Why Should I Use Beef Tallow? Health Benefits & Cooking Tips
Beef tallow is having a comeback, and for good reason. Where once it was a utensil found in many kitchens, pent-up demand for its health benefits and versatility in the kitchen has almost made it a must-have again.
Why would you consider using beef tallow?
This article will discuss why beef tallow is worth adding to your kitchen and skincare routine, its health benefits, and how you can use it in everyday life.
What is Beef Tallow?
Rendered fat from cattle is referred to as beef tallow.
Melted down beef fat is made, usually from the beef fat in the kidney area, and filtered to remove impurities.
What it results in is a clean, stable fat that can be used in cooking, skincare, and for many DIY projects.
Tallow has been used historically for cooking, candle making, soap making, and as an industrial lubricant.
However, in the modern world, it has been superseded by vegetable oils and other synthetic fats, except recently.
Nowadays, with the trend toward more natural and more sustainable ingredients, beef tallow has become very popular, especially if you are following an ancestral or whole food diet.
Why Should I Use Beef Tallow in Cooking?
The main reason to use beef tallow is its versatility in cooking.
Those readings make this a great candidate for high heat cooking like frying, sautéing, and roasting, thanks to the high smoke point of about 400°F (204°C).
It is a much more stable oil than many vegetable oils, which can break down and become harmful when heated to high temperatures.
Beef tallow also delivers an extremely savory flavor to a dish that specifically cannot be achieved with vegetable oils.
Especially popular in giving meats a slight boost in flavour and moistness without upstaging the dish.
Beef tallow also has the advantage of having a long shelf life. Beef tallow is unlike liquid vegetable oils that can go bad quickly, even at room temperature, and even for months.
Beef tallow can be used to make the crispy golden brown fries or a base for savoury dishes such as stir-fry or stew, a nd even baked goods.
It’s a processed oil and fat with healthy properties, and its flavor adds to the quality of your meals.
The Health Benefits of Beef Tallow
If you are on keto, you know that the grass-fed beef tallow is much more than a cooking fat. It is a nutrient-dense powerhouse.
Nutrient Profile
There are several nutrients found in beef tallow that are good for you.
Fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K, are rich and highly important for the immune system, bone, and skin functions (1).
Tallow also provides a good source of ofomega-33 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation and support brain function (2).
Supports Metabolism
Since beef tallow is composed of saturated and monounsaturated fats, it can be a steady source of energy and contribute to a healthy metabolism.
Refined carbohydrates will cause your blood sugar to spike, and these fats are less likely to do so. On a routine basis, for health and vitality, it is to manage weight and make good use of energy.
Promotes Joint Health
Beef tallow also has collagen content that may help your joints.
The most common protein in the body is collagen, and it is used in the build-up of joints, bones, and skin.
Consisting of elements that help support our body's natural production of collagen, tallow can help reduce joint pain and stiffness, especially as we age, by consuming it.
Gut Health
Beef tallow contains healthy fats that are important in supporting your digestive health.
These fats also help with reducing inflammation in the gut, support nutrient absorption, and maintain the integrity of the intestinal lining (3).
The conclusion is obviously that a healthy gut leads to a healthier immune system, increased energy levels, and good mental health.
Rich in CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)
CLA is also found in beef tallow, a naturally occurring fatty acid that is supposed to assist in losing fat and building muscle (4).
The study of CLA for its potential benefits related to reducing body fat, improving muscle growth, and overall metabolic health has been carried out.
Increased beef tallow in your diet can heighten your body composition when coupled with some vigorous exercise.
Is Beef Tallow Healthy?
The fact that beef tallow has a historical negative perception of saturated fats might make you wonder if beef tallow is really healthy.
Beef tallow, sourced correctly, is a healthy fat that can be part of a healthy diet.
The problem, however, is the difference between grass-fed beef tallow and conventional, grain-fed tallow.
Grass-fed tallow has higher amounts of beneficial omega-3s and much less inflammatory omega-6s (5), which makes it a much healthier choice.
Natural grass-fed beef tallow is a form of fat that provides for the body’s nutritional needs, but without the harmful additives and chemicals in many contaminated fats.
However, it is important to mention that beef tallow is rich in saturated fats, but these fats are essential for optimal hormone function, brain health, and overall wellness.
Beef Tallow for Skin: This Is a Natural Moisturizer
Utilizing beef tallow not only makes your buttery and mouth-watering but also adds something great to your skincare routine.
Tallow contains the vitamins A, D, and E, which are essential for skin health. Vitamins help protect the skin from environmental damage, reduce inflammation, and promote cell regeneration.
