It's Time To Get Fat. Real Fat!

Our Big Fat Mission Statement

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What and Who is Fatworks?

Fatworks is a family-owned company that has been crafting the finest premium traditional Organic and Pasture-Raised fats (Tallow, Lard, Poultry Fats, and Ghee) since 2011. We have been tireless crusaders against industrialized seed oils and fat-phobia everywhere. Our products are absolutely and unapologetically premium fat sourced from the best farmers in the U.S.A. (with the exception of our Japanese Wagyu Tallow, which is, naturally, sourced from 100% A5 cattle from Japan). Fatworks is also known by the aliases "The Fattitude Adjusters" and "The Defenders of Fat." We hope you will join us on our delicious and nutritious mission of supplying fat lovers with real fat! We've been working to give people an alternative to industrialized seed oils since 2011. Fatworks was created to meet the very exacting standards of gourmet cooks, chefs, bakers, and fry fanatics, but we very much started our company from the perspective that real fat is a health food source. We proudly created our fat first and foremost for Paleo/Primal, Carnivore, AIP, Keto, Weston A. Price, Whole30, and anyone else who embraces real fat as part of a healthy lifestyle. Luckily, as a consequence of sourcing the healthiest fat possible and rendering them in an artisanal manner that we call "granny-style," we also make the best tasting fat. Real fat always brings more flavor, whether you are frying, baking, or grilling. So, if you are passionate about healthy fat for cooking, skincare, soapmaking, or candle-making, you have come to the right place, as no company is more dedicated to crafting healthy, traditional fat than Fatworks. Welcome, Fatworker!

What is a Fatworker?

Fatworkers are the heart and soul of Fatworks. They are people (like you, we assume, since you made it this far) who spread the truth about healthy fat through education and delicious cooking. A Fatworker is someone who understands that industrialized seed oils are problematic at best and the source of much of our diseases at worst. A Fatworker chooses real fat, as they understand that fat works for flavor, food, and fuel. A Fatworker also uses real fat for skincare, as people's skin absorbs real fat as if it were their own natural sebum. If you want to be a Fatworker too, then, of course, you already are! But it doesn't hurt to sign up for our mailing list to find out about sales, events, research, recipes, etc. To get on the list, hit this button here, and the fat fairy will make a pop-up magically appear.

Why is Fatworks the Defender of Fat?

Someone needs to defend real fat, and we have been the ones to do it. We have been fighting fat-phobia and the industrialized seed oil syndicate for over 12 years. We only support real fat, rendered in small batches and sourced from small family farms across the U.S. Thankfully, we are not alone. Many researchers, doctors, and nutritionists are finally starting to promote fat. The antiquated myths that malign saturated fat and animal-based fats are based on an unproven 60-year-old "lipid hypothesis," which states:
A. Saturated fat raises cholesterol
B. Higher cholesterol causes heart disease
Therefore:
C. Saturated fat causes heart disease.

Over the long term, saturated fat has not been shown to raise cholesterol levels by any large degree for most people in the population. But (and here is the important part), simply raising one’s cholesterol does not cause heart attacks. We can even take it one step further and tell you that there seems to be a protective element to cholesterol for overall mortality rates, and higher cholesterol is associated with better brain health. (Maybe because the brain is 80% cholesterol!)

Of course, we are but simple crafters of fat, so please do yourself a favor and check out the following links written by one of our heroes. He's much smarter than we are:

  • The Diet-Heart Myth: Why Everyone Should Know Their LDL Particle Number
  • The Diet-Heart Myth: Cholesterol and Saturated Fat Are Not the Enemy
Why do we say, "Friends don't let friends eat industrialized vegetable oil?"

Weird, isn't it, how research shows that humans may not be well adapted to eating oils created by scientists in a lab, such as canola, sunflower, soybean, cottonseed, etc.? In fact, research shows that "vegetable" oils (a.k.a. industrialized seed oils) may be quite harmful. As mentioned in Time magazine way back in 2016, "The unsaturated fats found in vegetable oils, when they're heated, tend to oxidize. In this form, they're more dangerous to body tissues and can trigger inflammation, a known risk factor for making blood-vessel plaques unstable enough to cause a heart attack." Research clearly demonstrates that it is the oxidation of fats, not the saturation level of fat, that is the real issue for heart health. Even cardiologists such as Dr. Jack Wolfson have been telling people for years that oxidation is the true culprit in atherosclerosis and heart disease. According to proponents of the theory, known as the "degenerative hypothesis," those so-called bad LDLs that we've all heard about only become a problem when they become oxidized! As a side note, even Omega-3s oxidize, so you should always purchase any fish oils from a reputable source. Lastly, traditional fats simply add way more flavor.
-Fatworks 2013

Is Fatworks Paleo, Keto, GAPS, Whole 30, Carnivore, etc.?

