1. What can I cook with Schmaltz?

Schmaltz is rendered chicken fat, and like any cooking fat (butter, olive oil) it is HOW you cook. Saute, marinade, confit, make vinaigrettes or even pastry doughs. You can even spread it on toast (trust us!)

2. Where do your chicken skins come from?

We source our chicken skins from Certified Humane™ farms in the U.S., primarily through our partner KJ Poultry, who works closely with small, independent producers. A significant portion of our supply comes from chickens raised for Murray’s Chicken—a company long committed to humane, transparent, and sustainable farming.

Murray’s chickens are raised on small family farms in Pennsylvania and New York, where farmers prioritize animal welfare, fresh air, and clean living conditions. These aren’t industrial barns—they’re thoughtful, low-density operations where birds have space to move, access to the outdoors, and are never treated with antibiotics or growth hormones.

We believe the quality of a fat like schmaltz begins long before rendering—it begins on the farm. That’s why we’re proud to start with chickens raised right. By using the often-overlooked skins from Murray’s birds, we’re not just creating a delicious cooking fat—we’re honoring the whole animal and participating in a better food system from beak to tail.

3. Don’t animal fats raise your cholesterol?

That’s a common question—and one we take seriously. For decades, saturated fat from animal sources like butter, tallow, and schmaltz was blamed for raising cholesterol and increasing heart disease risk. But more recent, peer-reviewed research has challenged this view. Today, many nutritionists and doctors acknowledge that unprocessed animal fats, when part of a balanced diet, are not the villains they were once made out to be.

Schmaltz is primarily made up of monounsaturated fats, the same heart-healthy fats found in olive oil. Unlike industrial seed oils, which are often extracted with solvents and subjected to high-heat refining, schmaltz is a simple, traditional fat made by gently rendering chicken skins—nothing added, nothing stripped away.

We always encourage people to make choices that align with their health needs, but if you’re choosing between processed seed oils and clean, whole animal fats, we believe schmaltz is a nourishing, time-tested option that deserves a place at the table.

5. How long can I keep my Schmaltz?

Your schmaltz will last 6 months in your refrigerator. Luckily you will have used it all by then!

6. Why Kosher?

Kosher certification is recognized as a rigorous standard for cleanliness, traceability, and ethical processing. For an animal to be Kosher when it is killed it may have no cuts, abrasions, rashes, diseases, and is killed following rigorous guidelines you can learn about here. Even many leaders of Muslim communities in the US recognize kosher meats at par with the standards of Halal.

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