Leaf lard, the fat around the kidneys, is considered the best. Lard is a great cooking medium for sautéing, pan-frying, deep-frying, and making confit; it is also a wonderful shortening and produces biscuits and pastries that are much more tender and flaky than those made using only butter.

Which lard is healthiest?

The two main types of lard you can buy are fresh lard and shelf-stable lard. Fresh lard is usually just the rendered pork fat, while shelf-stable lard usually contains some amount of hydrogenated fat to preserve freshness. The fresh, refrigerated lard is the healthiest option.

Is there a difference in lard?

The difference between lard and vegetable shortening is that lard is made of pure animal fat and shortening is made of vegetable oil. ... Shortening behaves the same way as lard in baking, producing flaky layers. However, shortening doesn't impart the same flavor or richness as lard.