Not only are our fats good for these types of lifestyles, Fatworks was created precisely FOR these lifestyles. After all we are one of you! We were birthed from a strict adherence of Paleo and cyclical Keto. If you follow a lifestyle that embraces healthy fat then you already understand the benefits of fat and you've probably strated changing your life before you were introduced to Fatworks, but we are here to support your excellent choices. To those who embrace REAL fat, tallow, lard, poultry fat and ghee are an essential part of the diet. Many, many people have become healthier with more energy when they consume what used to be a no-no, traditional animal based fats.

That being said, if you have an inspirational story, please send it to us - we may use it to help inspire others, and if we use it in our social media as an inspirational story will send you a 25% off coupon code.

However, it should be said that even if you don't need to follow these lifestyles you can still get the health and culinary benefits of our products. Fatworks believes optimal health means eating high quality meats, fruits, nuts and vegetables. So all you need to be a Fatworker is to understand the value of eating the highest quality food.

Raising and Feeding Standards

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Do your Animals Get Vaccines?

No, the animals that we source for our tallow, lard, poultry fats, and ghee do not receive any vaccines whatsoever, which includes the mRNA vaccine.

Do your products contain any antibiotics or added hormones?

None of Fatworks fats, whether it be tallow, lard, poultry fats or ghee, is sourced from animals that have received any hormones or antibiotics.
Updated 2023- Our Wagyu is not hormone and antibiotic-free certified.

What is the Difference Between Your Organic and Your Pasture-Raised Fats?

The answer is that it depends on the fat. Fatworks Grass-Fed Beef Tallow comes in two types: a "Certified Organic Grass-Fed Tallow" and a non-certified "Grass-Fed Tallow." Both are grass-fed, grass-finished, and pasture-raised. The Organic Grass-Fed Tallow is sourced from suet that has been certified by a third party as being "Organic." The main features of a certified Organic fat are that it is certified as being non-GMO, pesticide-free, antibiotic-free, with no added hormones and no vaccines. In addition, the Organic version is rendered at a different plant that itself has been certified to be able to produce Organic tallow. The Organic certification of the plant has nothing to do with the quality of the processing; simply that the plant has taken the steps and the paperwork to show that they have traceability in place so that Organic products do not accidentally get commingled with other products. The process itself is the same in both facilities.

As for the non-Organic "Grass-Fed Tallow," it meets the same standards as the Organic version; however, it is not certified by a third party. Often we source from smaller farms to get the suet for our non-certified Grass-Fed Tallow. We do get affidavits from these small farms who clearly state that they raise their cattle with the same standards as found in Organic products. Often these ranches or farms simply do not want to pay for the expense to get the Organic certification, as this can be costly and time-consuming.

On to the Lard! Fatworks Pasture-Raised Lard vs. Fatworks Organic Lards. Our Organic Lards have the organic standards such as eating Organically certified feed, being non-GMO, pesticide-free, antibiotic-free, with no added hormones or vaccines; however, they are not raised on Pastures, rather in large pens where they are able to be "Free-Range." Still very humanely raised, but not on Pasture. Whereas the Pasture-Raised Pork is raised on Pasture and/or Forest lots, where they are free to roam and tend to eat a more diverse diet. Both the Pasture-Raised and Organic pork receive Non-GMO pig feed, but the Organic is the only one that is certified as Organic.

We make an Organic Chicken Fat but not a Pasture Raised Chicken Fat, as we have not found a supplier that does both, and when it came to chicken, the "Pasture Raised" farms that we found did not give the chickens good feed, and the pastures were overcrowded, so we decided to only go with Organic Chicken Fat. Hopefully, that helps clear things up; if not, please let us know where we lost you, and we will be happy to answer your questions and fix up any confusion.

Do you Hydrogenate Your Fat?

Of course not. We actually get a little bratty that people would still ask us this question, as hydrogenation is anathema to everything Fatworks stands for. But then we remember that not everybody knows that Fatworks was the company to bring back traditional non-hydrogenated fats into the mainstream. So, anyone asking, we understand your concern, as hydrogenation, which causes artificial trans fats using very high temps, will cause a small amount of hydrogenation. But we render our fats at low temps from 180–220°F. To truly hydrogenate oil or fat requires machinery that creates a vacuum and pumps hydrogen into the oil. We do not have such equipment, so as we like to say when asked this question, "we could not even hydrogenate our fats if we wanted to, and we certainly don't want to."

Shelf Life, Storage and Separation

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What is the storage and shelf life info for my Product?

Congratulations! You found our most popular question.

FATS

NOTE: Always use a clean utensil when scooping the fat from your jar. Introducing food into the jar can cause "nasties" in a pretty short order.

Poultry Fat (Duck, Goose, Chicken): Keep in the refrigerator. It will last 12-18 months in the fridge.

Pasture-Raised Lards: Keep in the refrigerator. Lard will last 12-18 months in the fridge.

