Dripping
Dripping is the fat and juices rendered from meat during cooking, typically collected from roasting beef or pork and solidified for later use as a cooking medium or spread.[1] Primarily associated with British cuisine, it consists of the oily substance exuded by meat under heat, often clarified to separate pure fat from flavorful residues.[2] Historically, dripping has been utilized since the practice of roasting meat emerged, serving as a valuable byproduct in households where no part of the animal was wasted, particularly during periods of scarcity like wartime rationing in the 20th century.[3] In England, it gained prominence in the 19th century as an accessible fat for frying, baking, and basting, prized for its high smoke point and robust flavor that enhances dishes such as roast potatoes or Yorkshire puddings.[3] Dripping differs from tallow, which is rendered from suet—the hard fat surrounding organs—while dripping incorporates softer fats and pan juices from muscle tissue.[4] Culturally, bread spread with cold dripping, seasoned with salt, represents a simple yet cherished comfort food in working-class British traditions, evoking nostalgia for post-war austerity meals.[5] Its use declined mid-20th century amid promotion of vegetable oils but has seen a resurgence in recent years, driven by preferences for stable, animal-derived fats over processed alternatives, with sales of beef dripping notably increasing in the UK.[6] This revival aligns with empirical observations of animal fats' satiating properties and resistance to oxidation during high-heat cooking, challenging earlier dismissals based on selective health narratives.[7]