View source for Suet

{{for|the Hong Kong actor|Lam Suet}}
[[Image:Beef suet-01.jpg|thumb|220px|Calf suet]]

'''Suet''' {{IPA-en|ˈsuː.ɨt|}} is  raw [[beef]] or [[Lamb (food)|mutton]] [[fat]], especially the hard fat found around the [[loin]]s and [[kidney]]s.

Suet has a [[melting point]] of between 45° and 50°C (113° and 122°F) and [[congelation]] between 37° and 40°C. (98.6° and 104°F). Its low melting point means that it is solid at room temperature but easily melts at moderate temperatures, such as in steaming.

==Uses==
The primary use of suet is to make [[tallow]], although it is also used as an ingredient in cooking, especially in traditional puddings, such as [[England|English]] [[Christmas Pudding]]. Suet is made into tallow in a process called [[rendering (industrial)|rendering]], which involves melting and extended [[simmering]], followed by straining, cooling and usually a repetition of the entire process.

Unlike tallow, suet that is not pre-packed requires [[refrigeration]] in order to be stored for extended periods. 

Suet is essential in traditional English steamed puddings, and in the pastry for [[steak and kidney pudding]], in which a pudding bowl is lined with the suet crust pastry, the meat added and a lid of suet crust tightly seals the meat. The pudding is then steamed for approximately four hours before serving in the bowl on the table. Suet pastry is soft in contrast to the crispness of shortcrust pastry.

Suet is also an ingredient of traditional [[mincemeat]] (fruit mince).

Suet should not be confused with [[dripping|beef dripping]], which is the collected fat and juices from the roasting pan when cooking roast beef.

Due to its high calorific content, suet is used by cold weather explorers to supplement the high daily energy requirement needed to travel in such climates. Typically the calorie requirement is in the region of 5,000-6,000 KCals per day for sledge hauling or dog-sled travelling. Suet is added to food rations to increase the fat content and help meet this high calorie requirement.

==Availability==
Suet can be bought in natural form in many supermarkets. As it is the fat from around the kidneys, the connective tissue, blood and other non-fat items must be removed. It then needs to be coarsely grated to make it ready to use. It must be kept refrigerated prior to use and used within a few days of purchase, just like meat. 

Pre-packaged suet sold in [[supermarket]]s is [[dehydration|dehydrated]] suet. It is made mixed with flour to make it stable at room temperature. Because of this, some care is needed when using it for older recipes that call for fresh suet as the proportions of flour to fat can alter. Most modern recipes stipulate packaged suet. 

==Vegetarian alternative==
Vegetable suet is available in [[supermarket]]s in the [[United Kingdom]], made from fat such as [[palm oil]] combined with [[Flour#Other flours|rice flour]]. It resembles shredded beef suet, and is used as a [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]] substitute in recipes, but with slightly different results from animal suet.

==Bird feed==
[[Woodpecker]]s, [[European Goldfinch|goldfinch]]es, [[junco]]s, [[cardinal (bird)|cardinal]]s, [[Thrush (bird)|thrush]]es, [[jay]]s, [[kinglet]]s, [[bluebird]]s, [[chickadee]]s, [[nuthatch]]es, [[wren]]s, and [[starling]]s are all known to favour suet-based bird feeders.<ref>[http://www.bcpl.net/~tross/by/suet.html Suet | Baltimore County Library System]</ref><!-- THIS LINK IS BROKEN -->  

Suet, as [[birdfeeding|birdfeed]], is commonly in suet cakes which can be made with other solid fats, such as [[lard]].  Often rolled oats, bird seed, cornmeal, raisins, unsalted nuts are incorporated in to the fat.<ref>http://www.attractwildbirds.com/feedingbirds/how-to-make-suet.htm</ref>

==Suet-based recipes==
{{nutritionalvalue | name=Suet | kJ=3573 | protein=1.50 g | fat=94 g | carbs=0 g | satfat=52 g | monofat=32 g | polyfat=3 g | opt1n=[[Cholesterol]] | opt1v=68 mg | zinc_mg=0.22 | opt3n=[[Selenium]] | opt3v=0.2 mcg | right=1 | source_usda=1 | note=Fat percentage can vary. }}
*[[Haggis]]
*Windsor pudding
*[[Steak and kidney pudding]]
*[[Dumpling]]s
*Suet Crust [[Pastry]]
*[[Christmas pudding]]
*[[Mincemeat]]
*[[Spotted dick]]
*[[Kishka (food)|Kishka/Kishke]]
*[[Chili con carne]]
*[[Rag Pudding]]
*[[Jamaican patty]]

==See also==
{{Commonscat}}
* [[Lard#Lard production|Leaf lard]]
* [[Dripping]]
* [[Schmaltz]]

==References==
<references />

{{fatsandoils}}

[[Category:Animal fat products]]
[[Category:Cooking fats]]
[[Category:Bird feeding]]

[[ca:Sagí]]
[[da:Flomme]]
[[de:Rindernierenfett]]
[[es:Sebo]]
[[is:Mör]]
[[ja:スエット]]
[[no:Ister]]
[[pl:Łój (kuchnia)]]
[[Category:2Fix]]