Tallows and Ghees: Keep in the pantry. You can keep them in the fridge, but they will turn rock hard, and then you will need to give them a hot water bath (or microwave them on low if you are into that sort of thing). Once slightly melted, they will be "spoonable" and ready for you to enjoy. Tallow is naturally shelf-stable for about one year. One thing we recommend for tallow users who are using their tallow sparingly is to keep the tallow in the fridge or freezer (it will not break the jar) and then remove it a day before you are going to use it, letting the tallow get to room temp. Then you can use it and put it back into the fridge or freezer. It will stay fresher longer this way. If you plan on going through your tallow in 3-6 months, this is not necessary. You can freeze your fat for an even longer shelf life—years, in fact.

BONE BROTHS: The bone broths have a two-year shelf life if unopened. Once opened, put in the fridge and consume within 7 days. They can be frozen as well and should last years.

SKINCARE: Our skincare has a two-year shelf life.

Is oil separation normal in my FAT?

Do not get separation anxiety! Our fats all contain different fatty acids (saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated). Since different fatty acids have differing weights, over time, gravity pulls them apart. This will often add a yellow hue and sometimes a "grainy" texture for the tallows and lards, and even at times a slightly liquid consistency, but this does NOT indicate that the product has gone “bad.” If you wish to make your fat more solid, please perform a "reset." To "reset" your fat, simply do the following:

  1. Put the jar (with the lid on) on a pan or in a skillet at 250°F for 30-45 minutes. This will fuse the fatty acids back together.
  2. Carefully remove the jar with an oven mitt and place it in the fridge for 4-5 hours to solidify. Your fats should not separate further. Poultry fats and lards should remain in the fridge, whereas tallows and ghees can be stored in the pantry.
My Fat Arrived Liquid-y. Is This OK?

Typically, this is a question received in the summer months. Our fats will melt during transit sometimes. The poultry fat, especially, will almost certainly arrive melted. The lard, tallow, and ghees can also arrive liquid as well. This is nothing to worry about whatsoever. At the time of writing, we have been shipping our products for 12 years year-round, and the integrity or freshness of the product is not diminished during the summer months. The fats are rendered at around 200 degrees, so they are certainly able to withstand travel temperatures in the 100s. The standard travel time for our product is about 2-5 days, and while that is enough time to melt the product, it is not nearly enough time to cause any significant oxidation, especially as the jars are all vacuum sealed. If your product arrives melted, we suggest putting it in the fridge for 3 hours before using, and it will solidify. Once it returns to solid form, you can leave it in the fridge or, in the case of the tallows and the ghee, store it in a pantry.

Tallow Talk

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What is Tallow?

Tallow and lard are both rendered fat. Rendered fat means that the raw fat has been cooked to the point where any water and protein separate from the fat. Technically, a "tallow" is a rendered fat that is solid at room temperature. That's the reason you can make dipped candles with tallow and not from lard. We currently have several types of tallow: beef tallow, lamb tallow, and bison tallow, and we are working on future tallows such as elk and venison tallow. Each tallow has its unique flavor and benefits. To find out more about the individual tallows, please visit the product pages themselves on our store. We have explained the benefits of tallow in great detail in the following Facebook posts:

Tallow Be Thy Name (Part 1)
The Tallow Tale (Part 2 of The Great Tallow Manifesto)

Why do you call your tallow "cooking oil" if I can use it on my skin?

When we started Fatworks, there was a generation of people who didn't even know what tallow was, and those that did know about tallow didn't understand the benefits of real fat. We had to let the consumer understand that the primary use is as a cooking fat. However, there is nothing that we do to our tallow that makes it exclusively for cooking, and therefore it works great for skincare. We could have easily marketed our tallow as "Skincare Fat"; we just chose "cooking oil" as we figured (correctly) that cooking would be the primary use for most consumers. But ultimately, our tallows are Premium Grass-Fed Tallows, without any additives, bleaching, or deodorizing. You can make great dishes AND great skincare, soap, or candles with Fatworks Grass-Fed Tallows, and many skincare companies and DIY skincare makers use Fatworks Tallow exclusively.

What is special about your Cage Free Duck Fat?

Fatworks Cage Free Duck Fat is small kettle rendered with an all-natural fine-filtering system to create the purest cage-free duck fat on the market. This is the liquid gold people have been talking about. Gourmet chefs love duck fat and have used it as their secret ingredient for years, but that secret is out, and duck fat is back and more popular than ever. Duck fat imparts a rich, distinct, delicious flavor that you need to experience to understand. Even people who don't like duck meat love cooking with duck fat. It's difficult trying to describe a flavor, so we realize this probably doesn't help much, but we gave it a try. And so should you. Make your own confit (or try ours), fry up some famous duck fat fries, make roasted veggies, or pan fry poultry. You can even spread it on a "quacker" with a little sea salt. We source Mulard ducks, bred to forage on land rather than water. They are raised in large duck enclosures without cages and with plenty of room to roam, socialize, run around, preen their feathers, and just be as ducky as they wish. It should be noted that almost ALL ducks raised in the U.S. are cage-free and are, by law, hormone and antibiotic-free. The fed is, alas, not non-Gmo. They are fed corn and soy and other grains but with the giant food companies like General Mills starting to hijack the premium fat category, we are offering a family-owned alternative to the mega-corporations of the world.

