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Beef Tallow

Beef Tallow

“Tallow” is a fancy name for rendered fat. Specifically, beef tallow is beef fat that has been cooked down with impurities removed. Tallow is a liquid when heated and a solid when cool, making it a great substitution for oil and butter in recipes.

Cooking Method
Difficulty Intermediate
Description

Making your own beef tallow is a great way to use extra fat trimmings from a brisket or other parts of the cow. The beef tallow makes for a delicious substitute for oil or butter, and it tastes amazing.

Ingredients
  • 3 lbs. white beef fat or suet
Instructions
  1. Place Fat In Large PotHeat the beef fat in a large pot. Place all of your beef fat in a large 4-5 quart pot. Turn the burner on medium-low heat.
  2. RenderRender the beef fat. Allow the fat to simmer at this low and slow temperature for 4 hours, stirring about every 30 minutes with a wooden spatula. If needed, scrape the spatula along the bottom of the pan to release any stuck on bits of fat or beef to prevent them from burning. Do not let your fat boil. Reduce heat and stir to maintain a very light simmer.
  3. Finish RenderingFinish rendering the fat. Your tallow will be finished rendering when the fat covers most of the remaining pieces in the pan. Those pieces will be lightly browned and look crisp all over. You won't be able to see any more white or solid pieces of fat.
  4. StrainStrain the rendered fat. Turn off the heat and allow the tallow to cool slightly. Prepare a large bowl fitted with a strainer. Carefully pour the tallow from the pan through the strainer into the large bowl. The strainer will catch the larger pieces of crispy rendered beef.
  5. Strain AgainStrain again into a glass jar. Fit your glass jar with a funnel and insert either a piece of cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or a paper towel. Slowly and carefully pour the tallow from the large bowl into the funnel. This step will reduce any remaining impurities in the tallow.
  6. Use or StoreUse immediately or store. Your tallow is ready to use immediately, or cover with a tight fitting lid. It should store safely in your fridge for 3 months. Use to cook skillet potatoes, sear steaks, or roast vegetables in place of other cooking fats.
Wanda Morefield Hubler
Owner - Times Right

Hi, I'm Wanda Hubler, owner of Times Right in Vandalia, Illinois. Times Right sells many gourmet food products including flavored coffee, ice cream, soup mixes, dip and spread mixes, bbq sauces, packaged meat, flavored popcorn and more.