Why Beef Tallow Is Making a Comeback (And How to Use It)

Beef tallow is a type of rendered fat that comes from beef, often sourced from suet, which is the fat surrounding the kidneys of the cow. It has been used for centuries in cooking, but in recent decades, it was pushed aside for vegetable oils and other alternatives. Now, beef tallow is making a comeback as home cooks and chefs rediscover its culinary and nutritional benefits.

Rich Flavor and High Smoke Point

One of the main reasons beef tallow is growing in popularity is its rich, beefy flavor. Unlike vegetable oils that can be neutral or slightly processed in taste, tallow enhances the natural flavor of food, making it a favorite among chefs and home cooks. Additionally, it has a high smoke point of around 400°F, making it ideal for frying, roasting, and sautéing.

A Natural and Healthy Alternative

Many people are turning to beef as a healthier fat option. Unlike highly processed seed oils, tallow is a natural fat that contains beneficial fatty acids, including conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3s. These components are linked to various health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and supporting heart health. More people are recognizing that traditional animal fats may be better for overall wellness than modern, overly processed vegetable oils.

Perfect for Traditional and Farm-to-Table Cooking

As consumers seek out more traditional diets and whole foods, beef tallow aligns perfectly with this movement. Companies like Wilson Farm Meats, a family-owned business in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, are helping to bring high-quality meats and natural fats back to the kitchen. Their locally raised beef is an excellent source of natural tallow, ensuring customers get a product that is free from unnecessary additives and processing. Choosing farm-to-table meat sources means preserving authenticity and enjoying healthier, more flavorful foods.

How to Use Tallow in Your Kitchen

Frying and Searing

Beef tallow is excellent for frying due to its high smoke point and heat stability. Whether you’re making crispy French fries, golden fried chicken, or caramelized onions, beef tallow ensures a deep, savory flavor. It’s also a great fat for searing meats like steaks, providing a perfect crust while keeping the inside tender and juicy. Many high-end steakhouses still use tallow for cooking because of its ability to enhance meat’s natural flavors.

Roasting Vegetables

For delicious roasted vegetables, toss them in melted beef tallow before baking. The fat coats the vegetables evenly, helping them achieve a crispy texture and enhanced flavor. Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts taste incredible when roasted with tallow. Adding herbs and seasoning to tallow-coated vegetables results in a perfect, restaurant-quality side dish.

Baking and Pastry Making

Surprisingly, beef tallow can be used in baking as a substitute for butter or shortening. It gives pie crusts a flaky texture and can even be used in biscuits and pastries. Because it is more stable than vegetable shortening, it creates a richer, more natural taste. Traditional bakers appreciate its ability to produce consistently flaky and delicious baked goods without artificial additives.

Crispy Fried Foods

If you want to recreate restaurant-quality fried foods at home, tallow is an excellent choice. Traditional fast-food chains once used tallow to fry their French fries, and it’s still considered one of the best options for achieving that perfect crispness. Burgers, fried fish, and even fried dough can benefit from the crisp texture that tallow provides.

DIY Cooking and Preservation

You can also use beef tallow to preserve homemade meats, such as confit, where foods are slowly cooked and stored in fat. This technique not only enhances flavor but also extends shelf life without the need for artificial preservatives. Preserving food in tallow allows you to naturally store meats and dishes for longer periods, staying true to traditional cooking methods.

Why Choose Wilson Farm Meats for High-Quality Beef Tallow?

When selecting beef tallow, quality matters. Wilson Farm Meats provides locally raised beef straight from their Wisconsin farm, ensuring a fresh and pure source of tallow. Their commitment to farm-to-table practices means that customers receive a natural and minimally processed product perfect for all their cooking needs. Knowing where your food comes from is essential, and Wilson Farm Meats ensures high-quality meats and fats for any recipe.

Locally Sourced Beef for Superior Quality

Wilson Farm Meats specializes in custom-cut, locally raised beef, ensuring that customers receive only the best. Their beef is processed with care to maintain quality and flavor, making it ideal for extracting fresh beef tallow. Supporting a local family-owned business like Wilson Farm Meats also guarantees that you’re getting ethically sourced meat raised with traditional farming values.

A Farm-to-Table Experience

With a history spanning over 150 years, Wilson Farm Meats has deep roots in providing premium meats directly to customers. Whether you’re looking for high-quality beef, pork, or specialty products like smoked meats, their commitment to freshness and taste remains unmatched. When you purchase tallow or any other product from Wilson Farm Meats, you’re supporting a longstanding tradition of excellence in meat production.

How to Store and Render Beef Tallow at Home

Storing Beef Tallow

Tallow has a long shelf life when stored properly. It can be kept at room temperature in an airtight container, but for longer preservation, it’s best stored in the refrigerator or freezer. When properly stored, it can last for months without going rancid. Always make sure to store tallow in a clean, sealed jar to keep it fresh.

Rendering Your Own Beef Tallow

If you want to make your own beef tallow, it’s a simple process:

Start with high-quality beef fat, preferably from a trusted source like Wilson Farm Meats. Chop the fat into small pieces and place it in a slow cooker or heavy-bottomed pot. Heat on low, allowing the fat to slowly melt and render. Strain the liquid fat through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any solids. Store the rendered tallow in a clean jar and let it cool before sealing.

Once rendered, tallow can be used in all your favorite recipes, from frying to baking. Making tallow at home allows you to ensure purity and quality while making use of every part of the animal.

Additional Benefits of Tallow

Skin and Hair Care

Beyond cooking, beef tallow is an excellent ingredient for natural skincare. It is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, making it deeply nourishing for the skin. Many natural skincare brands are now offering tallow-based products for lotions, balms, and soaps.

Sustainable and Waste-Reducing

Using beef tallow contributes to a whole-animal butchery approach, reducing waste and making use of valuable nutrition from the animal. Consumers who support sustainable meat sources like Wilson Farm Meats are contributing to a more environmentally friendly way of consuming meat and fats.

Final Thoughts

Beef tallow is more than just a cooking fat—it’s a return to traditional, high-quality cooking. With its rich flavor, high smoke point, and numerous health benefits, it’s no wonder it’s making a comeback. Whether you’re frying, roasting, or baking, beef tallow is a versatile ingredient that deserves a spot in your kitchen.

For those looking to source the best beef tallow, Wilson Farm Meats is the go-to provider. Their commitment to farm-to-table quality and locally raised meats ensures that every product is fresh and full of flavor. Visit their store in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, or check out their offerings online to bring the best beef tallow into your kitchen today!