What is Pasture Raised Leaf Lard?

Here’s your text with punctuation and minor corrections, while keeping your original phrasing intact:

If your recipe asks for "lard," don't be confused and think you can't use Leaf Lard. You can and you should! Leaf Lard is simply the name of the highest quality pork lard in the world. Why is it such high quality? Well, we take organic leaves and we gently crush them into... just kidding. Leaf Lard is such high quality because it's made from only the so-called "leaf" of the pig. These are protective deposits of 100% pure, precious pig fat. There is no meat muscle in the leaf and hence a milder pork flavor. Leaf Lard is the most prized cooking oil of all by bakers because it creates the lightest, moistest, and flakiest crusts. Once you make a pie crust with Pasture Raised Leaf Lard, you'll know exactly what we mean when we say real fat works. But Leaf Lard is not just for baking! Pastured Leaf Lard is perfect for frying and sautéing when you want oil with a neutral flavor that allows the ingredients of your dishes to shine. Our lard is 100% Pasture Raised. (with access to indoors, of course, in case of inclement weather.)

What is Pasture Raised Pure Lard?

Fatworks Pure Lard is made mostly from delicious back fat. Fatworks only uses pasture-raised, non-GMO, hormone, and antibiotic-free pigs. There is a misconception that only Leaf Lard is good for baking; however, this is simply not the case. In fact, if you are looking for a bit more piggy punch, Pure Lard is your best bet. Fear not—you'll still achieve that famous lard flakiness that everyone talks about. And don't forget, Pure Lard can withstand medium to high heat, making it great for frying and sautéing. Fun Fat Fact: Lard is excellent for home soap making!

Are there any artificial trans fats in your products and do you add anything to your fats?

We are sorry you even had to ask, but the answer is no—artificial trans fats are NOT traditional fats in any way. Partially hydrogenated trans fats are anathema to everything Fatworks stands for. Additionally, none of the raw fat that we render is processed, smoked, hydrogenated, or otherwise altered in any way. Our Beef Tallow contains 0.5 grams of NATURAL TRANS FAT. Only 100% grass-raised tallow will have enough CLA to register as having natural trans fat. We add the antioxidant organic rosemary extract to our lard and poultry fats to help keep peroxide levels low during the rendering process, as oxidized fats are no one's friend.

Ok, so you say you have no artificial trans fats so what's with the 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving in your Grass Fed Beef Tallow?

You read correctly, our Tallow has 0.5 grams of natural trans fat and we are darn proud of it! ONLY cattle that is fed 100% high quality grass will register 0.5 or more grams per serving of natural trans fat. That's worth reiterating. Cattle fed grains will have LOWER natural trans fat. And yes, CLA is a naturally occurring trans fat folks! By naturally occurring we mean trans fats that are created during the digestion process of the ruminant animal (in this case cattle). Artificial trans fats are gross as we all know now, but naturally occurring trans fats have NEVER BEEN SHOWN TO BE UNHEALTHY IN ANYWAY and in fact trans fats like CLA have been shown to have promising health benefits in weight loss, heart health and cancer prevention. Again, so we are clear, all tallow will have some naturally occurring trans fats, but only high quality grass fed and finished beef tallow has enough natural trans fat to get to 0.5 grams or above per serving. It should be noted that in some strange rationale of the USDA, if a food has below .5 grams of trans fat the nutritional panel for that food can claim 0 grams per serving. Crazy, we know.If you find a tallow that does not have 0.5 or higher trans fat per serving we suggest you do like King Arthur in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and "Run Away!"

Unfortunately, we have been informed of some "Grass Fed Tallows" that are not listing any trans fat on their jars and people have asked us what is going on with that. Normally we only talk about our products but since we get this question every so often, and seeing as how we don't do much but think about fat, we have taken the liberty to speculate on why this would be. Again this is speculation but we think you'll find it interesting none-the-less. 1.) The tallow in question may not be 100% grass fed. If it is not rendered in a USDA facility there is no telling what shenanigans are going on so we suggest you watch out. 2.) Perhaps the tallow is grass fed but the cattle ate a lot of silage or haylage. This is still technically "grass fed" but is lesser quality food source than fresh grass and may not allow the cattle to create as much natural trans fat during digestion. 3.) It could be that other grass fed tallows do in fact have 0.5 grams of trans fat but are not listing it! How can that be you may ask? Two ways. This is a bit detailed so for the love of fat pay attention! First thing to understand is that there is an established database that food companies can pull from for certain products when submitting their labels for review to the USDA. This is done so that food companies do not have to send their products to a lab for testing of well-established single ingredient products. So does this database have Tallow? You betcha. But here's the kicker, the national database Nutritional Panel for Tallow does NOT have 0.5 grams per serving listed! This is because the national database is using GRAIN FINISHED TALLOW AS THE REFERENCE! As discussed earlier, grain-fed cattle have less naturally occurring trans fat and as a result, will have less than 0.5 grams of trans fat, and therefore the company is able to claim 0 grams trans fat. If a company doesn't know or care much about their products and are simply trying to capitalize on the "Fat Trend" they could just be using the national database having never done any testing at all. This would be quite disrespectful to the consumer and to the greatness that is Grass Fed Tallow if you ask us. 4.) There is a 4th and more sinister reason that we have thought of as well. A company could, in theory, do their own testing and discover that their fat does indeed have 0.5 grams of trans fat but then decide to use the Nutritional Panel from the national database anyway! Why would they do this? Simple, because the media and the USDA have done a terrible job educating the public on the differences between NATURAL trans fat and ARTIFICIAL trans fat, therefore perhaps a company would elect to use the national database Nutritional Panel that has 0 grams trans fat thinking (probably quite correctly) that the average customer would be scared away by seeing 0.5 grams of trans fat. If a company were to do this it would be pretty deceptive (and if they are willing to deceive their customers about that, what else aren't they telling you?) So, yeah we have probably gone off the deep end and far afield into tin foil hat land with this one, but in truth we wouldn't be surprised to find out this was the case for some companies. In theory we could do this too, but rather than hide the this information we take it as an opportunity to educate and inform fat lovers! We do full fatty acid profile on all our fats and we were quite relieved to find that we had over 0.5 grams of natural trans fat so that we could show this off with pride!

