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Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Do You Wonder, is Beef Tallow Healthy as a Cooking Fat?

*Amazon or other affiliate links may be included, see full disclosure after the post. I'm not a medical professional, so use anything you read here only as a starting point for your own research.

Beef Tallow Healthy

Is beef tallow healthy for us?

See the picture above?  I was all giddy when that showed up at my door, and in case you don't know, here's why:  I LOVE cooking with beef tallow, because besides that it makes delicious homemade French fries, chicken nuggets, and onion rings, it also is a healthy fat to cook with!  It's a traditional fat that has been used for hundreds and hundreds of years, way before there even was heart disease!

Here's their small tub.

Here's their economy size tub.

What's tallow?

Tallow is similar to lard (pork fat), only from beef instead of pork, and has many uses.  It's great for frying anything, and for using in recipes for baked goods.  Even better, grass-fed tallow is a also great source of Omega-3's (the omega 6:3 ratio is similar to fish!) and cancer-fighting CLA.

Get this:  when I priced it, I found out that it’s even cheaper than rendering it yourself!

  • I bought 2.5# of beef fat from our local farm at $4.11/#.  After rendering, it made 5.5 cups (44 oz.) of tallow, which comes to 23 cents/oz.  The time before I got a little more and it came out to 21 cents/oz.  So it averages at about 22 cents/oz.
  • But this large tub of tallow is only 19 cents/oz.!  (Update 10/2017 now it's 18 cents/ounce!)

Their smaller size tub does cost more than rendering it yourself, but since the big tub stores well, you may as well get that and freeze it or split it with someone.  Rendering isn’t difficult but it’s gross and sticky and smelly, and the batches seem to take forever to boil down.  Once it took a week. Don’t ask me why, my batch before that one took only a couple days.  OK, maybe it was because I didn’t want to cut it all up good like I did the first time, but that was so disgusting.  I know, I said to put on your big girl panties and just do it, but it wasn’t JUST that it was gross and sticky, it also took for EVER to get all the gunk out.

I’m so excited that I won’t have to render beef fat again – it’s not very often that buying something ready-to-use is cheaper than doing it yourself.  🙂

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Comments

  2. Alexandrea Miller Rocha says

    Can you make lotion with tallow? Or like a body butter? Any links to a good recipe. I would much rather eat it though. A friend gave me some, frozen, and I’ve been waiting to use it.

  3. Denise Wilson says

    It’s so funny no one even knows what “rendering” lard even means anymore! Sad, really! I posted a picture on FB of my little girl helping me and most people had no idea what I meant!

    • Kathryn Hicks says

      If you save the drippings from your home-cooked foods (of course, only grass fed or free range meat!) you can clean and render the ‘dripping’. It is then suitable for either cooking, or making household soap. To clean the drippings, pour the still liquid fat and pan residue into a glass- or-glazed bowl and pour in a small amount of warm water (so the fat doesn’t start to set). Allow to cool and set in the refrigerator. When cold, carefully remove the block of fat, carefully cut off the thin layer at the base which will be stained and probably a bit lumpy. Discard this. You can save the liquid below for stock or gravy making, or discard it.
      To render the fat, place it in a stainless pan with twice as much water as fat by weight. Put on medium heat till the fat is melted, then raise the heat and boil rapidly for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool thoroughly, chill to harden, and remove the block of tallow. Discard the water. If you are not satisfied that it is rendered enough, repeat the process.

      To ready the block for cooking, you may need to place it in a container and compress it to squeeze out any residual water. A tongue press is perfect for this, or put your block of tallow in a dish slightly larger than the block, put a flat plate on top of the fat and compress with a heavy weight or brick. Drain off and discard liquid until no more forms. Chill your block and wrap in parchment paper. It will keep quite well. Or you can freeze it. The only smell should be a fresh, mildly ‘beefy’ smell – not nasty at all.

