Beef Tallow for Cooking Healthy & Yummy Carnivore Diet Foods

Beef tallow, once a staple in traditional cooking, is coming back as people learn about the benefits of animal-based oils. You can use beef tallow for cooking Carnivore foods because of its rich taste, high smoking point, and long shelf life. Here is all you need to know about making and using beef tallow, whether you are on a low-carb animal-based diet like Keto and Carnivore or not.

What Is Beef Tallow?

Beef tallow is rendered beef fat, usually sourced from the suet (the hard fat around the kidneys and loins of cattle) or other fatty trimmings.

When this fat is slowly cooked and melted, it transforms into a golden, shelf-stable oil that solidifies at room temperature.

Tallow is not the same as lard, which comes from pigs. Tallow is beef-based and usually firmer at room temperature.

Tallow was once widely used in homes and restaurants before being replaced by vegetable oils. However, its culinary and health benefits are being rediscovered today.

Many individuals also ask, “What is tallow used for?”. Well, using beef tallow for cooking is not its only use. You can use it for the following purposes.

Learn More: Chicken Heart on a Carnivore Diet: Benefits and Side Effects

What Is Tallow Used For?

Beef tallow has many different use cases and can be used for:

• High-heat cooking
• Greasing cast-iron pans
• Making savory pie crusts and biscuits
• Non-food uses: candles, soaps, moisturizers

High-Heat Cooking

Beef tallow has a high smoke point, around 400°F (204°C), which makes it suitable for cooking at high temperatures without breaking down or producing harmful compounds. So, it can be used for:

• Deep frying, especially French fries and fried meats
• Pan searing, especially steaks, burgers, and lamb chops
• Roasting, especially for coating meats like chicken or pork before roasting

Greasing Cast-Iron Pans

Tallow can be used for maintaining cast-iron cookware due to its:

• Natural non-stick features
• Seasoning the surface, forming a protective layer that resists rust
• Unlike some oils that become sticky or go rancid, tallow remains solid at room temperature and helps keep pans in good condition.

To season your pan:

1. Rub a thin layer of melted tallow onto the pan.
2. Bake it upside down in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for about an hour.
3. Let it cool inside the oven.

Learn More: 30+ Best Carnivore Diet Snacks to Boost Your Diet Results

Making Savory Pie Crusts and Biscuits

Traditionally, tallow was used in place of butter or lard in baking savory recipes due to its:

• Flaky texture it gives the dough
• Rich, umami-like flavor, good for meat pies, pot pies, or biscuits
• Consistency at room temperature, which helps with the dough structure

Tallow can be used for making steak and kidney pie, sausage rolls, cheese biscuits, or keto-friendly savory tarts.

Non-Food Uses

Tallow isn’t just for the kitchen. It is a versatile product that can be used for making candles, soaps, and tallow balm skincare products.

Tallow Candles:

Tallow burns cleanly and slowly, so it can be used to make traditional and emergency candles.

Tallow Soaps:

Rich in stearic and oleic acids, tallow creates firm, long-lasting bars with a creamy, gentle lather. It provides high-quality moisturizing and skin-nourishing effects. Learn about the benefits of tallow for skin.

Tallow Balms and Moisturizers:

Beef tallow closely resembles human skin sebum, which is why it can be easily absorbed. It is non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores) and is ideal for sensitive, dry, or eczema-prone skin [1].

Beef tallow balm can also be mixed with essential oils and used in natural skincare routines.

The Primal tallow balm is made from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef tallow of cows raised in pastures in Alberta, Canada.

The Primal tallow balm is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, which nourish, heal, and hydrate skin, lips, and body. It also contains cold-pressed organic olive oil that is a natural moisturizer with antimicrobial effects to soothe and protect your skin.

Another essential ingredient in the Primal Tallow balms is organic jojoba oil that hydrates naturally by mimicking your skin’s natural oils. It retains moisture and improves elasticity to reduce signs of aging!

These balms are also infused with natural lavender, frankincense, cedarwood, and lemongrass essential oils to calm irritation, heal damaged skin, rejuvenate, and regenerate your skin.