What do your animals eat?

Hopefully, this is the first question you looked for when you came to our site. Nothing is more important to an animal's quality of life than what they eat and how they are raised. For this reason, we only use pasture-raised animals. Our cows graze exclusively on grass, while our ducks and pigs forage in the pasture in addition to receiving a high-quality non-GMO feed.

Please note that we are not certified non-GMO, as we source our animals from small family farms. Many of these farmers cannot afford or choose not to undergo the certification process. So, what's in the feed, you ask? It's a premium mix of non-GMO grains and soy.

We understand some people have concerns about soy because it contains isoflavonoids—biologically active compounds like phytoestrogens. Some researchers argue these can have negative effects on the human body, while others cite studies suggesting that soy isoflavonoids are actually beneficial. (Funny how food science can be!) For what it’s worth, the founders of Fatworks try to avoid soy in their diet. That’s why it was a happy day when we received confirmation from the lab stating, “it doesn’t look like there are any isoflavonoids in the duck fat.”

A little-known fact: isoflavonoids are absorbed in muscle meat and possibly the organs, but not in the fat! The same principle applies to grain proteins like gluten—gluten is NOT absorbed into the fat of animals. Therefore, our fats are, of course, gluten-free.

We want to emphasize that all the farmers we source from affirm that the soy or grains they use are non-GMO. Again, these are pasture-raised ducks, pigs, and cows. If you know anything about standard farming practices, you’ll realize this is quite rare. Unlike the vast majority of ducks and pigs raised in the U.S., the animals we source feed on true pasture, which provides them with grass, grubs, clover, and anything else they would naturally eat, resulting in a more balanced fatty acid profile.

Conceptually, we would love to eliminate soy and grains from all animal feed, but that would literally starve the animals on pasture. Currently, feeding without grain supplementation is only feasible on very small farms, most of which are not USDA certified.

We thought long and hard about what we would allow in the feed for our products. Ultimately, it came down to this: we weren’t going to let the “perfect be the enemy of the good.” Our mission has always been to provide the best fat possible with the resources available. We created Fatworks to offer a healthier and better-tasting alternative to trans fats and highly oxidizable industrial seed and vegetable oils like corn oil, sunflower seed oil, and canola oil.

We believe we’re making a difference. More people are starting to cook with REAL oil again for the first time in two generations—back before heart disease and diabetes became epidemic. Oops, we got a bit off track there! Sometimes we get carried away when discussing traditional fats, especially when our supporters are engaged and ask the right questions.

Are your Products "Organic"?

We produce several certified organic fats so we understand the depth of traceability that goes into the Organic certification and the dedication of the farmers who produce Organic meat so we believe that it is a valuable certificate, for sure! That being said, we think our pasture-raised are just as good and sometimes even better. So, for fat's sake, please read on!

When it comes to something like an apple, we understand that having an organic certification is a quick way to gauge a product's quality. However, we believe the USDA's overall standards for organic certification fall short in certain areas. For example, they consider a bird raised in a cage to be living an "organic" life, and we strongly disagree.

What we truly believe in are our farmers. We seek out farmers whose standards exceed USDA requirements in every way. The animals we use are pasture-raised, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and chemical-free, raised by farmers who are doing it right! So, while we can't label our lard, tallow, or duck fat as organic, if you know much about duck and pig farming, you’ll recognize that Fatworks products are far beyond the standard.

For us, it’s all about making the healthiest lard, tallow, and duck fat possible. Please note that we are not trying to disparage true organic farmers in any way. There are small—and even some large—companies that are organic and truly deserve your support. However, these companies are becoming the minority.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that organic labeling no longer represents the small farms it was designed to promote. Instead, it has largely become a marketing tool for "Big Food" and "Big Agriculture." As this eye-opening article illustrates, major corporations—not small organic farmers—have come to dominate the boards that set organic standards.

