Rendering tallow is the process of melting out the impurities found in suet or beef fat in its natural state. After straining out the impurities, you are left with tallow which is packed with nutrients! This tallow can now be used in a multitude of ways around the household!
To start all you need is a crockpot (or stock pot), a cheesecloth, and the highest quality suet you can find. In a matter of hours you will have an amazing tallow use in all sorts of ways which we will discuss shortly.
What Is Tallow?
Tallow is the fat or suet from a cow, sheep, or bison that is rendered (slowly melted) and the impurities removed. Lard comes from rendered pig fats and is beneficial in different ways, but today we are talking about beef tallow.
Tallow has been used for centuries with many different applications.
How To Find The Best Beef Fat
When working with suet (the base of tallow), you should get the highest quality possible. Obtaining suet of ruminant animals such as cows, sheep or bison gives you a naturally filtered base (fat), meaning their digestive systems are designed to naturally filter out toxins. Grass-fed tallow contains more vitamins and nutrients than grain fed livestock. I’ve found d it easiest to locate a local butcher who specializes in grass fed livestock to obtain grass fed suet.
Tallow Benefits & Uses
Benefits of Tallow
- Tallow mimics the cellular makeup of the oil in our skin making it more easily absorbed and used by our bodies. Which makes it perfect for soaps, lotions and skincare.
- It is loaded with vitamins A, D, E, and K, antioxidants, collagen, and essential fatty acids.
- It is also antifungal, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. Making it an amazing ingredient in salves.
- Contrary to popular belief, saturated fats are essential for human function. Healthy saturated fats can be found in tallow.
Tallow Uses
- Cooking Oil
- Soaps, Lotions and skin care products
- Candles
- Household uses like leather conditioners
- So much more!
How To Render Tallow
What You Will Need:
Quality fat (preferably grass fed suet)
Crockpot or stockpot
Cheesecloth
1. Start off with the cold fat. It is much easier to handle and cut. Cut up beef suet into small cubes, trimming out any bits of blood, gristle, or meat. Don’t short cut this part as it will save you time in the long run.
2. Place suet in a crockpot for 5-6 hours on the “low” setting. If your crockpot tends to run hot, turn it to the “warm” setting. The alternative to the crockpot is the stove top in a large stock pot. Turn it on a low heat. This method is a little quicker, but it is important to keep an eye on it and stir occasionally to make sure it is not burning. Whichever you choose, make sure to use a very low heat. Too high of heat risks burning the tallow and gives whatever you make with it an unpleasant taste and smell.
3.You will know it is done when there is a clear liquid at the bottom of your pot and little bits of gristle floating on top. Pour through a cheesecloth, straining out the gristle and meat.
4.Pour liquid tallow into a sheet pan or 9×13 pan. Pour the liquid about 1in thick and put in fridge to harden. After it hardens, cut into butter stick size slabs for easy use. I wrap my sticks of tallow individually with wax paper, place in a gallon ziplock bag and freeze until I am ready to use.
Keep your eye out for future blogs of using tallow here in the farm.