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–+ servings
A jar of beef tallow on top of a wooden cutting board.
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5 from 10 votes

Homemade Beef Tallow Recipe

Learn how to render beef tallow in 2 easy steps. Beef tallow is a versatile animal fat with many uses. It is an excellent fat for keto, carnivore, paleo, and other diets that promote from-scratch cooking with ancestral foods.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 15 minutes
Course: Sauces, Dressings, and Dips
Cuisine: Traditional
Servings: 1 tablespoon
Calories: 128kcal
Author: Jessica Haggard
Cost: $6

Equipment

Ingredients

  • Beef suet

Instructions

  • Chop the suet into small pieces either by hand or by pulsing in a food processor.
    Beef suet
    Beef fat cut and ready for cooking.
  • Add the tallow to a large pot and place over low heat. If using a slow cooker, turn the temperature on to "low".
    Beef tallow being cooked.
  • Stir occasionally, every hour or so, for 3-4 hours to prevent the suet from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If using a slow cooker, stir in a similar manner and adjust the cooking time to at least 4 hours and up to 8.
    A pan full of rendered beef tallow on a stove top.
  • Tallow is done once the cracklings are completely shriveled. Let cool slightly before straining and pouring into a storage container of choice.
    A golden liquid in a pyrex measuring cup.

Notes

Please read the full post for tips on storing and using homemade tallow. I also provide a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of chopping by hand vs using a food processor.
Approximately 8 pounds of suet renders into 4 liters (4 quarts) of tallow. Therefore, 1 pound of suet yields approximately 0.5 liter (1 pint) tallow.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 128kcal | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 1mg
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