How to Make Bear Grease

Bear oil has been used throughout history.

Eastern Woodland Native Americans used bear grease for insect repellent, skin cream, waterproofing and sun tan oil. The fat of a bear is commonly referred to as bear grease. Bear grease should be melted into oil form. Bear oil is used for many purposes. Today, bear grease is used for oil for lamps, soaps and other cosmetic products.

Things You'll Need

• Kitchen knife
• Cutting board
• Stainless steel pot
• Portable gas burner
• Fine strainer
• Glass mason jar

Instructions

1. Scrap the bear fat with a kitchen knife to remove all unwanted debris such as fur, bone, tendons, etc.

2. Cut the bear fat into 1 to 1 ½ inch square chucks. Cutting the bear fat assists in the melting process.

3. Place a stainless steel pot over an outdoor fire source. Bear fat produces a strong odor when melted. A portable gas burner is recommended.

4. Melt the bear fat for twenty minutes or until completely melted. The bear fat turns into oil. The oil should have a consistency of melted butter.

5. Pour the bear oil into a fine strainer. Only pure bear oil should be collected. Discard the particles trapped in the strainer.

6. Collect the pure bear oil in a glass mason jar. Store the pure bear oil for future use.

References

• Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Bear Grease
• University of Pittsburgh; Ethnobotany of the Iroquois
• Soap Naturally Organization; Bear Soap