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When it comes to eating meat, the more health-conscious among us go for the leaner cuts and toss or avoid the fattier parts, right? With beef, it is no different.

But maybe beef tallow has been getting a bad rap over the years. Maybe it is something we should pay more attention to.

Learn more about how beef tallow can become a part of your everyday life and so much more in this article.

Where does it come from?

Historically, beef tallow was a traditional cooking fat used in households across the world. However, with the introduction of vegetable shortening as a potentially healthier option, beef tallow was set aside and its use declined rapidly in the 20th century.

The word tallow refers to the rendered fat of an animal. Beef tallow is therefore rendered fat from a cow. The fat that is rendered is called suet, which is the hard, white fatty layer that surrounds organs such as the loin and kidneys.

Beef Tallow is similar in appearance to lard (pork fat) and is shaped like a big stick of butter. It is solid at room temperature and melts at about 100-118°F (or 38-48°C). It also looks like a coconut oil and butter hybrid; however, it has a dry, waxy texture.

Beef tallow has been making quite the comeback this past decade with the movement towards traditional foods and diets. More and more persons have become interested in this fat, including you.

Uses For Beef Tallow

Beef tallow has been used mainly for cooking. In fact, big-name fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeye’s and Wendy’s all used to use this fat to cook their French fries and onion rings. But beef tallow’s uses are not limited to just cooking. Here are some other uses of beef tallow that may even surprise you:

Skincare

Animal fat on your skin, sounds crazy right? It actually isn’t because beef tallow is full of CLAs (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can cure blisters and cracked skin from tight shoes, prevent and treat diaper rash in babies and soothe skin irritation caused by chickenpox or poison ivy.

Beef tallow also matches the fatty acid profile of the cells in our skin which make it perfect for keeping them hydrated. Balms, moisturizers and makeup removers have also been made using beef tallow.

Making soaps

Many of the skincare products that we use, including soaps, contain chemicals and harsh fragrances which gets absorbed into our bloodstream. They can also dehydrate the skin, leaving it dry and stripped of its natural oils. Tallow was also used in many high-end shaving soaps back in the day.

Beef Tallow soap can also be used as a laundry detergent which is much gentler on clothes than many of the top brands.

Candle making

Tallow is a cheap alternative to wax candles that have been used by people all over the world to provide light and heating to their homes. Even the poorest of society used what was known as a tallow drip, which consisted of a lit strip of cloth in a saucer of tallow grease.

Making banknotes

Not sure if you were aware, but there was a huge uproar created by the United Kingdom’s Vegan, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim community when it was discovered that their banknotes contained tallow. Tallow is used to make the banknotes waterproof, durable and anti-static.

It was also revealed that the currencies of at least 23 other countries, including Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore, contained tallow in their polymers.

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Nutritional facts

In 100 grams of pure beef tallow, you will find:

▪ Calories: 115

▪ Total Fat: 12.8g

▪ Saturated Fat: 6.4g

▪ Monounsaturated Fat: 5.4g

▪ Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.51g

▪ Cholesterol: 14mg

▪ Sodium: 0g

▪ Carbohydrates: 0g

▪ Protein: 0g

▪ Omega-3: 0.08g

▪ Omega-6: 0.4g

NB: Because beef tallow is a pure source of fat, it has no protein or carbohydrates.

Beef tallow contains Vitamins D and E, and trace amounts of a mineral known as selenium. (Selenium is known for its ability to boost immunity and reduce inflammation). Cows raised on pasture will generally contain more vitamins.

Type of Fat

Beef tallow is, of course, animal fat. It is made up of 50% saturated fat, 42% monounsaturated fat and 4% polyunsaturated fat.

Taste and smell

Once the tallow is rendered, it will have a mild animal-smell, but it is not overpowering

Beef tallow is loved for adding a rich flavor to foods. It has an umami taste.

Smoke point

Beef tallow is one of the most heat-stable cooking fats around. It has a high smoke point of a little over 400°F (or 250°C).

In fact, it has such good oxidative stability that it is sometimes added to soybean oil to improve its stability. This comes from its low polyunsaturated fat content. Polyunsaturated fat consists of multiple double bonds which make fatty acids more susceptible to oxidation. Since it has less, it can take it the heat.

Can Beef Tallow Increase Your LDL?

Pros

Using beef tallow for whatever purpose has many benefits. For example:

• It is relatively affordable- The affordability of beef tallow as fat comes from the fact that it is a sustainable fat. This is because it is already a byproduct of cattle rearing which means that there is no need for extra resources or equipment to produce it. And, unlike palm oil, corn, and soybean oil, there is less strain on the environment since no additional land has to be cleared, no more animals have to lose their natural habitat, no more land gets degraded by pesticides and poor farming practices and no more water gets polluted. While prices vary depending on location, beef tallow can be cheaper than many other cooking oils.

• It is versatile- Beef tallow has more than one application than just in the kitchen. When you purchase this fat, you can use it to cleanse your clothes or take care of your skin. You also have the option of using it to make candles or as grease.

• It is rich in CLAs- This is a kind of naturally occurring trans fat which, according to some studies, have proven to help burn fat. Other shows that it has cancer-preventing properties.

• It’s great for your skin- Beef tallow was probably used a body butter by your ancestors. When applied topically, it is easily absorbed into the skin and helps to nourish and repair.

• It helps to absorb other vitamins- Vitamins A, D, E and K need fat to be absorbed in the body which in turn boost the immune system.

Cons

Using beef tallow also has some disadvantages. Some of these include:

• It is high in saturated fat- Consuming a lot of beef tallow over time can lead to an increase in LDL cholesterol levels which can, in turn, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Smell- In its pure form, it can have a slightly meat-smell which some persons may find off-putting when it is being used for cosmetic purposes.

What’s the best way to use it?

Though frying and deep frying are not healthy ways to cook food, beef tallow is amazing as a frying oil due to its high smoke point and the ability to add extra flavor to food. It can also be used to sauté, sear or stir fry and can give vegetables and meat an appetizing smell and yummy taste.

When baking meat, it can give it additional flavor. Beef tallow can also make pie crusts extra flaky, and can even be used to bake burger buns that are soft, yet sturdy.

Alternatives

If you run out of beef tallow, the best alternative is probably lard, which comes from pigs. Not a pork fan? You can always just use butter or ghee.

Depending on what you’re making, you can use shortening, rapeseed oil or vegetable oil.

Things to note

• Beef tallow is non-perishable and can be stored at room temperature for quite some time on your kitchen counter. It can last years in a cool, dry place. Refrigeration should be a last resort.

• It should be stored away from sunlight in colored or opaque containers to limit expose. This can decrease its shelf life.

• Beef tallow is reusable. After frying, you can strain it and wait for it too cool and reharden.

• Stored tallow should not be stuck with your fingers or dirty utensils as this can introduce microbes and bacteria which will grow and cause it to spoil.

• If the smell is off-putting, you have the option of adding essential oils or herbs.

• The source of the beef your tallow comes from is an important consideration. Some farmers use antibiotics and growth hormones which ends up in the cow’s fat. Aim for 100% grass-fed cows from trusted butchers.

Conclusion- Healthy or Unhealthy?

Tallow can be used for cooking once it is used in reasonable amounts. While it can be used every day, it is best to go with healthier options or mix it up a little. So, if you use beef tallow to make your french fries and hamburger today, maybe tomorrow you can use olive oil to stir fry those veggies.

Uses For Beef Tallow That May Surprise You