Suet - where do I get it?

I believe suet is beef fat/renderings. I see it at my local supermarket in the meat department.

Robyn's right. If you have a local butcher, you will get better quality cooking suet there. If not, go to the meat department in your local grocery store and ask the butcher there for the best quality one he sells for cooking. Make sure he understands that, and make it clear this is not to feed the birds with.

From what I understand there are different grades of suet and the best one for cooking comes from the fat around the organs.

Thanks Ruby! LOL! I didn't realize that there were different grades of suet....I buy it for the birds.

You don't need suet to make dumplings (although my mother says they are the tastiest).

Try:
8 oz self raising flour
4 oz cold butter
Salt and pepper
Cold water to mix

Try and make these drier than usual otherwise the dumplings will break up.

Colbtech, your mother is absolutely right. But, when you speak to people who bow down to food (and cooking) as if it was a God, they will stand there and lecture you about how there is absolutely no substitute for the suet. They insist the flavor, texture, and taste is affected and it just isn't the same. The will yell at you and go absolutely crazy!

Personally, I would do as your Mother does.

Ruby, thanks I learned many years ago not to argue with Mother! I used to and was always proved wrong, just thought I would offer a substitute. Personally she (and yourself) are right about the suet, they are the best.

Lol. I have never used suet in cooking. The thought kind of turns my stomach thinking my arteries are clogging just looking at it! I just figured, since Grinner was asking, might as well help her/him find what they are truly looking for. I know people who will just hit you over the head verbally if you try to substitute.

It was good that you included an alternate method, I didn't have one. Now Grinner has a choice.

Ha Ha!

Nice little debate going on. I'm afraid that there is no substitute for suet, but you can only eat it once a year!

Thanks all for your input. I'll check my local butcher and see what he has.

Haha Grinner. No debate going on. Just a friendly discussion. It is always good to get as many opinions and as much info as possible on this forum. It gives the poster (you) confirmation, information, and other routes to go, as colbtech so kindly gave. I have seen his/her other postings and colbtech's answers are always thoughtful.