How To Make Tallow – Rendering Beef Tallow

Learning how to make tallow is an old-fashioned skill long forgotten by the modern world, but of great for food storage, soap making, and skincare!

Beef tallow is rendered beef fat. That means that you melt down large pieces of beef fat (at a low temperature, leave the solids in your pot, and pour the liquid into a mason jar. The liquid solidifies and you have shelf-stable beef tallow!

How Long Does Beef Tallow Last

After tallow solidifies, you can keep it at room temperature in a sealed container for up to one year, and WILL NOT go rancid. Beef Tallow keeps even longer if it’s refrigerated and stays good indefinitely in the freezer!

How To Use Beef Tallow

Tallow has a wide range of applications, including:

Tallow Soaps – Tallow can be used to create natural, gentle soaps, shampoos and conditioners without synthetic detergents.

Lotion & Face Lotion – Tallow-based lotions, face lotion and salves can replace store bought moisturizers… They’re easy to whip up, and they work great!  

In Makeup & Chapstick – We love making Tallow Chapstick with peppermint oil… It’s simple to do, and it makes a great gift too!

Homemade candles! Tallow candles provide a clean-burning, natural alternative to paraffin wax candles, which are petroleum-based.

Cooking: Tallow can be used as a cooking fat, reducing the need for vegetable oils derived from crops.  You can also tallow in place of butter, Crisco, oil, or lard in cooking, baking, and frying.

Oiling Guns – To oil your gun with tallow, simply warm it up and apply a thin layer to the moving parts of your firearm. Make sure to wipe off any excess tallow and avoid getting it on the firing pin or other sensitive areas.

To Tan a Hide and Make Leather! Tallow can be used to help preserve a hide and turn it into leather by softening and conditioning the fibers. It can also be used to waterproof and protect finished leather goods.

Wood Lubricant – Tallow can be used as a wood lubricant by applying a thin layer to wooden surfaces, such as tool handles or wooden joints. This can help reduce friction and prevent wear and tear.

Metal Lubricant – Tallow can be used as a metal lubricant by applying a thin layer to metal surfaces, such as hinges or gears. However, modern synthetic lubricants are often preferred for metal applications due to their superior performance and longevity.

Waterproofing Anything – Tallow can be used to waterproof things by applying a thin layer to the surface. For example, you can waterproof leather boots or canvas bags by rubbing tallow into the material. .

Seasoning Agent for Cast Iron! Tallow can be used to season cast iron by applying a thin layer to the surface and heating it in a hot oven. This process creates a non-stick coating that improves the performance and longevity of your cast iron cookware.

In fire starters! Tallow can be used as a fire starter by mixing it with absorbent materials like cotton balls or dryer lint. The tallow-soaked material can be easily ignited and used to start a fire, even in damp conditions.

As a pet food supplement. Tallow can be a treat for your pet! You can mix a little bit of tallow into their food or give it to them as a special treat.

As a coating that preserves fresh eggs. Tallow can help keep your eggs fresh for longer! To use it, simply coat the eggs in a thin layer of melted tallow. This creates a protective barrier that helps prevent moisture loss and bacterial growth. Then store the coated eggs in a cool, dark place.

How To Make Beef Tallow

Rendering beef tallow is super simple, and easy to do! Just collect your beef fat, chop it up for easier melting, and place it in a large pot. Cover it and bake at 250 degrees F for 12 hours, or overnight. The liquid in the pot is tallow when it cools.

Water Purification Method:

1. Render the Tallow: Follow the steps outlined above to render the beef fat.
2. Add Water and Salt: Once the fat is melted, add enough water to cover it and 3 tablespoons of salt.
3. Simmer and Skim: Simmer the mixture over low heat, skimming off any impurities that rise to the surface.
4. Cool and Solidify: Pour the mixture into a heat-safe container and let it cool in the refrigerator.
5. Separate Tallow and Impurities: Once the tallow has solidified, a layer of impurities will settle at the bottom.
6. Remove Impurities: Carefully remove the solid tallow from the container, scraping off any impurities from the bottom.
7. Reheat and repeat till there is no beef smell!

How To Store Tallow

Store your tallow in an air-tight container, and in a dark place like the pantry or cupboard. If you can’t store it in a dark place, use a dark “amber” mason jar to keep the light out. Refrigerating the tallow will make it last even longer!

That’s because longer exposure to light and air will cause tallow to go bad faster 🙂

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