing, people from back when it was popular had lower standards for food safety, and access to safer meat. There are probably current recipes for safe confit, but a homebrew experiment of "just cover with fat" cannot be considered safe if canned - it should be handled like any other unpreserved dish.
I'm not sure that there is a way to do that with sausages. I would suggest to make smaller batches more often instead, and keep them refrigerated or frozen. If you package them in small portions, say 1 or 2 sausages, it won't take very long to thaw them in the microwave.
Pictures about "Using fat as a preservative,"
Quick Answer about "Using fat as a preservative,"
Confit is an effective method for preserving meats because the fat seals off the oxygen that bacteria need to reproduce. The word confit can be used to refer to the technique or to the meat which has been thus preserved.Can lard be used as a preservative?
Grocery store lard has preservatives BHA and BHT added to it so it has a longer shelf life. Those 2 preservatives are thought to be bad for you.How long can you preserve meat in fat?
How to Preserve Meat (With Salt, Smoke, Fat)Preserving AgentMethodLength of PreservationFatFat, No Oxygen1 to 6 monthsFatFat, No Oxygen1 to 6 monthsFatFat & Dried1 to 5 yearsBrine/ PressureCanningMany Years5 more rowsHow long does lard sealed meat last?
How Long Does Lard Last?PantryFridgeLard (unopened or opened)Best-byBest-by + 3 \u2013 6 monthsJun 14, 2021Artificial Preservatives make you Fat !! Here's Why?
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Anna Tarazevich, Valeria Boltneva, Dmitriy Ganin, Artem Podrez