    • Denise Wilson says

      My neighbor raised several pigs last year and gave me all the fat!! I learned how to render it real quick! The best stuff ever! I have also bought the 5 gallon bucket of tallow!

  5. Courtney Lozano says

    I hate how stiff tallow is, so I melted some virgin coconut oil and olive oil into my last batch. Now it has the texture of shortening and I love it! Tastes better that way, too.

  6. Kathryn Hicks says

    Sounds as though Grandma’s ‘Dripping Jar’ was much more healthful than we’ve been told, as well as being economical, natural and tasty.

  7. Brooke Shambley says

    I heard that McDonald’s used to use beef tallow until 1980. Do you know if this is correct? I wish they’d turn back time!

    • Terri Wyatt says

      Yes, I belive that is a fact. That’s how they developed their reputation for having the most delicious fries of all.

      I believe it was the book “Big Fat Surprise” which described the vile situation that now exists as a result of the restaurant industry using refined veg oils for deep fat frying. Almost guaranteed to make you nauseated.

    • Phil Malone says

      It was beef tallow when I worked there 1977- ’79… awesome fries back then! Same for the fish filets too. Yum!

  9. SteveandPaula Runyan says

    Tallow and Lard are the main oil in our soaps and butters, and I love educating our customers on its wonders!

  64. Shelli says

    I’ve been a customer of US Wellness Meats for about a year now. I’ve ordered beef tallow and grass fed ground beef from them, and both are great. I’m getting ready to order another batch of beef this week! Also, living in Missouri just South of US Wellness, I’m happy to be supporting a local farmer in my area.

  83. Leah says

    I’m a subscriber to your delightful blog via e~mail and also via GOOGLE READER! : )

    leahita[at]gmail[dot]com

  84. Leah says

    I just signed up for the U.S. Wellness Meats newsletter. Thanks so very much for this wonderful giveaway! : )

    leahita[at]gmail[dot]com

  87. Marilyn says

    I did not even know these people existed. I hope I win, but if I don’t I am still a winner since I will now be receiving the newsletters. I think the Braunschweiger looks great! I am thinking about ordering some for hubby for St. Nicholas Day!

  88. Ann Marie D'Anna says

    We have been members of WAPF for aprox. 6 years.
    We absolutely Love Love Love the organ meats, liverwurst, yummo !!!

  89. Zoe says

    I will be attending the WAPF conference in Dallas next month — bought my ticket a few months ago. I am sooooo excited!

  90. Zoe says

    I have been a member of WAPF since 2006. I act as the local WAPF leader although that formal title goes to Anna O’Reilly (she submits the yearly report). I will be showing the Nourishing Traditional Diets seminar at our local library where I work over the next two weeks. I showed the Oiling of America at my house to interested people a few weeks ago.

  91. Zoe says

    I am a member of FTCLDF as of this year and have donated $ to them this year and last year. The work they do is awsome!!!

  92. Zoe says

    I have ordered many times from USWM and my favorites are the organ sausages (braunschweiger and liverwurst) ant the tallow.

  95. Sherry says

    I have not bought from Wellness Meats yet, but planned an order to submit just after I get back from AZ. I’m going to buy pemmican, braunschwieger (cooked and uncooked) and Liverwurst.

  97. Sherry says

    I won’t be attending the Dallas conference because I can’t afford to go, but I plan to buy the mp3 proceedings. I’ve listened to 2008-2010 conferences. Great stuff!

  105. R. Resurreccion says

    I have ordered from USWM! I always check the sale section first. I usually order some kind of compassionate certified pork because I don’t have any thing like that locally.

  114. Amanda says

    I have ordered from US Wellness Meats. It is so hard to pick a favorite, but I really like their beef bone marrow bones for making broth.

  156. Allison St. Claire says

    Does wishing I could get to the WAPF event in Dallas count? Alas not enough money to attend, but I contribute to them regularly and devour their quarterly newsletter.

