How long does rendered fat last?

I keep jars of rendered fat on hand all the time. I always have some bacon & chicken fats and sometimes have some pork & duck fats. I render the fat from its protein, strain until clean then store in canning jars. I use the fat whenever I want to add a little flavor to sautes & to make gravy & sauces. Just as my mother and grandmother before me, I have done this for years without issue.
A friend who told me her mother kept bacon fat in a coffee can under the sink (where the windex goes!!) but I refrigerate mine. Another friend told me her grandmother would confit big batches of chicken and keep it in a crocks in a second frig they had in the garage. She said they would still be eating it months later. While I don't store food this way I understand the principle of using confit to preserve foods.

Recently a chef told me I shouldn't be storing any fat longer than a month. I am sure I've used fat older than that but I don't really track it.

My questions: Does anyone else toss caution to the wind and keep rendered fat sans expiration date on hand for cooking? Have you any concerns? How long does rendered fat last? Does any one fat last longer than another?

Thanks for your thoughts!

• Posted by: JAC
• May 4, 2016

• 14205 views
• 10 Comments

• Rendered fat
• fat shelf life
• confit