Lard is best described as which of the following?

• A. A lean cut of pork
• B. Fat rendered from pork carcasses
• C. A type of pork sausage
• D. Seasoning from pork

Answer: (B)

Lard is rendered pork fat. It comes from fat tissue of the pig that’s melted and strained to separate the liquid fat from the connective tissue and solids. This fat, once purified, becomes lard and is used for cooking and baking because of its smooth texture and flavor. It’s not a lean cut of meat, not sausages, and not a seasoning. Different forms exist, such as leaf lard (from around the kidneys), which is prized for pastries, but in all cases it’s fat, not meat or spice.