  159. Allison St. Claire says

    Love EVERYTHING I’ve ever gotten from U.S. Wellness Meats — but especially the availability of chicken feet and big, fatty, meaty chicken backs — yum, lotsa’ skin to fry into cracklins, some chicken fat to render down, occasional internal organs, incredible broth and enough meat to make plenty of chicken salad. Plus the dogs gobble the bones.

  169. Amanda says

    I’ve been subscribed to your blog updates for a while now that’s how I found out about this giveaway!

  182. Susan M. says

    Oops, I forgot to add that my favorite US Wellness Meats product is the beef bacon. I haven’t tried anything else yet, but I plan to!

  189. Shelley says

    (Sorry, used the wrong email before – too early for me!) I am on the USWM newsletter (I love their ground beef and order it in bulk!), I also follow you on RSS feed. Thank you!!

  190. Shelley says

    I am on the USWM newsletter (I love their ground beef and order it in bulk!), I also follow you on RSS feed. Thank you!!

  196. Janine says

    I’m already signed up for their newsletter. I’ve been wanting a 5 gallon tub of tallow for a long time!

  205. Kerstin says

    I also already get the US Wellness newsletter.

    I like your site – just hadn’t signed up before because I get so many various newsletters – but keep up the great work!

    Thanks!

  228. Jen says

    And finally, I’ve followed you on Twitter for ages, but I RTd the post, too. 🙂 Watching some of my “health-conscious” “tweeps” freak out over the health aspects of tallow should be very entertaining! ;D

  234. Martine says

    I signed up for the newsletter, to the feed RSS, I liked you on FB and I signed for US Wellness.

  248. Jennifer says

    I did not quite understand the FB one, so I am just going to put up here that I am a subscriber on there too…but I am thinking this one won’t count?
    Thank you Kelly!

  258. Julie @ Five Bunnies says

    I signed up for the US wellness meats newsletter, Thanks Kelly for giving away such an awesome prize!

  261. Margaret Auld-Louie says

    I already get the US Wellness Meats newsletter but I signed up again, just to make sure I get entered and I signed up for your newsletter. I already buy their beef tallow and use it almost every night for cooking, as well as give it to our pets :). In fact, I am about to order more tallow–I was just waiting for them to get their beef sticks back in stock, which I love. Unlike most such sticks, theirs are not too spicy for me. I also love their liverwurst, as I am not very adept at cooking organ meats, and my husband won’t eat organ meats but he loves the liverwurst. They used to have lamb tallow, too, which I bought, but I am not finding it this week on their website.

  267. Tina says

    Also….I absolutely LOVE US Wellness Meats…in fact, my favorite item for a mother of two young kiddo’s are the beef sticks – my kids think they are getting treated when they have these healthy snacks.

  273. Pogonia says

    the first thing I ever ordered from US Wellness Meats was tallow. I would so love to have some more!!!! (Yes, I receive their newsletter.)

  277. Emily says

    I am already a member of the FTCLDF (got involved with them when our previous cow share came under legal fire).

  278. Emily says

    I have never ordered from US Wellness meats but I am saving up for an order before Thanksgiving. I hope to order lard and tallow (unless I win this one!) and maybe a turkey if I can’t find a good local source.

  279. Emily says

    I LOVE beef tallow! I just started cooking with it a couple of weeks ago and it’s changed my life for the better. I would love to win the giveaway. I am already subscribed to the US Wellness newsletter.

  316. Kendra says

    Hi – I signed up, and would love to try tallow. I rendered lard a few months ago, and was surprised how much I liked it. Lard cookies rock!

  332. Jennifer Johnson says

    I have ordered from USWM several times before. So far my favorite has been the Ribeye primal! It sits in my fridge slightly drying out and I cut steaks off of it whenever I want.

  342. Laura says

    I signed up for the newsletter and am looking forward to learning more about using beef tallow for cooking.

  354. Amber J says

    I signed up for the US Wellness Meats Newsletter. I m pretty excited to check out there site more and to win some beef tallow, woot!

