Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, primarily made up of triglycerides. It has been used in a variety of ways throughout history, including in traditional food preparation, as an ingredient and as a cooking oil. Here are some common uses of tallow:
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Cooking: Tallow has a high smoke point of 400-420°F, making it great for high-heat cooking like frying, roasting, and sautéing. It can be used in place of cooking oils and other animal fats in many recipes, and it adds a mild beefy flavor to dishes.
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Skin care: Tallow is antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory, making it a great balm, salve, or cleanser for skin. It is easily absorbed and particularly healing for rashes, cuts, and other inflammatory skin conditions.
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Candles and soap: Tallow has been used historically to make molded candles and soap.
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Lubricant: Tallow can be used as an industrial lubricant for certain types of light engineering work, such as cutting threads on electrical conduit.
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Biodiesel: Tallow can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production.
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Medicine: Tallow has been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Tallow can be purchased online or made at home by rendering suet, which is the fat that surrounds the organs of cattle or sheep.
