Prep of The Day Thread

ToddDubya said:
What time should I be by for my gallon?
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I'm curious how much it will yield, 2 200lbs pigs worth.

I started rendering down the beef fat from trimming my Christmas ribs. Highly recommended. A 4-5 rib roast gets me like 8 oz of tallow that I use for the next few months searing steaks and other beef dishes.
 
I've got a Universal #2 hand crank mill I rescued from the trash a couple winters ago. It's only got one insert, but I bet it would be useful for grinding fat for rendering. I work with a beef farmer. I think I'll ask if he has fat to spare. I assume beef fat is fine.

This is just the first photo I found online, but it's just like this. I'm pretty sure that's the same insert I have. I have a food processor too, which is worth looking into.

1730167323396.png
 
ToddDubya said:
I've got a Universal #2 hand crank mill I rescued from the trash a couple winters ago. It's only got one insert, but I bet it would be useful for grinding fat for rendering. I work with a beef farmer. I think I'll ask if he has fat to spare. I assume beef fat is fine.

This is just the first photo I found online, but it's just like this. I'm pretty sure that's the same insert I have. I have a food processor too, which is worth looking into.

View attachment 931271
Click to expand...
I use this for grinding fat, and everything else.
westonbrands.com

Weston® Pro Series™ #8 Meat Grinder

Grind farm raised & field fresh meats for handcrafted burgers, meatloaf, sausage & more with a Pro Series Grinder.
westonbrands.com westonbrands.com
 
ToddDubya said:
I've got a Universal #2 hand crank mill I rescued from the trash a couple winters ago. It's only got one insert, but I bet it would be useful for grinding fat for rendering. I work with a beef farmer. I think I'll ask if he has fat to spare. I assume beef fat is fine.

This is just the first photo I found online, but it's just like this. I'm pretty sure that's the same insert I have. I have a food processor too, which is worth looking into.

View attachment 931271
Click to expand...
Beef tallow is legit, better then lard for some applications.
 
peterk123 said:
Picture cooking bacon on the stove top. That left over grease is basically rendered fat. I save and use that stuff too.

But I figured out a secret while rendering bear fat last year. And that is to grind your fat before throwing it in the cooker. It goes much faster and yield is like 95%.

I throw the fat in the slow cooker because it is indirect heat and it won't burn. I start low, 250 degrees so there is some sweat in the bottom. Then I bring it up to 325 degrees. I continuously scoop the fluid out and put it through a strainer. This is the end result....

View attachment 930306
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My neighbor gave me some bear fat. He said to put it on low in the crock pot for 4 to 5 hours. I watched some online videos where people did that as well.

I had to work for a few hours and had DH stir it for me. But it came out dark.. I'll still use it but I was disappointed it wasn't lighter. If I had been home I would have noticed it went too long. :(

I hope I get to try it again someday.
 
Cowgirlup said:
My neighbor gave me some bear fat. He said to put it on low in the crock pot for 4 to 5 hours. I watched some online videos where people did that as well.

I had to work for a few hours and had DH stir it for me. But it came out dark.. I'll still use it but I was disappointed it wasn't lighter. If I had been home I would have noticed it went too long. :(

I hope I get to try it again someday.
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Bear fat is awesome. It has a fairly high heat point before it starts to smoke. I hope to try raccoon fat next.
 
Are any of you reaching out to family and letting them know to come to you if something happens soon? Drones are real, troop deployments in NYC real and a mess of helicopters flying around is real. I sent out a note to my kids and a couple of close friends that if something goes down they should do everything to make their way to me. Unless of course I’m wiped out or a Zombie. Weird times. My adult kids actually agreed with me as I am usually the tin foil hat of the family.
 
I did a search on here but didn’t find much. What places do people use to get the FEMA MRE’s with 2026 inspection dates? I see different places but wondering if anyone had recommendations.

I like to keep a couple cases on hand just in case and I rotate through them.
 
ddeck said:
I did a search on here but didn’t find much. What places do people use to get the FEMA MRE’s with 2026 inspection dates? I see different places but wondering if anyone had recommendations.

I like to keep a couple cases on hand just in case and I rotate through them.
Click to expand...
MRE Depot sells MREs. I have bought some from them in the past. But I think their main product is now #10 cans of freeze dried steak, fish, chicken breast, pork chops etc.
They purchase production over runs on government contracts.
I have seen other companies selling the same product online at 2 to 3 times what MRE Depot charges.
 
clampett said:
MRE Depot sells MREs. I have bought some from them in the past. But I think their main product is now #10 cans of freeze dried steak, fish, chicken breast, pork chops etc.
They purchase production over runs on government contracts.
I have seen other companies selling the same product online at 2 to 3 times what MRE Depot charges.
Click to expand...
You have to wade through the whole website to find really good deals but I absolutely agree with you. Theirs is the best website for freeze dried food and MRE's. I find their Future Essentials meat sampler to be a good deal as well.
 
Uzi2 said:
Picked up four Quansheng UVK5 radios. For a cheap Chinese radio, these things are very capable.

Broad banded UHF/VHF, HF receive, air band AM capable, third party software that further expands capabilities, encrypted messaging capability, a scrambler that actually works, USBc charging plug (common to most cell phones) clear display, mic gain settable up to 15db enhancement and more.
FM broadcast receive (but doesn't revert to monitored frequencies in the VFO, or I have a setting incorrect. Will continue to learn the radio.

There's a bunch of youtubes on this radio and a couple of variants, and I haven't seen one that is not positive.

These put all the others to shame as far as capabilities.................and being the admitted "radio whore" that I am, [laugh] I'll be ordering several more this week.
Click to expand...
Did you see this upgrade to full HF receive that is available for these radios?? I found it last night when I was looking for a review ... impressive.

ETA: Pre caffiene omission :)
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXaLTA0y90c
 
xtry51 said:
Unfortunately I had to cull one of my sows because she attacked a younger pig. On the upside her bacon is brontasaurus sized. She was 540lbs hanging, so probably 700 live.

Me and my mobile butcher friend Luke who owns Two Hearts mobile butchery out if Winchester, NH.
View attachment 912154

The bacon
View attachment 912155
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Making some maple brown suger bacon steaks from our big sow Smudge quoted here.

20250103_124610.jpg
 

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