topic Re: Substitute for lard in Recipes

Substitute for lard

drizzellla — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:04:01 GMT

I found a recipe for refried beans. I thought a would give it a try.

One ingredient was lard. It calls for 1/2 of a cup. I have never seen lard at the grocery store. BUT must admit I never looked for it before.

Looked for substitutes in case I don't find lard at the grocery store. The first suggestion that I read was butter. I was thinking would mixing bacon grease with butter give it an added boost? Or would that be too much?

Re: Substitute for lard

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:13:03 GMT

Substitute 2/3 cup vegetable oil for 1 cup lard in recipe.

Re: Substitute for lard

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:28:43 GMT

If interesnted LARD can be purchased at the grocery store.

Re: Substitute for lard

SurferWife — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:39:41 GMT

Lard is what makes the refried beans SO GOOD! I certainly wouldn't substitute it, especially with vegetable oil (it is pro-inflammatory). Lard is actually better for us anyway (no trans fats).

Re: Substitute for lard

AuntG — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:42:20 GMT

I've seen lard in the grocery store, but the only time I used it was in pie crusts, and that was a long time ago.

Re: Substitute for lard

Icegoddess — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:43:29 GMT

My grocery (Publix) sells lard. I would think shortening would be a closer match than vegetable oil, but it still won't be the same

Re: Substitute for lard

PA Mom-mom — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:46:47 GMT

@drizzellla You can look for lard in the pork section of your grocery store. Here in PA it's usually about $4.99 for a tub. In baking, you can substitute Crisco, but I don't know if you can use for refried beans.

Re: Substitute for lard

SurferWife — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:51:01 GMT

P.S. We buy our Lard on Amazon. South Chicago Packing is a great brand. We also buy their beef tallow.

Re: Substitute for lard

drizzellla — Sun, 03 May 2026 20:09:08 GMT

Thanks for all your replies.

I have quite an assortment of grocery stores near my house. I am now confident that I will find lard in one or more of the grocery stores.

I have become so used to just picking up the items that I want that I don't take the time to notice all the variety of items in the grocery. One grocery store bought a K-Mart. The grocery is huge. It is a bit overwhelming how much product they do have.

Guess I am about to find out.

Re: Substitute for lard

MoonieBaby — Sun, 03 May 2026 20:17:24 GMT

,

I have to thoroughly agree with Surferwife.
Lard is actually your best option for taste and health benefits.

Re: Substitute for lard

RedTop — Sun, 03 May 2026 20:35:05 GMT

My IGA lard is in the baking section near the oil, solid Crisco and Pam spray, directly across from the flour and cornmeal.

Re: Substitute for lard

PA Mom-mom — Sun, 03 May 2026 21:24:00 GMT

@RedTop Yes. As I remember there is shelf stable lard in the baking aisle, and then there is refrigerated lard in the meat department. Thanks for that clarification! I've only bought the refrigerated kind.

Re: Substitute for lard

I am still oxox — Sun, 03 May 2026 21:25:15 GMT

Growing up in the Northeast with a very progressive Mom I know I have she never cooked with lard

Re: Substitute for lard

SilleeMee — Sun, 03 May 2026 21:56:10 GMT

I grew up eating fried food from Crisco in the can. Worse stuff ever. Mom thought it was better than lard but she was wrong.

Re: Substitute for lard

haddon9 — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:03:47 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
I grew up eating fried food from Crisco in the can. Worse stuff ever. Mom thought it was better than lard but she was wrong.

@SilleeMee My mom too. They didn't know that Crisco was so bad for you back then. My mother used to eat margarine rather than butter because the "experts" all said that butter was bad then too.

The only vegetable oils I will use today are olive, avocado or coconut. They are much healthier than other vegetable oils.

Re: Substitute for lard

Pink123 — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:20:01 GMT

Its not hard to make your own fresh.

I would not use crisco or it's partners on the shelves. So easy to make it yourself. Keep adding bacon fat or whatever and build it up in some sort of jar or can is what my Mom taught me... I loved it on toast as a kid. Could not get enough of it!

And yes, it is healthy Just my opinion. Yum. And in Florida they called it schmaltz . Who knows but it is delicious.

PS. A bit off topic but I just love Kerry Gold butter, the best. Give it a try if you prefer butter. (love it with mashed potato or baked, actually anything for Kerry Gold.

Re: Substitute for lard

Pink123 — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:28:57 GMT

@SilleeMee Yes indeed big time. Yet who really knows?

Re: Substitute for lard

lil spot — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:51:47 GMT

@Pink123 wrote:
Its not hard to make your own fresh.

I would not use crisco or it's partners on the shelves. So easy to make it yourself. Keep adding bacon fat or whatever and build it up in some sort of jar or can is what my Mom taught me... I loved it on toast as a kid. Could not get enough of it!

And yes, it is healthy Just my opinion. Yum. And in Florida they called it schmaltz . Who knows but it is delicious.

PS. A bit off topic but I just love Kerry Gold butter, the best. Give it a try if you prefer butter. (love it with mashed potato or baked, actually anything for Kerry Gold.

@Pink123 I, also, only buy Kerry Gold butter. When Publix has it BOGO, it sells out so quick. That is when I stock up.

Re: Substitute for lard

Pink123 — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:57:26 GMT

Thanks @lil spot I will keep checking yum!

Re: Substitute for lard

Mz iMac — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:14:08 GMT

My family is from the south...........enough said.