How to tell the difference between fresh suet and just beef fat??

otterspasm

Hi Everyone,
I'm trying to avoid trans fats and so asked my butcher today for some fresh suet. What he has given me is a couple of slices of fat about 2 cm thick and about 12 cm by 6 cm wide/long. It just looks like fat to me and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what fresh suet looks like??? I'm just not sure if he's given me the right stuff or not...

Also do you need to do anything in particular to fresh suet to prepare it for use???

Sorry if I sound really dim....it's because I AM!

Thanks!

apprentice_tycoon

Suet is the fatty casing around the kidneys, does it look as if it has a shape like kidneys? bear in mind that a beef kidney will be pretty big.

otterspasm

Hi apprentice tycoon,
It just looks like a thick slice of solid fat. Nothing kidney shaped about it at all.....

black-saturn

Sounds like dripping to me

otterspasm

Is dripping just another word for beef fat? (sorry again for being so dim!)

black-saturn

Its the stuff that drips out of beef when it's being cooked and goes solid. It's really nice if you cook your chips in it.

apprentice_tycoon

There's a bit of info here, it's mainly about feeding birds with suet but it tells you about mincing it etc - another page here

otterspasm

Hi black saturn,

Mmmm. Sounds like it would make tasty chips. Thanks.

PS. I'm loving your meal planner and recipes....also liked your kitchen! Making the fruit cobbler tomorrow. Cheers

otterspasm

Thanks for the links apprentice tycoon,
They seem to say that suet is any beef fat, but is mostly from the kidneys. That's helpful.

thriftlady_2

I think I'm right in saying the fat round the kidneys of a sheep is also suet.Your butcher should be able to mince it for you ,just ask him- then it will look more like the stuff in boxes.My butcher sells it ready-minced.

Dripping will be quite soft like lard,but suet will be harder.Btw Atora beef suet does NOT contain trans fats,it is just beef suet and flour(to prevent it sticking together).I checked the label this week

black-saturn

Whats vegetarian suet made from then?