How to Make Homemade Suet

Ingredients:

Beef fat

Bird seed (whatever type attracts in your area; I add additional sunflower seeds, cracked corn, etc)

Peanut butter (optional but another source of energy for the birds)

Cornmeal (both food and a binder)

Plastic containers (see notes)

*Read all notes below instructions before making this!

1) When you get your beef fat, it will look like a mass of fat with some meat mixed in. Cut the fat/meat mix into relatively even sizes. If it’s a thicker cut, cut it into about 1” cubes. If it’s thinner, the pieces can be a bit larger. The idea is to have it all cook and be done at about the same time.

2) Place the cut up fat/beef in a crock pot and add some water. ¼ - ¾ cup, depending upon the size of the crockpot (for a 4-qt crockpot I use about a ½ cup of water) and how much is in there. You just want just a little water to get the fat rendering, not to boil it. Set the crock pot on low, cover and let it cook. If you set it on high, you’re going to need to watch and stir it more, but on low (or warm, if your crockpot has that setting), you can turn it on at night and let it go with no worries of burning or over-cooking. I turn it on high during the day and stir occasionally, then low at night.

3) When the fat has turned crunchy, use a slotted spoon and remove the larger chunks. There will be some “sediment” sized debris in the bottom of the pot, but the birds don’t mind it.

4) Now is the fun part! Add a good dollop (¼ - ½ cup or more) of peanut butter to your oil, if desired, and let it melt.

5) In equal parts, stir in bird seed and cornmeal until your spoon will LITERALLY stand up in the mixture on its own. It’s that easy.

6) Set the crockpot on low or warm. While still warm, fill plastic containers with the mixture and place in the refrigerator to set. When set, remove from containers and place in bags and freeze until ready to use.

*Notes:

· WARNING: This can take a couple of days to make.

· Beef fat can be obtained for free from some grocery stores that have a “butcher” on duty. If they don’t have any, ask if they’ll save you some. Some stores won’t give it to you, so keep asking around (or call around) and make sure to tell them it’s to make suet for the birds. As for the amount you need, a little can go a long way. I use a 4 – 6 quart crockpot for a bag about the size of a produce bag. When completely rendered, it can result in about half of what you started with.

· I usually get generic peanut butter from the Dollar or an Everything’s A Dollar stores as sometimes they’re more oily and it’s great for the birds and will also extend the rendered fat. As well, it's less expensive and the birds don't know the difference between Jif, Peter Pan or an off-brand!

· Plastic storage bowls are recommended for forms as the mixture releases easily by pushing on the edges and bottoms of the container. I use the 3-1/8 cup/25 oz size – they measure 6” square and are 2” deep; only fill to about 1½” (there’s a line on the bowl I use as a guide). However, any low semi-flexible container will work … recycled plastic meat trays, metal pie pans – use your imagination! I have also recycled toilet paper rollers by filling them with the mixture, letting it set up and then freezing in the rolls. To remove the rolls, simply unwind the toilet paper roll from the suet and place in feeder. Two rolls will usually fit a standard suet feeder. If you don’t have a store-bought suet feeder, the birds will cheerfully eat off a platform (high enough that cats or other predators can’t reach) and it doesn’t matter the shape of your suet.

· It is best to make this in the fall when you can open some windows, otherwise you’ll want to do this with your stove’s hood fan going! It can get rather odorous … it’s not a bad smell, but it may get overwhelming to some, I’m sure.

· I will add more photos as I get them!