Bear Fat Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - How to Cook Bear Fat (2024)

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5 from 3 votes

By Hank Shaw

February 21, 2014 | Updated October 29, 2020

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Bear Fat Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - How to Cook Bear Fat (2)

Bear fat. Mystical manna to some, acrid monstrosity to others.

To listen to some people, bear fat is a cure-all, a magic fat perfect for cooking, waterproofing boots, making soap or herbal ointments. Listen to others and they will tell you that bear fat is the most disgusting substance this side of the sludge on the floor of a p*rno theater.

How can this be? How can one substance be both things? It can, and here’s why:

Like pigs, raccoons, ducks, geese and yes, humans, bears are omnivores. And no other sort of critter tastes more of what it eats than an omnivore. I suspect this is because of the huge variety in diet an omnivore can have — a deer pretty much just eats leafy things, while a mallard can eat shrimp, clams, corn, barley rice or bugs (and often eats all of these on a given day).

Gourmands swoon over the flavor of acorn-eating pigs from Spain, and I’ve swooned over the flavor of canvasback ducks eating sago tubers.

Bears are no different. Shoot a bear that had been eating acorns or blueberries or manzanita and you’ll find that its fat will be as white as snow and virtually indistinguishable from the finest pork lard you can buy or make. Shoot a bear that had been gorging itself on dead salmon and you’ll get weird orangey-yellow fat that stinks like low tide in August.

In the last days of 2012 Holly shot a black bear that we guess had been eating lots of manzanita berries and other wholesome things, because a) the bear was hugely fat and b) that fat was sublime. I rendered out more than a gallon, froze most of it and have been using the bear lard ever since.

If you read enough American literature, especially frontier literature, you will come across references to bear grease. It has been a uniquely North American substance that has indeed been used for cooking, waterproofing (I waterproof my boots with bear fat), greasing machinery, slicking back hair, lighting lamps and who-knows-what-else. But the most breathless prose has always been reserved for bear fat in pastry.

Most bakers know that pork lard makes the flakiest pie crust, and bear fat has virtually the same properties as pork lard: It looks the same, smells and tastes fairly neutral like pork lard, melts at a similar temperature and stores just as well.

I couldn’t find any comprehensive data on the nutritional details of bear fat, and the probable reason is because it’s so variable. There is a fairly hilarious study coming out of the University of Nebraska that did find that the fat in black bears pillaging suburban garbage cans is far higher in unhealthy trans fatty acids than those with little or no contact with humans. Hot Pocket bears, anyone?

At any rate, I like buttermilk biscuits. A lot. So I had to give bear fat buttermilk biscuits a go. I started with a recipe I knew would work: Elise’s over at Simply Recipes. Her recipes are always tested and true. Her recipe goes on to make that classic milk-and-sausage gravy, and while I could have done that with bear sausage, I confess to hating white gravy; I am a red-eye gravy man.

I can tell you that damn these were good! I even hippie’d it up with some acorn flour, too, and it was still great. Flaky as hell, neutral — no “beary” aroma or taste — and well, just some really good biscuits. Don’t have bear fat kicking around? Use regular lard.

5 from 3 votes

Bear Fat Buttermilk Biscuits

You can of course make these biscuits with lard or duck fat. But if you do, make sure the lard is freshly rendered, not the nasty hydrogenated stuff that can be kept at room temperature. If going all-bear or duck or lard freaks you out, go half and half. You will notice that my biscuits are a little dark. This is because I used 1/2 cup of acorn flour. You can do this, too, or sub in up to 1/2 cup of any other sort of flour for variety.

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Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 biscuits

Prep Time: 12 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup rendered bear fat
  • 1 cup cold buttermilk, plus 2 more tablespoons
  • 2 tablespoons bear fat or melted butter (to brush on top)

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 450°F. Get a baking sheet or cast iron frying pan ready.

  • Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the bear fat and mash it into the flour with a fork or a pastry cutter. Work fast so the bear fat doesn't melt on you. You're done when the mixture looks like little crumbly peas.

  • Pour in the buttermilk and stir together just until the dough comes together. It should be pretty sticky, but the dough will come away from the sides of the bowl. Don't overwork it, or your biscuits will be tough.

  • Cover your hands lightly with flour and pick the dough up and set it on a floured work surface; I use a clean kitchen counter. Don't knead the dough so much as fold it over on itself. Flatten it out into a disc about 3/4 inch thick. Use a cutter or a glass to cut rounds out, setting each one on the baking sheet or frying pan so they are just barely touching each other. Reform the dough until you use it all up. If the cutter gets sticky, dust it with flour.

  • Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the tops begin to brown. As soon as they come out, paint with the melted butter. Eat warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 135mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
American Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Featured, Recipe, Wild Game

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

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Bear Fat Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe - How to Cook Bear Fat (2024)

FAQs

How to cook with bear fat? ›

My favorite way to use bear grease is pan-frying meats and veggies because it burns clean and has a high smoke point. It can also be used when baking pastries and breads.

How to use bear grease? ›

Cooking- Bear Grease can be used for any type of cooking that involves oil, including pan frying meat and oil in breads and pastries.

Does bear fat go rancid? ›

Bear oil doesn't go rancid as quickly as pork lard and can be used for any type of cooking application. In my book, it's the best oil for frying, as well as a great product for making pastries, cookies, and pie crusts.

What is bear fat oil used for? ›

The men would have used the oil for waterproofing, lubrication, insect control, and cooking. Today, bear oil is also used to soothe and moisturize skin, for pain relief, hair and beard care, and for a variety of cooking techniques.

Does bear fat have trichinosis? ›

Today, around 90% of the cases of Trichinosis are contracted from eating black bear meat. In Bear Hunting Magazine we encourage eating bear meat, utilizing the fat and all the usable parts of a bear. Trichinosis is easily prevented by simply cooking it properly.

How to boil down bear fat? ›

Rendering Bear Fat
  1. Cut bear fat into 1-inch cubes. ...
  2. Set a wide, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat and pour in just enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom. ...
  3. Layer the fat cubes in a single layer in the bottom of the pot. ...
  4. After several hours all of the fat should be melted.
Sep 19, 2019

Does bear grease need to be refrigerated? ›

Once you've strained the bear fat through your strainer and cheesecloth, pour it into your jars for storage. It will keep in the fridge for a few months (if it lasts that long!) and indefinitely in the freezer. You will know if your fat has gone bad if it has a distinctly rancid odor.

Is bear fat healthy? ›

Bear fat is high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are considered good for heart health. It is also a rich source of vitamins A and D, which are essential for healthy skin, eyes, and bones. Moreover, bear fat contains high levels of oleic acid, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Is bear oil good for arthritis? ›

Recommended Use: “Pure Bear Oil” for Wrinkly Repair, Cuticle Repair, Inflammation, Chapped Lips, Skin Damage, Poison Ivy, Joint Pain, Psoriasis, Bug Bites, Arthritis, Sunburns, Eczema, and so much more.

Does bear fat go bad in the freezer? ›

Rendered bear fat has a pretty long shelf life when stored and used properly. It will last for several months in the fridge or indefinitely in the freezer. Let the cooking begin! Savory pie crusts, biscuits, bear fried in bear, soaps, salves; the uses are endless.

Does bear grease stink? ›

The best way to tell if your Bear Grease has gone bad is by the smell, as our product is nearly odorless when fresh.

Does bear grease help hair grow? ›

In addition, bear grease obtained in this study had the obvious activity of promoting hair growth. The length, weight, and number of hair follicles in the depilation area of mice in the high-dose group were significantly different from those in the blank group (p < 0.01).

What did the Native Americans use bear grease for? ›

The Pawnee stiffened their Mohawk ridges with bear grease and red paint, whereas bear grease gained popularity in the New World beginning in the mid-1600s as a treatment for hair loss. Native Americans revered bear oil's medicinal value as skin conditioners and to treat joint pain, swelling, and inflammation.

What to make with bear fat? ›

Here are just some of the uses of bear grease documented in historical accounts: leather conditioner, gun lubricant, waterproof boot grease, wood conditioner, lamp oil, skin moisturizer, hair pomade, lard for pastry and pie dough, frying oil, and lard for tortillas and tamales.

Is bear grease edible? ›

Cooking with Bear Grease

Back in the day, bears were a vital food source. Bear lard was a staple that would help produce meals for an entire year. Bear lard was used as frying oil to sear lean mean, cook fish, and fry vegetables, potatoes, and oatmeal cakes.

Is bear fat healthy to cook with? ›

Bear fat is rich in nutrients and is considered a healthier alternative to other cooking oils. Bear fat is high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are good for heart health.

Do you have to refrigerate bear grease? ›

Transfer the fat to Mason jars, seal, and refrigerate. Bear fat should last several months in the fridge or even longer if frozen.

What does bear fat taste like? ›

Fat from bears that eat a lot of dead salmon is said to taste fishy. It really depends on what the bear is eating. The fatty nature of bear meat lends itself well to slow-cooked roasts. One of my favorite dishes from a local hunter is corned bear.

Does bear grease go bad? ›

While there's no definitive answer to how long Bear Grease lasts, it's known to keep at room temperature for several weeks (or even months), for at least a year when refrigerated, and potentially indefinitely in the freezer.

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