Why doesn't the fat in pemmican mold?

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I've learned today that pemmican is pulverized dried meat mixed with fat. But why doesn't the fat develop mold? I have read fats develop mold easily.



Best Answer

Mold spores are everywhere, but they need certain conditions in order to grow. Food preservation and storage steps protect against spoilage. Mold growth is one (of many) potentials for spoilage (although in some instances, cheese for example, it is desirable). Fat doesn't necessarily encourage mold growth any more than other products. The conditions that mold spores need to grow are (a) water, (b) food in the form of dead or decaying matter, (c) air, and (d) temperature (70F or 20C is ideal). In the case of pemmican, the water activity of the product is very low, as it is made mostly from dried meat and fat. During the time that it was used and popular, it was probably protected from the air as much as was reasonable, and it was used and stored (mostly) in cool temperatures. None of that guarantees that it will not, or never did mold. I can imagine an early Native American, or North American explorer reaching into a leather saddle bag after the spring rains and pulling out some moldy pemmican. In that scenario, the conditions could be perfect for mold growth. So, to directly answer your question, it's not the fat or the pemmican. Mold can grow on anything that supports its growth if the conditions are right.




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Quick Answer about "Why doesn't the fat in pemmican mold?"

Fat is removed when drying meat because it becomes rancid very easily. It's not about mold development. Pemmican was typically made with rendered fat, which probably increased the shelf life.

Can you use lard in pemmican?

Lard is rendered pig fat, we would advise against using any pork products in pemmican due to the risks of trichinosis. Can I use ground beef to make pemmican? Ground beef should work well but make sure it doesn't burn in the preparation phase.

How do you store pemmican long term?

The best way is to wrap it in tin foil, place it in a sealable plastic bag, and keep it at room temperature in a dark, dry place. You can also refrigerate the pemmican if you want it chilled, but you will have to check on it occasionally to make sure there isn't any moisture on it which will cause it to spoil.



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