Sorry for the rant, but hopefully, you understand our perspective!

How do I filter my fat for multiple uses and can I use the same procedure for the Tallow, Leaf Lard and Duck Fat?

All of our fats can be filtered several times for reuse. If you’ve fried your food and wish to recycle your fat, please follow these procedures:

  1. Ensure the fat is at the right temperature: The oil should be hot enough to be liquid but cool enough to avoid burns.
  2. Strain the fat: Use a clean jar (glass is best) and strain the fat through cheesecloth. If you have a bit more time and patience, a paper coffee filter works well too.

Keep in mind, there’s no exact number of times we can recommend reusing your oil. There are simply too many variables involved, so use your good Fatworker judgment.

Here are a few factors to consider when determining the reusability of your oils:

  1. Heat of the oil: The hotter you heat your oil, the fewer times you’ll be able to reuse it.
  2. Duration of use: The longer you use your oil, the fewer uses you will get.
  3. What you're cooking: Frying plain vegetables will keep the oil much cleaner than frying foods heavily coated in batter or flour.

Always check your oil before reusing it. If you notice an unusual smell or color, it's best to dispose of it.

Are Tree Nuts, Soy, Peanuts or Gluten in the facility where the fats are processed or jarred?

Yes, however, if you have allergies, let us put your mind at ease. We use a shared facility, but we never share it with anyone else on the day we render. Here’s how it works:

For example, if a soup company finishes making soup on Monday, they are required to sanitize all kettles and surfaces and remove all products from the kitchen area. The following day, when Fatworks is scheduled to render Leaf Lard, the kitchen must be sanitized again before we begin our process.

In short, the entire kitchen is sanitized twice before we start any rendering. If you're concerned about cross-contamination, rest assured that it is highly unlikely!

Dang! The jar lid is totally stuck, what can I do?

Those healthy fats giving you a workout for your forearms? That probably means you've got a bit of fat stuck in the threads of your jar. Running the lid and jar under hot water for a minute should do the trick. You can also grab one of our Fatworks jar grips—after all, there's a reason we make them!

How do you dispose of used fat?

Restaurants recycle theirs, so you can too. It can be cleaned and used in the production of biodiesel fuel. Many municipalities will now accept cooking oil for this recycling purpose. You may even find a friendly restaurant that will accept your used fat and include it with their oil recycling. If circumstances make recycling difficult for you, then put it in a sealed, non-recyclable container and throw it in the trash (not recommended).

Where does your product originate?

We source exclusively from the USA, with the exception of our Japanese Wagyu, which is from Peru. (Just making sure you are on your toes; it is, of course, sourced from Japan.) We then render and filter all of our products in Colorado, Arizona, or New York. *In 2022, due to a shortage caused by the pandemic, we had to source some Organic pork from Canada. Hope you don't hold that against us.

Can I feed it to my pet?

You should only feed our products to your pets on one condition-you have to love them very much. Dogs and cats adore Grass Fed Tallow, Pastured Duck Fat, and Pastured Leaf Lard. It's natural that they would; it's well known that cats and dogs in the wild always go for the fatty bits first. Here's what we recommend you do: cut back a bit on your pet's food, then add a tablespoon or two of Fatworks Grass Fed Tallow to the mix, and you'll have a very happy friend. We have a customer who wrote to us, "I've mixed Tallow into our cat's food, and her coat went from being dull to shiny and jet black (like a shampoo commercial!)" If you have a pet story of your own, please let us know.

Recipes

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Do you have a recipe page and can I submit a recipe?

Understanding the benefits of using traditional fat is one thing, but ultimately it doesn't do much good if you don't know how to use it. That's why we are working on a project to create a library of recipes exclusively dedicated to traditional fat. We are working with food and health bloggers, chefs, and most importantly, Fatworkers to create this database. If you have a recipe that you would like to share, please contact us, and we will send you instructions about where to send your pictures and the text. Any recipe that we use will earn you a free jar of fat of your choice. For fat-tastic recipe ideas, go here.

Skincare

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Is your Tallow Based skincare Organic?

Yes. Mostly. We feel what you put on your body is as important as what you put in your body. Our skincare products are not certified organic, but many of the ingredients are organically certified. There are certain products that are not certified "organic," such as the wildcrafted ingredients. None of the ingredients contain pesticides, GMOs, hormones, or antibiotics.

Why are there seed oils in the skincare

It is important to note that industrialized seed oils, which we have been fighting against for over thirteen years, are different from botanical oils and butters, and we hope that people do not conflate the two.We set about to make the best skincare that we could. It is easy for a Fatworker to purchase a jar of our Fatworks Grass-Fed Tallow and make their own DIY tallow balm by adding essential oils and whipping it, and many of our customers do just that. However, our goal with our skincare line was to formulate the best skincare products possible, with tallow being just one important ingredient within a balanced blend. We did not allow ourselves to be swayed by an ideology that says plant-based products are inherently bad, in the same way we wish certain activists would not malign animal products. The results, we feel, are excellent and much better than tallow alone (which we tested as a control product).

