This article is from the Food Preserving FAQ, by Eric Decker firstname.lastname@example.org with numerous contributions by others.
Potting generally involves preserving food (meat, cheese) by
smothering it in a layer of oil or fat, much like paraffin wax is used
to seal up a jar of jam or jelly. This method of preserving food is
not for amateurs, or for folks who have to watch their fat intake.