The Amazing Benefits and Uses of Beef Tallow

What is Beef Tallow?

In simple terms, beef tallow is a type of saturated fat that’s rendered from a cow. It can be a healthy substitute for cooking oil and fats. Beef tallow has a similar consistency and appearance to butter and other animal fats like lard (pork fat), duck fat, and goose fat.

At room temperature, it’s solid and has a melting point of around 95-104°F (35-40°C). But beef fat has a high smoke point of 400°F (205°C).

When it comes to using beef tallow for any use, we always suggest using grass-fed tallow. This makes the beef tallow more nutrient-dense, better tasting and raises the overall quality of the fat.

In terms of beef tallow taste and smell, grass-fed beef tallow has a mild beefy flavor and aroma. And yes, the smell is strong, but it is not too different from the smell of a hamburger patty.

Beef tallow has a long shelf life and can last for over 2 years when stored in a freezer, and can be kept in a fridge for 12-18 months. It is also shelf stable and can be kept at room temperature for up to a year.

If you decide to use beef tallow, there are a lot of benefits you should know about.

What Are the Benefits of Beef Tallow?

Pure beef tallow can bring about a lot of health benefits. Here are a few of them: 

• Rich in Vitamins: Beef tallow contains vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are essential for various functions in your body. Vitamin A supports your vision, immune system, and reproductive health. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and protects your cells from damage. Vitamin K helps your blood clot and prevents bleeding.
• Contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): CLA is a natural trans fat that has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that CLA can reduce the risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. CLA can also lower your cholesterol levels, improve your insulin sensitivity, and prevent weight gain.
• Nourishes Skin: Beef tallow is rich in fatty acids that moisturize, heal, and protect the skin. It may also be effective in treating eczema, psoriasis, acne, and other skin problems. Beef tallow contains stearic acid, which helps your skin retain water and elasticity. It also contains palmitic acid, which has anti-aging and anti-wrinkle effects. Beef tallow can also soothe irritated skin and reduce inflammation.

So whether cooking with beef tallow or applied to hair and skin, there are numerous benefits of using beef tallow.

Now, let’s get into some of the many uses of beef tallow.

What Are the Uses of Beef Tallow?

CookingBeef tallow is resistant to high heat, making it great for deep frying, roasting, sauteing, deep frying, and baking. You can use beef tallow to add flavor and richness to eggs, bacon, burgers, steaks, chicken, fish, vegetables, french fries, potatoes, and more. 

If you’re not sure how to use beef tallow when cooking, remember that it’s a natural and heart-healthy alternative to vegetable oil, canola oil, and margarine.

1. Tallow Balm

Tallow balm is a mix of beef tallow and some olive oil or coconut oil. You can use it to moisturize your face, body, lips, and hands. It helps with dryness, scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, and more. 

Tallow balm is a good moisturizer to use because it gives your skin the natural oils necessary to keep your skin hydrated.

2. Candle-Making

You can use beef tallow and some wicks to make your own candles. Compared to traditional candles, tallow candles are cheaper, longer-lasting, and more eco-friendly. 

To make your own tallow candles, you’ll need to melt some beef tallow in a double boiler over low heat. Then, you’ll have to dip some cotton wicks into the melted tallow and let them dry on a baking sheet. After repeating this process enough times, the wicks will be coated with enough tallow.

Once the wicks are coated, you’ll want to cut the wicks to the desired length and insert them into glass jars or metal containers. You’ll then need to pour the remaining melted tallow into the jars or containers and let them cool and harden.

3. Soap-Making

You can make your own soap using beef tallow and some lye. Tallow soap is easy on the skin, creamy, and lathers well.

Homemade soap can be free of harmful chemicals, and you can add the fragrances you like to make a unique soap.

4. Healing Salve

You can make your own healing salve using beef tallow and some herbs. Herbs you may consider using include calendula, lavender, and chamomile. 

You can use the healing salve to treat cuts, burns, insect bites, rashes, and other minor wounds.

5. Lubricant

You can use beef tallow as a natural lubricant for your tools, machines, locks, door hinges, and more. Moreover, beef tallow can help prevent corrosion and friction. 

6. Leather Conditioning

You can use beef tallow to condition your leather goods. Beef tallow is safe for leather goods like shoes, belts, or bags. By using beef tallow, you can restore shine, softness, and durability to your leather items. 

7. Itch Relief

You can use beef tallow to relieve itching caused by allergies, dry skin, or insect bites. Beef tallow gives you itch relief by soothing, moisturizing, and healing your skin. 

8. Rust Prevention

You can use beef tallow to prevent rust on your metal items, such as your tools or kitchenware. Beef tallow does this by creating a protective layer that repels water and oxygen. 

9. Sunburn Relief

You can use beef tallow to relieve sunburn, pain, and inflammation. Beef tallow can effectively cool, moisturize, and heal your sunburned skin. It also contains vitamins that help protect your skin from further damage and promote tissue repair. 

10. Deodorant

Beef tallow may sound smelly. But the fact of the matter is that it can effectively prevent body odor and keep your armpits fresh and smooth. 

You can make your own beef tallow deodorant using beef tallow, baking soda, cornstarch, and essential oils.

11. Nail and Hair Care

You can use beef tallow to nourish your hair and nails. It can help moisturize, strengthen, and condition your nails and cuticles. Moreover, it can improve the texture, shine, and growth of your hair. 

Final Thoughts

Grass-fed beef tallow is our favorite animal fat for cooking, but we use it for more than just cooking.

Beef tallow is a natural and versatile fat that you can use to make a whole bunch of products. Moreover, it’s a great alternative to processed fats and products that are harmful to your health and the environment. By opting for beef tallow, you can enjoy its nourishing vitamins, healthy fats, and soothing properties.

Beef tallow has a long shelf life of 2 years in the freezer, so you can keep it stored until you need it.

If you are interested in learning more about beef tallow, consider reading more articles on our site, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.

Disclaimer: This is not health advice. This is the opinion of individuals who practice holistic living. You should consult with health experts before making drastic changes to your diet.