Meat
Back Fat
Back fat is the thick subcutaneous layer along the pig’s back—firm, white, and essential for sausage, salami, and larding lean roasts. Quality fat from well-fed pigs is clean-smelling and smooth when diced. It is not the same as soft leaf lard from the kidney area. Dice small for farce, grind with lean for balanced sausage, or cut into sheets for barding. Render slowly for frying fat if desired. Keep cold while working so cubes stay distinct in cured salami. Avoid yellowed or off-smelling fat.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 99 g
- Saturated Fat 34.7 g
- Trans Fat 0.2 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 39.6 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 24.8 g
- Cholesterol 81.7 mg
- Sodium 60.5 mg
- Salt 0.14 g
- Total Carbohydrate 0 g
- Dietary Fibre 0 g
- Total Sugars 0 g
- Complex / starch 0 g
- Protein 0.2 g
- Water 0.3 g
- Energy 892 kcal
- Water 0.3 g
- Protein 0.2 g
- Fat 99 g
- Saturated Fat 34.7 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 39.6 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 24.8 g
- Omega-3 3.71 g
- Trans Fat 0.2 g
- Vitamins 35.6 mg
- Vitamin A 15 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.62 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.18 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 4.77 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.51 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.34 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 2.1 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 6.6 µg
- Vitamin B12 — Cobalamin 1.2 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 0.2 µg
- Vitamin E 0.35 mg
- Vitamin K 1.7 µg
- Minerals 398 mg
- Major Minerals 397 mg
- Trace Minerals 1.5 mg
- Iron 1.5 mg
- Salt 0.14 g
- Cholesterol 81.7 mg
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-b12-cobalamin: 1.2 · vitamin-a: 15 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.62 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.18 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 4.77 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.51 · vitamin-b6: 0.34 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 2.1 · vitamin-b9-folate: 6.6 · vitamin-d: 0.2 · vitamin-e: 0.35 · vitamin-k: 1.7 ·
Minerals
Rendered or depot fat is nearly pure lipid energy with negligible carbohydrate.
History
Charcutiers measured back-fat ratios as carefully as lean meat in traditional sausage formulas.
French lardons and Italian lardo traditions elevated cured back fat as a product of its own.
Craft sausage makers still source specific back fat for texture that soft fat cannot replace.