Beef tallow is rich in antioxidants, naturally, and those antioxidants help fight the free radicals that age the skin and damage it.
Beef tallow can be used as a natural moisturizer for dry skin, eczema, or any other skin conditions.
It does not cause your skin to clog the pores because it helps to restore the moisture, leaving your skin soft and nourished.
Beef tallow also has anti-inflammatory properties, and it is a good treatment for cuts, bruises, and minor wounds.
Beef tallow is all natural and chemical-free, unlike many commercial skincare products that have artificial fragrances and fillers.
How Is Beef Tallow Used?
High heat cooking requires a good fat, and beef tallow is just that.
It can be used in place of vegetable oils or butter when cooking meat, vegetables, or even baking.
Making crispy roasted potatoes or chicken from beef tallow is your friend if you enjoy doing so. A real golden crust that doesn’t burn the inside.
In addition, beef tallow can be used as a natural moisturizer in your skincare routine for dry skin, chapped lips, and chapped heels.
It is a versatile product that can easily replace a couple of other oils in your home.
Why Is Everyone Obsessed with Beef Tallow?
The fascination with beef tallow is due to the rising trend of clean, whole foods and products that are natural and sustainable.
In recent years, people have been moving towards ancestral eating, and eating fats like lard and beef tallow for their benefits.
Social media has also spread the word about beef tallow, something that influencers, chefs, and health experts love.
With people moving toward real food, beef tallow provides a wholesome, clean option that is compatible with real food lifestyles.
How to Make Beef Tallow at Home
- Cracking beef tallow at home is simpler than you might think.
- Use high-quality beef fat from a local butcher or farmer’s market (grass-fed beef is best).
- Trim the fat into small pieces and place over low to medium heat in a heavy-bottomed pot.
- When the fat is melted, strain out any solid bits and leave behind the clear, golden liquid.
- When cool, store your homemade tallow in a glass jar or container in a cool, dark place.
- Beef tallow is homemade and more affordable, and you can control the quality of the fat by removing it from any chemicals or additives.
Final Thoughts
Versatile in cooking and also skin-nourishing, beef tallow is a nutrient-dense fat.
With high-quality beef tallow, grass-fed variety, you can enhance your meals, increase your health, and take care of your skin naturally.
Beef tallow is a good fat to incorporate into your daily routine if you want to take control of your health.
Have a try yourself in your cooking or otherwise in your skincare regimen. You will be amazed at the result it produces.
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FAQs on Why Should I Use Beef Tallow? Health Benefits & Cooking Tips
What is the purpose of beef tallow?
Beef tallow is a great nutrient and versatile fat that can be used for cooking, skincare, soaping, and more. Benefits include joint health and hydration of the skin.
What are the advantages of beef tallow?
Beef tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, omega-3 fatty acids, CLA, all of which are good for skin health, joint health, gut health, and support a healthy metabolism.
When is beef tallow used?
High heat cooking methods, such as frying and roasting, are perfect with beef tallow. In addition, it can be used as a natural moisturizer for skin, especially dry patches and minor skin problems.
Why does everybody go crazy about the beef tallow?
It’s because beef tallow’s resurgence in the real food movement, its health benefits, and its sustainability. Already making its way to the top of the clean cooking and skincare rosette.
How to make beef tallow?
Heat grass-fed beef fat until a clear golden liquid is obtained; cut into small pieces and slowly render on low heat until finished. Impurities can be strained out and stored in a cool, dark place.
Related Studies
1. Title: Fat-Soluble Vitamins - Diet and Health
This NCBI book discusses the roles of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin D, in promoting bone health by enhancing calcium and phosphorus absorption.
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK218749/
2. Title: Omega-3 fatty acids in brain and neurological health
This study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) explores the role of omega-3 fatty acids in reducing inflammation and supporting brain health.
Link: https://www.nih.gov/
3. Title: Dietary Fats and Gut Health
While specific studies on beef tallow and gut health are limited, research on dietary fats generally supports their role in reducing inflammation and supporting nutrient absorption.
Link: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/
4. Title: Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and Body Composition
This review discusses the effects of CLA on body composition, including potential benefits for fat loss and muscle gain.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36048508/
5. Title: Comparison of Fatty Acid Profiles in Grass-Fed and Grain-Fed Beef
This study from the Journal of Animal Science compares the fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 content, between grass-fed and grain-fed beef.
Link: https://understandingag.com/nutritional-comparisons-between-grass-fed-beef-and-conventional-grain-fed-beef/
