Cooking with beef tallow is ideal for all types of chefs and foodies alike. Not only is tallow a great ingredient for the way it can enhance standard recipes, but it’s ideal for improving any diet. That’s because there are no seed oils that benefit one’s health. If anything, they’re toxic and cause inflammation in the body. Luckily, beef tallow is a fantastic alternative to these not-so-great ingredients.
In this article, we’re going to discuss several reasons why cooking with beef tallow is a must. Now, without further ado, let’s jump right into it!
Cooking With Beef Tallow: Why It’s a Must
So, what is beef tallow used for? There are many tallow uses, but cooking is arguably the most important one. Whether you’re frying food on a stovetop or baking sweet treats, beef tallow is a great ingredient to use. So, if you’d like to discover why using beef tallow is better than other types of cooking oil, read on!
1. The Beef Tallow Smoke Point Is High
Unlike tallow, butter and other cooking oils have high smoke points. A smoke point is also known as the burning point, and is the temperature that fats must reach before they start emitting smoke.
Beef tallow has a smoke point of roughly 400° F, which is the highest smoke point of all the fats one can cook with. As a result, it’s not toxic like cooking oils that have a smoke point of a hundred or so fewer degrees. And that’s one of the primary reasons why cooking with beef tallow is so popular within the non-toxic market.
2. Grass-Fed Beef Tallow Is 100% Natural
Did you know that beef tallow is completely organic and unprocessed? For those who are striving to consume a clean diet or run a completely organic restaurant business, swapping all cooking oils for tallow is a smart idea. Doing so in a restaurant setting is also a great way to implement product differentiation.
You see, many restaurants opt for cheaper cooking oils to remain within their budget. As a result, it’s difficult to find menu types that exclude them. Find a geographic market that lacks non-toxic dining options, launch an eatery that uses tallow, and be on your merry way to a stand-out business.
Over time, consuming something like grass-fed beef tallow as opposed to canola or soybean oil will provoke improvements in your wellbeing. Whether you’re making the switch for yourself or for your customers, it’s certainly worth it.
3. Beef Tallow Contains Healthy Fatty Acids
One aspect of beef tallow that makes it unique from other fats in the culinary world is that it offers a balance of fatty acids. More specifically, it offers a balance between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
With this said, fatty acids, like stearic, oleic, and myristic are great for stellar health. For one, these fatty acids help fuel the body's cells when in need of energy. That takes place when glucose is unavailable, of course. Then on the other hand, they can also promote the overall health of the body's joints, metabolism, and hormones.
4. Beef Tallow Enhances Crispiness
The sole purpose of frying food is to achieve a savory crispiness. You might be wondering–what’s the difference then between tallow vs lard? After all, shouldn’t lard create a crisp texture amongst the recipes that use it?
Well, sort of. Any pastry chef will inform you that when baking with lard, you’re able to achieve a light and crispy texture. That’s why it’s such a common ingredient within Italian and French bakery items.
However, when cooking with beef tallow, the result can be a bit different. So, the next time you’re frying up a dish like fries, chicken, or something else, opt for tallow. You won’t be disappointed by the outcome!
5. Beef Tallow Is Allergy-Friendly
Many people suffer from allergies and intolerances to dairy, which can make it infeasible to consume food with butter or ghee. Plus, there are many people who react poorly to inflammatory seed oils that are commonly used to cook or bake food. By cooking with beef tallow, you can dodge potential allergic reactions and health risks. And as a business owner, you might even be able to operate one of the few allergy-friendly restaurants in your area.
6. Beef Tallow Nurtures Sustainability
If you’re not familiar with the origin of beef tallow, let us inform you! In simple terms, it comes from the leaf fat taken from the abdomen of cows. Leaf fat refers to the contents surrounding the kidneys and other abdominal organs.
So, what does this mean in regard to sustainability? Well, when butchers and wholesale meat suppliers prepare different cuts of beef for purchase, they can also distribute the leaf fat. Oh, and by the way, the leaf fat taken from the cattle is the suet. It only becomes tallow after you render it. But this is a simple process to understand once you learn how to make beef tallow.
So, to sum it all up, there won’t be as much food waste when preparing different meat products. Instead, more of each cow will be used instead of just the meat.
7. Beef Tallow Has a Lengthy Shelf Life
Beef tallow is a very stable ingredient. But how long does beef tallow last? When you store it properly, rendered beef tallow can last up to a year. Properly storing beef tallow means that you keep it in an airtight container, far away from light, air, and moisture.
If you render or purchase bulk beef tallow, feel free to keep some of it in the freezer. If you do, you can prolong the shelf life of beef tallow by many months or even years. Stability might not be the biggest selling point when it comes to cooking oils; however, when you consider that 100% organic grass-fed tallow can be a bit pricey, it’s ideal that you can hold onto it for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking With Beef Tallow
Cooking with beef tallow is one of the first steps you can take toward a healthier lifestyle or restaurant. With that in mind, there is so much to learn about it. From its origin to its other versatile uses, knowing how to use beef tallow in the kitchen is just the beginning. If you’d like to learn more about the topic of cooking with beef tallow and beyond, see below.
Why Is Cooking With Beef Tallow Better?
Cooking with beef tallow is better than cooking with other fats or oils due to its high smoke point and nutrient-rich makeup. For one, cooking with beef tallow will allow you to dodge the risks associated with inflammatory ingredients, like canola oil. Plus, it seriously enhances the flavor, aroma, and texture of various types of food.
What Is Beef Tallow Used For?
Beef tallow is used in the restaurant industry as a replacement for cooking oils and butter. It can also be used as an emollient in skincare products.
What Are the Benefits of Tallow In Food?
The main benefits of cooking with beef tallow include:
- Beef tallow has a high smoke point.
- Beef tallow adds great flavor to food.
- Beef tallow can make fried food extra crispy.
- Beef tallow is organic and unprocessed.
How Can You Determine Where to Buy Beef Tallow Locally?
You can start searching for local beef tallow suppliers by checking with nearby butchers. Simply search “butchers near me” and give them a call. You can also check with dairy farms and Amish grocery markets. If you can’t find it from a local source, you can always buy beef tallow online.
Is Beef Tallow for Skin Just as Good as It Is for Cooking?
Yes, while cooking with beef tallow is a smart move for its culinary superiority and health benefits, it’s also great for your skin. You can use it topically in place of your moisturizer. For long-term results, be sure to use it regularly.
Cooking With Beef Tallow: The Easy Step Toward Clean Dining
Now that you know why cooking with tallow is a must for clean lifestyles and healthy dining, it’s time to start adding it to your food. Whether it’s a change you make in your restaurant or home kitchen, you’ll quickly reap the benefits of doing so. After all, it has been a culinary staple for thousands of years!