What Is Tallow? (Uses, Benefits & How To Render Your Own)

What is tallow?

Tallow is the rendered suet fat (also known as leaf fat) from ruminant animals like cows and sheep. Unlike pork fat, which is called lard, tallow comes from these specific animals.

Suet is a nutrient-dense, hard fat found around the animal's organs, particularly the kidneys and loins.

Beef suet is harder and more crumbly than other animal fats. It's also one of nature's richest sources of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

What is tallow used for?

Tallow has played an important role throughout history. Our ancestors relied on it long before hydrogenated vegetable oils and chemical-based products existed.

Tallow has traditionally been used for:

• Cooking: Tallow makes an excellent cooking oil and was once a common kitchen staple. You might remember your grandmother’s can of dripping beside the stove — a similar concept, except dripping comes from a different part of the animal.

• Candle Making: Most traditional candles combined tallow with beeswax.

• Soap Making: Tallow creates a hard, creamy soap with excellent moisturising properties.

• Leather Care: Tallow is even an ingredient in Dubbin!

• Wood Care: It works wonderfully for oiling furniture and chopping boards.

• Skincare: Tallow balms nourish and protect the skin. Many older generations instinctively knew this, grandma didn't wash the fat off her hands, she rubbed it in! You can read one of my articles on Tallow Balm here.

What Are the Benefits of Tallow?

CLA - Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Tallow is an excellent source of CLA, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. This makes tallow particularly valuable in skincare. Tallow from grass-fed cows contains even higher levels of CLA. For this reason, I always recommend checking your skincare labels to ensure you're getting high-quality ingredients.

Vitamins A, D, E, and K

Tallow contains these fat-soluble vitamins, which are crucial for good health. Together, they support hormonal balance, neurological health, cardiovascular function, and immune strength. These vitamins also promote bone growth and muscle development.

Omega 3 & Omega 6 Fatty Acids

Our bodies need both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, but they can't produce them on their own. Tallow provides these essential fats, making it a valuable addition to your diet and skincare.

High Smoke Point for Cooking

Grass-fed beef tallow has a high smoke point, making it perfect for frying or roasting. It's a safer alternative to processed vegetable oils and it tastes amazing!

Tallow for Skin Health

Tallow offers powerful skin benefits. It’s anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal.

Because it mimics the skin's natural oils, it absorbs easily without leaving a greasy residue.

This makes tallow ideal for balms, body butters, and remedies for rashes, cuts, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

How to Render Your Own Tallow

I prefer the wet method for rendering tallow. This method uses water to prevent burning and produce a clean, pure fat.

What You'll Need:

• Beef fat (preferably suet), ground or chopped into 1cm cubes

• Slow cooker or large pot

• Water

• Salt (I prefer a good quality sea salt)

• Stainless steel mesh strainer

• Organic cotton muslin cloth

• Large stainless steel or glass bowl

Method:

1. Add the diced or ground suet to your slow cooker or pot. Set the heat to low.

2. For every 1kg of suet fat, add 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.

3. Cook uncovered on low heat for up to 8 hours. All of the fat will have turned to liquid and you'll just be left with chucks of meat to be strained out.

4. Line your strainer with your muslin cloth and place it over the bowl.

5. While the fat is still hot, strain it through the muslin to remove impurities. This step ensures your tallow is a clean, yellow-ish white, and mostly odour-free.

6. Let the fat cool and place it in the refrigerator until solid.

7. Once solid, pop the tallow cake out of the bowl and scrape the outside with a knife to remove additional impurities.

8. Repeat the process at least one more time. I usually render tallow three times for the purest, cleanest product. Each additional render only takes two to four hours.

Once complete, your tallow is ready for storage. Pour it into jars for safekeeping or use it immediately for cooking or skincare.

Storing Your Tallow - Shelf Life

Tallow has an impressively long shelf life. Generations before us stored it in jars in their cupboards for years.

If you've rendered your tallow properly, you can do the same. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve its freshness.

Random Fun Facts About Tallow

• McDonald's French Fries were once cooked in tallow before switching to vegetable oils in 1990. Interestingly, saturated fat has since been debunked as harmful, and tallow is now recognised as a healthy fat.

• Studies suggest that beef tallow increases the potency of CLA, reducing the risk of cancer metastasis. Fascinating research also shows that beef tallow may help decrease colon cancer risk by lowering bile acid concentrations.

Final Thoughts

Tallow is a remarkable ingredient that deserves its place in both kitchens and skincare routines. Its long history of use, rich nutritional profile, and incredible versatility make it a standout choice for those seeking natural, effective alternatives. Whether you're cooking, crafting skincare, or preserving cherished traditions, tallow is a wonderful way to connect with time-tested wisdom.

If you're curious to try tallow for yourself, rendering your own can be a rewarding and practical experience. Enjoy discovering all the ways this old-school ingredient can enrich your life!

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