Pork Fat

Rendered pork fat (lard) is used for frying noodles, whipping up stir-fries, and drizzling on top of soups right before the feast begins. The most efficient way to render fat is to start by covering small pieces of fat with water and boiling until the water evaporates and the fat melts. The solids left behind when fats are rendered (cooked until they melt) are called cracklings, and are also highly prized for their crunchy texture.