Cooking, soapmaking, skincare – these are just a few of the many uses of beef tallow. This versatile and nourishing fat is a must-have in any kitchen or beauty regimen. The best part? It’s incredibly easy to make at home! While I’ve been making homemade lard for years, I recently started experimenting with making my own tallow. And let me tell you, the results have been fantastic.
Finding beef fat trimmings can be a bit of a challenge, but as more people discover the benefits of tallow, it’s becoming easier to find. I recently came across two excellent sources of beef fat here in Spain and couldn’t resist ordering some to compare.
Key Takeaways
What Exactly is Beef Tallow?
Beef tallow is rendered beef fat that’s commonly used in cooking, soapmaking, and skincare. It’s made by slowly cooking beef fat until it liquefies, then filtering out any solids. The resulting liquid fat is then cooled until it solidifies into a semi-solid material. Tallow is incredibly versatile and has a long shelf life, thanks to the removal of water, proteins, and impurities during the rendering process. While we’ll focus on beef tallow today, you can use the same process to make tallow from the fat of other animals.
Tallow vs. Lard and Shmaltz
While beef tallow is rendered from beef fat, not all rendered fat is called tallow. Lard, for example, is rendered pork fat, and shmaltz is rendered chicken fat. Some rendered fat, like duck fat and goose fat, doesn’t have a specific name. But today, we’re all about beef tallow and its incredible benefits.
Ingredients for Making Beef Tallow
The main ingredient for making tallow is suet – the hard fat from certain animals, mostly ruminants like cattle. Some people like to purify their tallow by cooking the fat with salt and water, but these ingredients are optional. With just suet, you’re good to go.
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Yield and Procedure
The yield of tallow can vary depending on the fat used and the processing method. Generally, you’ll need about one pound of beef suet for every 1-2 cups of tallow. The procedure itself is simple and rewarding. Here’s how to go about it:
Prepare the Fat Pieces
Start by soaking the suet in ice water for about an hour. This not only helps remove impurities but also makes the fat easier to handle. Once soaked, cut the suet into smaller pieces. If necessary, remove any bone, cartilage, or excess meat. You can even grind the fat for faster rendering.
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Render the Fat
Place the cut fat into a large pot over very low heat. Alternatively, you can use a slow cooker, though it may take longer. Slowly cook the fat until it liquefies, making sure it doesn’t reach a hard boil. Periodically strain off some of the liquid fat or stir it to prevent burning. Once most of the fat has rendered into a yellowish liquid, remove the pot from the heat.
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Strain the Tallow
Strain the fat by pouring it through a strainer lined with cheesecloth or a fine-weave cloth. This removes any remaining solids and impurities. To obtain a cleaner tallow, pour it into a wide-mouth, slightly flexible bowl once strained. After cooling and hardening, remove any darker impurities from the bottom.
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Tips for a Pure White Tallow
To achieve a pure white tallow, some sources recommend cooking the tallow with water and salt. However, this method takes longer and can result in a softer, grainier tallow with potential water retention issues. Instead, remelt the tallow and cook it down to remove any remaining impurities. This will yield a harder and smoother tallow. Remelting can also slightly whiten the tallow, giving you the desired result.
Creative Uses for Beef Tallow
Beef tallow is incredibly versatile and offers a range of benefits. Here are just a few creative ways you can use it:
Tallow Soap
Tallow is one of the few fats that can produce a high-quality bar of soap on its own. It creates a long-lasting bar with a creamy lather. You can also combine tallow with other oils and fats to customize your soap’s properties.
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Whipped Tallow Balm and Lotion
Tallow is highly compatible with our skin, making it an excellent ingredient for skincare products. Whipped tallow balm absorbs quickly, soothes dry skin, and promotes repair. Add essential oils for a pleasant scent and enjoy the benefits of this luxurious skincare product.
Cooking with Tallow
With its high smoke point and stability, tallow is perfect for high-heat cooking. Fry, bake, sauté – you name it! Tallow adds a mild flavor to dishes and imparts a flaky texture to pastries. It’s no wonder McDonald’s originally fried their french fries in tallow!
Nutritional Benefits and Storage
Contrary to past beliefs, tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K2. It also contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is associated with various health benefits, including weight loss and improved heart health. Opt for grass-fed beef tallow for additional nutritional benefits.
Store your homemade tallow in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. It can also be refrigerated or frozen for extended storage. Refrigerated tallow should last up to a year, while frozen tallow can keep for up to two years. Vacuum-sealing the tallow further extends its shelf life. Consider pouring the liquid tallow into a silicone loaf-shaped soap mold to form convenient blocks for freezing.
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A Visual Guide
For a step-by-step visual guide, check out this video tutorial:
Now that you know the art of making beef tallow, it’s time to embark on your own tallow-making adventure. Delight in the process of creating this versatile and nourishing fat that can elevate your cooking and skincare game. Enjoy the benefits of homemade tallow, and remember, the possibilities are endless!
To learn more about the incredible world of cooking and recipes, check out Rowdy Hog Smokin BBQ.