Does Tallow Skincare Smell like Beef Fat?

A little. The trick is to find some good essential oils to cover up any beef smell, and we have done a good job doing that. Of course, using fresh tallow from 100% Grass-Fed suet helps keep the smell from being noticeable. We understand that smell is an important part of skincare for some, but our skincare is much more geared toward people who want serious results and healing for their skin.

Is the Tallow that you use in your Skincare the same as the Grass Fed Tallow you make and sell in the jars?

Yes! We use the same high-quality grass-fed tallow that we sell in jars and buckets, sending it directly to our skincare production team to create our skincare products.

The skincare has a "pilly" or "grainy" feel to it, is this normal?

This is normal! While it doesn’t occur with every batch, if your skincare appears to have little "beads" or feels "grainy," it's due to the way the tallow has set. Tallow consists of various fatty acids, predominantly saturated fats. When tallow transitions from a liquid to a solid state, the saturated fat may cool more quickly than the other fatty acids, resulting in small beads of saturated fat. But don’t worry—this is purely a superficial issue, meaning it only affects the surface. When you apply the product to your skin, those little beads melt away and absorb just like they were never there.

Do you use any artificial ingredients in your Skincare?

We never use synthetic chemicals, GMOs, toxins, fillers, artificial colors or artificial fragrances in our skincare. Our candles use artificial fragrances.

My first order was different than my second order. What gives?

With natural skincare, there is much less homogenization of the base ingredients. We use Grass-Fed Tallow, which varies seasonally in color, smell, and texture, as well as Wildcrafted botanicals and butters that also vary seasonally. The result is that while each batch will be equally effective, they will also be be uniquely fat-tastic in their own way.

Ordering

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How long will it take to get an order?

We ship Monday through Friday. If you order on the weekend, your order will ship on Monday. We typically ship within 48 hours after we receive your order and normally sooner. The exception is if we are out of a product. We are working on our inventory system to sync with our warehouse better, but we have found that we occasionally oversell products. If you do not receive your order confirmation within 48 hours, please contact us via email or phone (720-438-4530), and we can help determine the cause of the delay.

Is local pick-up available?

If you are in the Englewood, Colorado area and wish to pick up your order locally, you can do so, but there is a $5 charge, as the fulfillment center charges us $5 for each pickup. If you wish to pick up in Englewood, CO, please call us at 720-438-4530, and we will take your order over the phone, then contact the fulfillment center to let them know you will be arriving.

Do you sell in stores?

Yes, since March 2014, Fatworks Premium Grass-Fed Tallow is USDA approved, which means that we now sell wholesale to grocery stores, co-ops, and restaurants. It’s a travesty, but natural stores such as Sprouts and Whole Foods have opted to bring in our copycat competitor from General Mills. Strangely, we are sold in Walmarts across the country, as well as in several independent co-ops and stores nationwide. To see if we are in a store near you, please click here to go to our FAT FINDER. We also sell directly from our Fatworks Store. If you wish to see us in a store near you, please contact your local retailer and let us know as well so we can call them! Get us into a new store, and we will send you a jar of fat!

Where do we sell our fats?

Currently we are selling our pure premium products at www.fatworks.com and in stores throughout the US. The "FAT FINDER" link on our home page lists the fine stores and locations that sell our traditional cooking oils.

Do you ship outside of the US?

If you will pay for the shipping we will try and ship it to you. We have had limited success shipping to our Fatworkers in Canada, but we must be honest, it is not cheap to ship our orders outside the U.S. It's best to get some friends together and purchase in bulk. Just contact us and we can try to make some special arrangements because we're cool like that. (Anything to spread the fat!)

Wholesale/Private Label/Affiliate Program

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How do I contact you for wholesale opportunities?

You go here and we will contact you right away. We are always interested in exploring relationships with natural and gourmet markets, high-quality restaurants, co-ops, and CrossFit or other gyms. Any organization or person who understands the value of traditional healthy fats is someone we want to meet!

I have a restaurant, co-op, CSA, fitness gym, etc. and I want to buy your fat, what do I need to do?

Send us an email with the subject headings, "I'm a Fatworker too!" Or, if you would prefer to send us an email without a silly subject heading, that's perfectly ok too. Either way the email address is fattalk@fatworks.com

Do you have an affiliate program?

Yes, we call it our "Affila-fat" program (actually, we don't call it that, and we don't expect you to either). Affiliate programs are a wonderful way to spread the word. We believe that food and health bloggers are the single most important resource for promoting traditional fat. Just contact us, and we can set something up.

I have a blog or company and would like to do a giveaway. Would you be interested?

