So what makes beef tallow unique? First, it contains very high levels of healthy saturated fats and fat-soluble vitamins, providing various health benefits. The true magic of tallow lies in its high smoke point.
Beef tallow’s smoke point allows it to scorch, fry, and roast products at very high temperatures without compromising flavor or nutrition. Outside the kitchen, tallow is also a fantastic component for skin moisturizing and nourishing.
What is beef tallow?
“Tallow” is a fancy name for rendered fat. Specifically, beef tallow is beef fat cooked down with impurities removed. Tallow is a liquid when heated and a solid when cool, making it an excellent substitution for oil and butter in recipes.
Tips in choosing the right suet
To make good beef tallow at home, it is best to use good beef suet. Beef suet is the hard, compact fat around cattle kidneys and loins.
Choosing the right kind of suet will help you get a higher quality of pure and flavorful beef tallow that you can use in cooking, baking, and even on your skin. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing the best suet for rendering:
Where you get your suet is critical. When available, it is best to use grass-fed, pasture-raised beef. Conventional cattle suet should be avoided, as it may contain more unhealthy additives, hormones, and other contaminants.
When selecting your suet, look for fresh and clean suet free from impurities and discoloration and without an off-odor. Avoid watery suet or suet with many connective tissues, as these will lower the fat yield.
Another essential factor to consider is the fat percentage. You should use suet with the highest percentage of fat, at least 80-90 percent. A higher fat content will produce more tallow for you after rendering.
Lower fat percentages in the suet will give you a lower amount of tallow and will also produce softer tallow.
For best results, use the suet as soon as you buy it; older suet can give off a foul odor or rancidity that could negatively affect your tallow. If you can’t use it quickly, tightly wrap it and store it in the refrigerator or freezer.
How to render your beef tallow
Before rendering your suet, make sure your space is free from clutter and distractions. This will help you maintain your focus throughout the process. A sharp knife, a cutting board, a large pot, or a slow cooker are necessary. That way, when you start the rendering process, everything is ready and available, and you can work more effectively and efficiently.
Place your pot or slow cooker over medium heat so that the suet will gradually melt without burning. You can put a little oil in the bottom of the pot to prevent it from sticking on the stovetop; this is unnecessary when using a slow cooker. Place the cut pieces in the pot or slow cooker so they are properly distributed and not on top of one another, allowing them to melt down appropriately. Do not disturb the suet too much because it might slow down the process; let it render at its own pace.
Maintain the temperature between 160°F and 180°F for perfect rendering. Use a good thermometer and occasionally adjust the heat to keep the proper temperature. If it goes over the temperature, an odd flavor might get mixed with the fat, and if it stays below, an incomplete rendering could happen. Controlling the heat is essential to obtaining a tallow with a clean and neutral flavor.
Allow the fat to melt completely, and you can stir occasionally to prevent scorching if desired. This may require a few hours or even the whole day, depending on the size of the suet cut. For best results, be patient and let the tallow render slowly.
Line the bottom of your bowl with cheesecloth or arrange a piece around a fine mesh strainer. The material will be used to strain and remove impurities or solids to produce pure tallow. Slowly pour the tallow into your prepared strainer or cheesecloth-lined container; you don’t want to spill any. After draining the tallow, discard the solid impurities and connective tissue remaining in the strainer; these byproducts have served their purpose and can be disposed of properly.
Ways to use your homemade beef tallow
- Soap making
- Skincare
- Lubricant
- Cooking oil
- Biodiesel fuel
- Candles
Enjoy your own beef tallow!
Starting with good suet and following a proper rendering method will give you pure tallow that will level up your cooking game and feed your skin wellness. Embrace the power of another traditional superfood and find the benefits you never knew existed.
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