You can also use the following sources to make beef tallow balm at home:

• DIY Tallow Balm Recipe + Photo
• How to Make Tallow Balm with the Best DIY Tallow Balm Recipe
• How To Make Tallow Balm (2 Ingredients + 10 Variations)
• DIY Whipped Tallow Face Cream Recipe (3 Ingredients)
• EASY Homemade Tallow Lip Balm Recipe

Now that you have found answers to “What is beef tallow used for?”, let’s check its nutritional value and see what it actually contains.

Learn More: Beef Tallow for Skin Before and After Results with Photos

Beef Tallow Nutrition Facts

Tallow is made almost entirely of fat, with no carbohydrates or protein. It is particularly high in saturated and monounsaturated fats, both of which are stable at high temperatures.

The table below shows the beef tallow nutrition facts per tablespoon (13 g):

While beef tallow is calorie-dense, it contains no trans fats when properly rendered and contains beneficial compounds like Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and stearic acid.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is beneficial because it can support fat loss, improve muscle mass, and reduce inflammation. It also has anticancer and heart-protective effects.

Stearic Acid is a healthy saturated fat that supports mitochondrial function, can help reduce visceral fat, and doesn’t raise LDL cholesterol like other saturated fats, which is why it is useful for metabolism and heart health.

But these are not the only beneficial effects of the beef tallow.

Beef Tallow Benefits

Beef tallow is more than just a traditional fat. It can support health when used appropriately. The most common beef tallow benefits include [2] [3]:

• High smoke point (420–480°F): Suitable for frying without producing harmful free radicals.
• Rich in CLA and stearic acid: These fatty acids can support metabolic health and reduce inflammation.
• No trans fats or artificial additives: When homemade or sourced cleanly.
• Supports fat-soluble vitamin absorption: Enhances the absorption of A, D, E, and K vitamins.
• Nutrient-dense and satiating: Helps with appetite control on low-carb or Carnivore diets.

Grass-fed beef tallow also contains higher levels of omega-3s and vitamins compared to conventionally raised cattle.

So, to use the health benefits of this animal-based fat, you can easily use beef tallow for cooking Carnivore-friendly dishes.

How to Use Beef Tallow for Cooking

No matter if you are following a Carnivore Diet or not, you can use beef tallow for cooking in different ways, including:

• Frying: French fries, chicken, fritters
• Searing: Steaks, burgers, pork chops
• Roasting: Vegetables, potatoes, meats
• Sautéing: Onions, garlic, greens
• Baking: Biscuits, meat pies (savory crusts)

Pro Tips:

• Use a spoonful in a hot cast-iron pan before cooking eggs or meat.
• Brush melted tallow on vegetables before roasting if you are not on a Carnivore Diet.
• Mix with herbs to make a tallow compound fat if you are not on a Carnivore Diet.

Because it hardens at room temperature, tallow can also be used to grease pans or as a butter alternative in Keto, Paleo, and Carnivore Diet recipes.

To use beef tallow for cooking, you can easily buy it ready from stores or make it at home if you like hands-on experiences and organic products.

How to Make Beef Tallow at Home

Learning how to make beef tallow at home is simple and cost-effective, especially if you can source raw beef fat (suet or trimmings) from a local butcher.

Stovetop Method

1. Chop beef fat into small chunks.
2. Place it in a heavy-bottomed pot over low heat.
3. Cook slowly for 1–2 hours and stir occasionally.
4. Strain the rendered fat through cheesecloth into a glass jar.
5. Cool and store in the fridge or freezer.

Tips for Best Results

• Use grass-fed suet for better flavor and nutrition.
• Don't overheat. Slow rendering prevents scorching.
• Store in airtight containers for up to 3 months in the fridge.

Please remember that rendered tallow should be pale yellow to white and smell clean and slightly meaty.

Where to Buy Beef Tallow (or Source Fat to Make It)

If you prefer not to render tallow yourself, several brands offer high-quality, ready-to-use versions, including:

• Porter Road
• Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed
• Grandview Beef

Buying Tips:

• Look for labels like grass-fed, non-bleached, or pasture-raised.
• Avoid tallow mixed with seed oils or preservatives.
• Local butchers sell raw fat trimmings for home rendering.

Beef Tallow vs Other Fats

Beef tallow is not just used by those on low-carb, animal-based diets like Carnivore and Keto. Anybody who prefers natural, healthy nutrition can use beef tallow for cooking.

