Lard is a semi-solid white fat product that is obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig.
And lard is distinguished from tallow which is a similar product derived from fat of cattle or sheep.
Lard is made from 100 percent animal fat (usually pork) that has been separated from the meat.
Most lard is made through a process called rendering, whereby the fatty parts of the pig (such as the belly, butt, and shoulder) are cooked slowly until the fat is melted.
Lard is the melted fat of a pig, which is used as a fat in cooking, baking, and deep-frying.
Lard also has a creamy white color, and a flavor that ranges from mildly porky to neutral, flavorless, and odorless, depending on the variety, brand, and how it's been made.
While they come from the same animal, bacon fat and lard differ in taste and function.
Bacon fat has a smoky taste, while lard—rendered fat from the pig—has a neutral flavor.
You can use bacon fat to add flavor to baked goods, gravies, and sautés, but lard primarily adds texture to fried or baked foods.