Animal fat
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Animal fats are lipids derived from animals which are used by the animal for a multitude of functions, or can be used by humans for dietary, sanitary, and cosmetic purposes. Depending on the temperature of the fat, it can change between a solid state and a liquid (oil) state. Chemically, both fats and oils are composed of triglycerides.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref> Although many animal parts and secretions may yield oil, in commercial practice, oil is extracted primarily from rendered tissue fats from livestock animals like pigs, chickens and cows. Dairy products yield animal fat and oil products such as butter.
Chemical structureEdit
Animal fats are composed of triglycerides, which are a type of ester molecule in which glycerol is bonded to three fatty acids.<ref name=":2" /> The three fatty acids that bond to the glycerol will determine the complexity and type of the triglyceride. If the three fatty acids are the same, then the triglyceride will be considered a simple triglyceride.<ref name=":2" /> However, most triglycerides contain differing fatty acids, causing them to have differing characteristics. Animal fat is a combination of many different triglycerides.<ref name=":0" /> Fatty acids can be broken down into two categories, saturated and unsaturated fats. Most animal fats are saturated fats.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In animalsEdit
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Fat serves many purposes within an animal's body. Some of these include insulating the body to regulate internal body temperature, serving as an energy reserve, and cushioning the feet.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many mammalian animals that live in cold regions of the globe, including both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, have developed a thick layer of fat just below the skin called blubber.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref> This blubber helps these animals to reduce the amount of heat that is lost to the colder outside environment. Fat is a poor conductor of heat; therefore, it allows the heat that the animal produces to remain in their body for a longer period of time.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Fat is also used by animals for the storage of energy. The type of fat that is used for energy storage is known as adipose tissue.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite journal</ref> This adipose tissue is made up adipocytes which store the energy in the chemical bonds of triglycerides.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For example, prior to an animal going through hibernation, an animal will build up large reserves of adipocytes to ensure it has the energy to survive the long slumber.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Fat is also used by animals to create foot pads.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite journal</ref> These foot pads aid in the longevity and health of the animal by absorbing the impacts that occur when the animal walks, runs, or jumps. These foot pads are present in many animals including cats, dogs, horses, and even larger mammals like elephants.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />
Human usageEdit
Culinary usesEdit
Many animal fats and oils are consumed directly, or indirectly as ingredients in food. Animal fats are commonly consumed as part of a western diet in their semi-solid form as either milk, butter, lard, schmaltz, and dripping or more commonly as filler in factory-produced meat, and fast-food products.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Certain fats, such as goose fat, have a higher smoke point than other animal fats, but are still lower than many vegetable oils such as olive or avocado.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
The oils serve a number of purposes in this role:
- Shortening – to give pastry a crumbly texture.
- Texture – oils can serve to make other ingredients stick together less.
- Flavor – some may be chosen specifically for the flavor they impart.
- Flavor base – oils can also "carry" flavors of other ingredients, since many flavors are present in chemicals that are soluble in oil.
Secondly, oils can be heated and used to cook foods. Suitability for this purpose depends on flash point.
Other usesEdit
There are many other human uses for animal fat, a few of these uses come from tallow. One of the uses of tallow is the production of soap through a process called saponification. The tallow is boiled or heated along with lye, resulting in the production of a rough soap as well as glycerol.Template:Cn The soap is then put through a purification process until it becomes a usable sanitary product.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tallow is also used in the production of many skincare and cosmetic products.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":7">Template:Cite journal</ref> Tallow contains vitamins E, D, K, and A as well as conjugated linoleic acid which have all been shown to have benefits to skin health.<ref name=":7" />