Does Suet Go Bad in Summer? (Should You Be Worried)

Suet has a lot of usages. Be it for bird keeping or making tallow, suet is always useful. In one way or another. But deciding to preserve suet, there are a couple of things you’ve to know!

So, does suet go bad? 

Yes, suet can melt itself if the temperature is warm. It becomes rancid and loses its appearance. It also becomes unhealthy. Because of that birds will refuse to eat the food. But suet can last for a long time if it’s preserved well. There are ways to preserve suet. For example, you can always store suet in the refrigerator till you need it. 

Anyhow, that was only a short answer to this question. Keep along if you want to know more about Suet and its preservation.

Why Does Suet Go Bad? 

Suet is made of the fat around the animal kidneys and livers. Among all types of food, suet pudding is still the best food to offer. 

But suet has a really low melting point. The melting point of suet is 45 degrees celsius. It becomes smelly and rancid when it reaches beyond that temperature. 

If left like this for a while, it can emit a strong smell. This in turn can irritate neighbors or attract other animals. 

How To Tell If Suet Has Gone Bad? 

Since suet can easily melt itself, it creates a bunch of problems. This lets us know that the suet has gone bad.

Symptom 1: Change in Texture 

If you’re living in warm weather, it’s really hard to keep suet intact. So, check if the suet’s textures are intact or not. 

If the suet has melted, you’ll notice a liquid-ish texture. At this stage, the suet has already nurtured different bacterias and funguses. 

Birds do not like to consume bad suet. But don’t rely on them. Some may consume them accidentally if there’s a food shortage.

Symptom 2: Unpleasant Smell 

If suet goes bad, it’ll have a really bad smell. The scent that it sends off is super strong. 

This smell can irritate your neighbors and ruin the day for someone else. So, make sure you remove it as soon as you can. 

It can also attract different animals like raccoons or bears. Sometimes cats and dogs may come near the suet too. 

Symptom 3: Mold On Suet 

As mentioned before, suet is a mix of oil and fat. This oil gets toxic as the suet gets melted. As a result, there can be mold on the suet. 

If there’s mold, you’ll see a black-ish substance on the suet. These are super toxic to birds and degrade their health. 

What to Do If Suet Has Gone Bad? 

If the suet is already rancid, then there’s nothing else to do. Immediately throw them away as soon as possible. 

Since it has a really bad smell, try to wrap them up. This way others won’t have to deal with the smell anymore. 

Check the suet reserve if you have one. You’ve to change the entire reserve if they’ve gone bad. 

No, after throwing the spoiled suet, you’ll need a new package of suet. So, here are our top recommendations- 

You can now freely choose whichever you like and get started! 

By the way, if you want, you can make bird suet and seeds at home. This can save some of your money but you have to put in some extra effort.

How to Preserve Suet Properly: 3 Easy Solutions 

The only way to counter the suet melting problem is to preserve it properly. Normally, it’s best to keep the suet in a refrigerator. But there are a couple of other ways to do it. 

Solution 1: Buy No-melt Suet 

There are some suets you can buy from the marketplace which don’t melt easily. These are often labeled as “No melt” or “Summer” suet. 

These suets are longer lasting than others. To increase resistance further, mix some grains or corn meals. These suets are super high in nutrition. Therefore, they are super good for your birds. 

To help you out, we’ve added some no melting suet suggestions to the list-

You can now easily choose whichever you like and get to feeding! 

Solution 2: Don’t Give too Much at Once

Another way to counter the suet melting problem is to predict food consumption. Notice how much suet your birds can eat. 

Try to match that amount as you give new suet. This way, you don’t have to worry about this problem anymore. 

Solution 3: Use a Tray

If the temperature reaches too high, there’s nothing that can be done. Normally, the temperature of 45 degrees celsius is where suet starts to melt. 

In that case, you can use a tray beneath the feeder. These will catch the drip that will drop. This way you can keep the suets in one place. 

You can also buy bird feeders that come with trays. Then you won’t have to place a tray every time. 

Here is a list of our top picks- 

Hopefully, these will help you choose one. If you’ve chosen one already, get it immediately. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How often should I change suet?

Answer: It’s best to clean the suet feeder 2-3 times a week. This way you’ll avoid your birds from getting sick as there won’t be any spoiled suet in the feeder.

Question: What is the shelf life of suet?

Answer: The shelf life of the suet means how it can stay inside the fridge. The top of the line suets can last up to 3 years. 

Question: Can birds eat beef suet?

Answer: Yes, any birds that are wild or domestic will love the beef suet. Just be careful and not overfeed them. Beef suets are common and can last for a long time. 

Parting Words

That was all we could gather on- does suet go bad. We tried our best and provided as much as possible.

Here’s one thing you can also do. Try placing the food in places with shaders. This slightly reduces the suet melting process. 

Finally, good luck and have a nice day.