Where can I buy suet in america?

Question

I really want to make English dumplings and need some suet. If the product is available but called something else - what is it known as?

I have just received the answer lard but I am aware that in England lard and suet exist as two seperate products - lard being a white substance and is, i think, pure animal fat, and suet which is a more dry consistency - or do I need to be educated?

But do Americans refer to lard and mean the same thing as English suet?

Answer 1

Suet and lard are not the same thing. Suet is a denser, harder fat than lard, which tends to be soft and runny (most commercial lard in the U.S. is actually hydrogenated, like shortening, to give it more body and a longer shelf-life).

You will probably have to search out suet at a specialty butcher or meat market. Your typical supermarket butcher isn't going to have any suet around. BTW, suet comes from the area surrounding the inner organs (kidneys) of cattle and sheep. Once upon a time, you could find it in supermarkets, but no longer, except maybe at holidaytime in places where there are lots of English pudding-makers.

UPDATE: Suet and lard are not the same thing. Suet is hard, waxy, and almost crumbly, as you say. It comes from cattle and sheep, from the region around their internal organs, especially the kidneys. Lard = pig, and it has a different, softer texture. If you can't find suet, I think lard would be your best substitute, as it will work properly in the recipe, and it will have a subtle animal flavor that will enhance your dumplings. You could also substitute shortening, but the flavor won't be as rich. Suet does not have a different name in the U.S.

There are very few Americans under the age of 60 who have cooked with either suet or lard. I'm a trained professional chef. Americans don't have traditions of cooking with suet, which is why you don't see it for sale. Do not buy bird-feed suet, as it is probably quite old and certainly pumped full of chemical preservatives and who-knows-what-else.

Answer 2

Americans don't generally cook with suet, which is similar but not identical to lard. You might need to try a pet food store as the main thing suet is used for in this country is bird food.

For your dumplings, you might try a vegetable shortening.

Answer 3

Can Buy Suet From

http://amzn.to/2awmYMy

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Answer 4

I too am looking for suet and have found these instructions for making your own:
The following assumes that the fat you get will not be the pure fat from around the kidneys, but rather excess fat trimmed off cuts of meat that will contain some membranes, which you won't want in whatever you are making as they will just get stuck in your teeth.

Stick raw fat in a baking dish in a hot over, and melt it. Throw out any solids remaining, and pour carefully into a large bowl to cool. As it starts to solidify, mix in ice water with a hand mixer or whisk until it gets very solid. Pour off the water, and put in fridge to cool and dry. Roll up into balls, wrap in plastic film, and freeze until needed.....I forget the website name atm.

Answer 5

I totally agree with the last English lady, I too am English and have always cooked with suet for my Christmas puddings, mincemeat and steak and kidney pudding and dumplings. Really miss it. Am going to ask the butcher I have just found if he has any or could save me some when he butchers the lamb. Lard is a completely different fat, listen to the English ladies please.

Answer 6

No it is Suet, which is from Beef, Lard is from pork. Try your local Kosher market. They may have it there. If not, try a health food store.

Answer 7

Go to the meat department of any grocery store or a butcher shop. They have fresh beef or pork fat available. You can also get lard which is fat that has been rendered.

***** added info *****

Americans call "the white stuff" fat. I've never known it as suet. But I think we're talking about the same thing.

Answer 8

Would like to purchase suet for export. Can you help?

Answer 9

They both are Just the thing for your health. If you eat both, you're better off. But yea, I had choose fruits because they taste better.

Answer 10

It is determined by the fruit or veg involved with a comparison. In the event that you compare a farrenheit to a carrot, the carrot is the better of the two nutritional. When you compare an avocado to the carrot, then an avocado is better. Both equally the apple and avocado, are fruits.