The following table compares beef tallow against other fats to help you choose the most suitable fat based on your diet, needs, and health status.

Unlike seed oils, tallow is highly stable and doesn’t oxidize easily, which is why it is healthier for high-heat use.

The following table compares beef tallow against vegetable oils regarding health effects.

Beef tallow is a healthier, more stable, and more natural fat source, especially for those on Keto and Carnivore diets who look for metabolic health, inflammation control, and clean, nutrient-dense eating.

Learn More: The Sugar Diet: Losing Weight and Health! Why Low-Carb Wins?

Why Is Beef Tallow Better for Keto and Carnivore?

Beef tallow can be a better fat source, especially for those on a Carnivore or Keto diet, because of its following features:

• Supporting Fat-based Metabolism: It is a reliable energy source for those relying on fat as a primary fuel source, like in Keto or Carnivore diets.
• Not Having Carbohydrates or Seed Toxins: Unlike processed oils, tallow has no carbohydrates or plant-based toxins, so it aligns with the ancestral, whole-food eating style.
• Reducing Inflammation: Low omega-6 levels help maintain hormonal balance and joint health.
• Boosting Nutrient Absorption: The saturated fats in tallow improve absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, which are crucial when avoiding plant-based foods.
• Longer Satiety: Beef tallow keeps you full longer with stable energy, unlike the blood sugar spikes linked to consuming vegetable oils.

Is Beef Tallow Healthy or Unhealthy?

Opinions on saturated fat have changed in recent years. While it is still advised to consume it in moderation, new research suggests that saturated fats like those in beef tallow may not be as harmful as once believed, especially in a whole-food, unprocessed diet.

According to recent studies and health experts:

• Saturated fat alone doesn’t necessarily cause heart disease.
• Stearic acid content in tallow can lower LDL cholesterol.
• Tallow contains no artificial trans fats or hydrogenated oils.

To improve your health when using beef tallow, it is wise to:

• Choose grass-fed tallow as it has a better fatty acid profile.
• Avoid combining it with ultra-processed carbohydrates like bread and baked goods, cereals, refined grains, sweetened drinks, candies, syrups, etc.
• Use it in balance with other whole foods.

Conclusion

Using beef tallow for cooking gives you a flavorful, stable, and nutrient-rich fat for everyday cooking. Whether you are frying potatoes, searing a steak, or just exploring whole-food cooking, beef tallow is a healthy addition.

Try sourcing it from trustworthy shops or render at home to provide organic beef tallow for cooking Carnivore-friendly or other dishes.

FAQs

Here you can find answers to the most frequently asked questions about using beef tallow for cooking.

Why Use Tallow Instead of Vegetable Oils?

Compared to vegetable oils, tallow is more stable, doesn’t go rancid easily, and contains healthy saturated and monounsaturated fats that are less prone to oxidation.

Is Beef Tallow Healthier than Vegetable Oil?

Generally yes. Beef tallow is more stable at high heat and free from harmful trans fats when rendered properly. Unlike many seed oils, it doesn’t oxidize easily and doesn’t contain inflammatory omega-6s in high amounts.

Does Beef Tallow Have a Beefy Taste?

When properly rendered, beef tallow has a mild, neutral flavor. It doesn't make food taste like beef but adds a rich depth and crispiness to dishes.

Can I Reuse Beef Tallow after Frying?

Yes. Strain it through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove food particles and store it in a sealed jar in the fridge. It can be reused several times.

Is Beef Tallow Keto and Carnivore Friendly?

Absolutely. It contains zero carbohydrates and fits perfectly into Ketogenic, Paleo, and Carnivore diets.

What Is the Difference between Tallow and Lard?

Tallow comes from beef fat, while lard comes from pork. Tallow is usually firmer at room temperature and has a higher smoke point.

Does Beef Tallow Need to Be Refrigerated?

Rendered tallow is shelf-stable for short periods in a cool, dark place, but it is best stored in the refrigerator or freezer for long-term use.

Can I Cook Sweet Dishes with Beef Tallow?

Beef tallow is best for savory dishes, but it can be used for some traditional pastries or biscuits. Use refined tallow if you are concerned about flavor.

Where Can I Buy High-Quality Beef Tallow?

Look for grass-fed, unbleached beef tallow from farms or online retailers like Porter Road, Grandview Beef, or Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed.