Over the past few days I have been learning and experimenting with making tallow from the grass fed beef fat from our Adelaide Hills Farm.

Making and using tallow from scratch is something which is new to me.

I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s where saturated fats were to be avoided for heart health.

Through the early 2000’s the Mediterranean diet became the focus for wellbeing, with olive oil being the preferred oil. I source our olive oil in bulk from Absojuicely at the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market (suppliers of Bald Hills Olive Oil, Mt Barker) and the Peninsula Providore Farm, from the Fleurieu at the Adelaide Showgrounds Farmers Market.

I have been hearing and learning more about tallow.

Both for cooking and skin care.

Tallow is an extremely heat stable fat.

Grass Fed Tallow contains short chain fatty acids which are important for restoring the health of the gut wall (leaky gut) which helps strengthen immunity and the gut brain connection. As well as being helpful for reducing inflammation within the body.

Tallow contains vitamins which nourish the skin and is an extremely bio available form of fatty acid making it soaked up by your skin. Making great for soothing excema, psoriasis and other dry or inflammed skin conditions.

So over the last few days, I have pulled out some packages of beef fat from or freezer. Begun experimenting and learning a lot along the way.

There are two methods for rendering beef fat to make tallow.

Dry rendering.
Wet rendering.

What is dry rendering tallow?

Dry Rendering is a process which involves gently melting the beef fat. Straining with a fine metal sieve (and/or cheese cloth). Letting the tallow set. Then scraping the impurities off the bottom. Repeat until your liking.

What is wet rendering tallow?

Wet Rendering is a a process which involves adding water and salt to beef fat. Melting the beef fat in the water and salt mixture. The salt helps to remove the impurities from the beef fat. The water help with washing the beef fat, and reducing the “beefy” aroma from the tallow. Straining with a fine metal sieve (and/or cheese cloth). Let the tallow set in a large round metal bowl. The water, salt and any ‘beef bits” will be in the bottom. The beef fat will rise to the top. Flip the tallow out, scrap any impurities off the bottom. Repeat until your liking. For skin care products, at least two processing would be expected to achieve a hard white, low/no beef fragranced tallow result.

The dry rendering is well suited to making tallow for cooking.

The wet rendering is well sited to making tallow for skin care.

Removing impurities with a fine metal sieve and/or cheese cloth is an important part of the tallow making process.

Tips for tallow

Grass Fed Beef Fat should be stored in the freezer after recieving a beef delivery or purchase from the Farmers Market.
The preparation of the beef fat is important for the quality of the result you will achieve.
To prepare the beef fat, remove any piece of meat, sinew or parts of the beef fat package that are not beef fat. Pieced other than just beef fat will impart more “beef” fragrance and flavour in your tallow. Chop beef fat into small cubes, as this will quicken the rendering process.
Quality tallow is hard and clear of impurities.
Grass Fed Beef Tallow is generally expected to be a white colour. Variances with cattle breeds may impact the colour of the tallow.
The more pure the tallow is, the best chance of long term storage and avoiding mould. If in doubt, repeat the rendering process.

After processing the tallow, flip it over and scrape off the impurties on the bottom. Repeat the purifying process again.

Tips for dry rendering

Use a low heat, of 100 degrees maximum. To avoid burning the tallow.
A slow cooker can be very useful for the process of dry rendering. The slow and low gentle heat will avoid burning the beef fat.

Tips for wet rendering

Use the same ammont of water as beef fat, around 1/4 cup of salt per kilogram of beef fat.
As water is added in the wet rendering process, the risk of burning the beef fat is avoided.
Wet redendering is best suited to the purpose of skin products or soaps. As a whiter, lower fragrance tallow product can be achieved.
As you are adding water in the wet rendering process. This does increase the risk of mould being an issue in storing your tallow or skin care products. It is very important to take extra care in ensuring only the top “oil layer” of the final liquid tallow product is poured or ladelled into your canning jars or storage containers.

Wet rendering the grass fed beef tallow from our farm. Repeating the purification process again. Water and salt with the tallow.

Storing tallow

Tallow can be stored in the fridge or freezer for long term storage (see above about taking care with water in the water rendering method).
Tallow can be canned in jars. Please follow appropriate guidelines when canning tallow to ensure your product is shelf stable.

I have noticed that when working with the tallow, it has been so nourishing to may hands. Which have become a little dry over the winter.

I have been following the story of American Farmer Lily Hill Farm on instagram and am quite amazed at the whipped tallow balm that she is making.

There has certainly been a flourish of tallow based skin care products recently.

I’m also looking forward to using the tallow in our frying and cooking with our grass fed beef from our farm. Grass Fed Beef with tallow fried sweet potato chips sounds like a delicious weekend meal ahead.

Grass Fed Beef Fat for making tallow is included with the Quarter or Half of Beef Boxes from or farm.

Grass Fed Beef Fat for making tallow is also for purchase, when available at or our monthly stalls at the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market or Adelaide Showground Farmers Market.

So if you have a package of grass fed beef fat in your freezer, this weekend might be a great time to pull it out and start creating some amazing grass fed beef tallow for you and your family.

Love to you all, Misses Farmer X