  362. Meagan says

    Hey Kelly – my mom and I are going to the WAPF conference and we couldn’t be more excited. I am looking forward to meeting you!! I already spoke to AnneMarie and looks like a few of us are going to try to sit together at the FTCLD fundraiser dinner. So exciting!!

  368. Cassie says

    I have ordered for them before, LOVE the tallow…I could really use that big bucket…I also love the head cheese and so do my kids, liverwurst is great too, and they have some killer hot dogs!

  370. pamela says

    It’s hard to settle on just one favorite product from Wellness Meats, though their beef fillet chunks (that’s not their official name) came to mind immediately. These are so great for a quick meal, amazingly tender and flavorful. That said, I’m really a braising fanatic and I do love all their other choices like ox tails, short ribs, and briskets, too.

  371. Jen says

    I have ordered many times from US Wellness. My absolute favorite products are the Italian and Polish Pork sausages… so GOOD! I have been happy with all my purchases though.

    • Susan says

      Forgot to mention that i just placed another order for USWM yesterday! I mostly buy their ground beef, beef franks, italian sausage. i also buy the gallon of their BQ sauce; love it!!! i bought their butter once; it was 100 times better than the organic store bought butter i buy, but i can’t afford it often. this time, i also ordered some minute steaks, 2 roasts, and some ribs. i don’t think the items i bought cost me much more than the organic items i buy at target or winn dixie.

  378. Leah says

    Oh man! My favorite from USWM is the liverwurst!!!!! So yum! And I used to LOVE the raw butter that they carried…. so beautiful…. and SO sad it’s gone *sniff*

  401. Sara B. says

    I haven’t ordered from US Wellness meats, simply because I haven’t been able to afford it recently. I’ve heard so many good things about the quality of their products, though.

  415. Jill Nienhiser says

    Just blogged about this giveaway: https://farmfoodblog.com/2011/10/21/win-100-worth-of-beef-tallow/

  488. Jill Nienhiser says

    I have a ticket for the FTCLDF Fundraiser dinner because I’m doing the WAPF scarecrow for the contest.

  491. Jill Nienhiser says

    Do we put each thing we did in a separate comment or can we do it all in one? I’ll do separate until I hear otherwise…First: I’m already on the US Wellness Meats email newsletter list.

  499. Andy says

    I’ve ordered Pemmican and Pet Meat from US Wellness Meats before, the Pemmican was really good so I’d say that’s my favorite.

  503. Alexis says

    Already subscribe to the newsletter and actually heard about this there before I checked my RSS feed.

  519. Janice says

    I am signed up for their newsletter. I am excited for you going to the conference – I’ll be with you in spirit! Hope it’s closer next year.

  521. Colleen @ A Misplaced Trust says

    I posted about the giveaway on my blog. Here’s the link: https://amisplacedtrust.blogspot.com/2011/10/enter-to-win-us-wellness-meats-beef.html.
    Thanks!

  524. Colleen @ A Misplaced Trust says

    I adore USWM meat!!! I ordered my first batch of 25 individual packages of ground beef a few months ago and we are still using them, although it will be time to order again soon. It is without a doubt the best ground beef I have ever had. And it was less expensive buying and shipping than it was to buy organic meat at my local grocery store! I am a complete and 100% convert to grass-fed beef!

  528. Charity Sauve says

    I just signed up for the US Wellness Newsletter and entered the contest!
    Thanks so much for hosting this!

  538. Amanda says

    I’ve bought from US Wellness before and have loved using their tallow! But I can never have too much. 😉 My favorite though was the sugar-free beef bacon. Oh. My. Gosh. SOOO good!

  542. Jennifer says

    I signed up for the US Wellness meats newsletter. I have never used tallow of any kind and would love to win this!

  550. Leah says

    I’ve ordered a number of things from US Wellness meats- the hot dogs are delicious, the braunshweiger is one of my favorite ways to get organ meats in, but most surprising of all was not meat- I received a container of mango cashew ice cream with an order once and it was INCREDIBLE.

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