Teaming up with bloggers for giveaways and promotions is one of our favorite activities. We would be very interested in collaborating with you, provided we love what you are doing. Let us know what you have in mind. We only do promotions with people we respect. That being said, we have found that most individuals with a natural health or food blog are exactly the type of people we want to work with to promote natural, healthy fats.

Do you Private Label or White Label your fats?

Sure do. We can make USDA inspected Private Label Lard Tallow or Ghee. We have a minimum of 1200 lbs and are happy to discuss packaging and pricing with you for your big fat project.

Are your Products Halal or Kosher

Fatworks products are neither Certified Halal or Kosher. We use pork products, and though we sanitize our kettles between runs, the higher powers that be do not accept this as "good enough" and insist that we need a separate dedicated facility, which we do not have the resources for. If you need a certified Halal or Kosher product, this is not the product for you. However, if you are ok with products that are pork-free but not certified as such, our Tallow, Ghee, and Poultry Fats will work well for you, as we do not mix any of our fats.

Why don't you have Keto or Paleo Certification

As early adopters of both the Paleo and Keto movements, we know how picky people living that lifestyle can be. That being said, if you don't understand that real animal fat is inherently Keto (and literally the most Keto thing in the world), then you may need to go back and do a little research as to what Keto is all about. Certifications are great for companies making "Keto" and "Paleo" cookies and breads where there could be some doubt, but are not relevant for real, whole foods. Fatworkers are smart enough to know that real fat is both Keto and Paleo (and Carnivore for that matter).

Learn Your Fats

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What is Lard?

Praise the Lard! That's our motto, and we're sticking with it. Of course, for years we, as a society, were told the exact opposite—that lard was nothing short of a heart attack in a jar. There is some truth to the fact that the lard being sold on shelves was hydrogenated garbage that probably didn’t do anyone any favors. Fatworks wanted to create an alternative to the chemical bricks of hydrogenated fat found in grocery stores while helping small family farms find an outlet for their precious fat (even if no one thought it was precious except for us). The primary fat found in Pasture Raised lard is oleic acid. Oleic acid has been shown to decrease depression, lower cancer risk, and balance cholesterol.

Why Do We Call Our Fats, "Cooking Oil" and Can They Be Used for other Purposes?

It's important to remember that when we started Fatworks, animal fat was maligned and villainized to the point that the general public no longer knew how to use it! The way we viewed, and still view, our products is as an alternative to the industrialized seed oils that took over from the 1950s on. Therefore, we wanted to make sure people understood our fats could be used as a replacement for the industrialized seed oils they were using as their cooking oil. This in no way means that we do anything special to them to make them specifically "cooking oil." They are fine-filtered to be pure and great as cooking oil, but for example, lard is the original "shortening," and our lards work great as shortenings for baking as well. Additionally, our Grass-Fed Tallow "cooking oil" is simply well-sourced and fine-filtered tallow that is perfect for cooking, soapmaking, skincare, candle-making, and much more.

What Do you Feed Your Pork?

All hogs sourced by Fatworks for our Pasture-Raised Pork Lard and Pasture-Raised Leaf Lard graze on natural, non-GMO pasture and are never treated with hormones or antibiotics. They are sourced from pigs that root and wallow in pastures and forested areas of the farm from which we source. Because they are not ruminants and cannot thrive on grass, the hogs are supplemented with a non-GMO, custom-mix feed ration containing probiotics and nutrients. The hogs never receive antibiotics, synthetic hormones, harsh pesticides, GMOs, or vaccines. All our Pasture-Raised pork is born, raised, and harvested in the USA. Our Organic Pork is raised by farmers that adhere to the strict regulations of organic standards. There are no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, harsh pesticides, GMOs, or vaccines. Only organic feed is given. Annual third-party facility inspections for adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices are mandatory. Our Wild Boar Lard is field-harvested with a mobile unit from overpopulated forest, then processed onsite under government inspection. They are truly wild and feral swine.

I heard Lard has Vitamin D and Tallow has Vitamins A, D, E, and K, so why aren't they listed in your Nutritional Panel?

We can go on and on about this, but neither lard nor tallow has the vitamins that you may have heard about. It's a myth. Lard doesn't have vitamin D, and grass-fed, grass-finished tallow doesn't have vitamins A, K, E, and so on. It's a myth. Don't worry, though; grass-fed tallow is still awesome, and animal fats are great for you. We wish that people would start celebrating the amazing benefits of the fatty acids themselves rather than promoting "vitamins," which can be digested from other food sources, after all. It should be noted that this is not due to any rendering method or the type of fat we are sourcing; this is all tallow everywhere. Those vitamins are not found in tallow, and if they are, it is in such small amounts that it would be deceptive to mention them as a "good" source. The true benefits of tallow are the fatty acids. We know that this is disappointing for some to hear, and believe us, we would love to promote the vitamins in tallow (and no one would benefit from that myth more than us), but we are all about what is true, not what is trendy. P.S. Amazon is littered with tallow companies now claiming vitamins in their tallow. We suggest using that as a great way to know which tallow brands to avoid :)

Still have questions?

Contact us