If you’ve been hearing a lot more about beef tallow lately, it’s because it’s becoming very popular very quickly. According to a survey, interest in beef tallow has grown 95% over the last year.
Beef tallow has been around for a while, but when vegetable-based shortenings like Crisco came out in the early 1900s, they quickly replaced beef tallow.
It’s helpful to know when beef tallow goes bad, whether you’ve used it before or this is your first time!
It will last for a year at room temperature, 12 to 18 months in the fridge, and at least two years in the freezer.
We’ll cover all the ins and outs of beef tallow, its shelf life, and proper storage techniques below!
Beef suet is a versatile fat that is used in a lot of traditional British dishes, such as pies, pastries, and sweet puddings. Many home cooks wonder, though, if beef suet goes bad because it doesn’t last as long as other fats.
Understanding proper storage methods and signs of rancid suet can help you keep this tasty fat fresh Read on to learn everything you need to know about the shelf life of beef suet and how to use it safely in your cooking.
An Overview of Beef Suet
First, let’s start with an overview of what exactly beef suet is.
Beef suet is the hard, crumbly white fat found around the loins and kidneys of cattle It has a high smoke point that makes it perfect for frying, and a neutral flavor that enhances dishes without overpowering them
For hundreds of years, people in Britain have used suet to make steamed puddings, pastries, savory pies, and sweet mincemeat more moist and flaky. It brings a wonderfully rich mouthfeel without a strong beefy taste.
Unlike tallow, beef suet does not need to be rendered before use since it easily incorporate into doughs and batters. It’s prized for creating tender flaky pastry crusts and light yet moist steamed puddings.
Does Beef Suet Go Off?
Like any other animal fat, beef suet does go bad and smell bad after a while. The shelf life of suet depends on how it is stored.
In the refrigerator, beef suet will last 5 days at maximum freshness. To extend its shelf life up to 6 months, it’s best to portion and freeze the suet.
Beef suet should never be left out at room temperature, as it can turn rancid within 1-2 days. Compared to beef tallow, suet is much more perishable and requires refrigeration or freezing.
The key is to buy or portion what you’ll use within a week’s time and keep the remaining suet frozen. If you’re unsure of your suet’s freshness, do a quick smell test melting a bit in the microwave to check for rancidity.
Proper Storage of Beef Suet
To get the longest shelf life out of your beef suet, follow these proper storage methods:
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Refrigerate for up to 5 days: Fresh suet will last for 5 days kept refrigerated at 40°F or below.
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Freeze for up to 6 months: For longer storage, divide suet into portions in freezer bags. It will keep frozen for 6 months.
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Avoid room temperature: Never leave suet out at room temperature or it will quickly turn rancid within 1-2 days.
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Seal tightly: Store suet in airtight containers or freezer bags, squeezing out excess air. This prevents freezer burn.
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Use oldest first: Be sure to use oldest suet portions first and freshly frozen suet last to avoid waste.
Following these guidelines will ensure your suet stays fresh and ready to use in recipes. Monitor freezer times and toss suet that’s been frozen over 6 months.
How Can You Tell If Beef Suet Has Gone Off?
Because beef suet has a relatively short shelf life, especially compared to beef tallow, it’s important to monitor its freshness and check for signs of spoilage. Here are three ways to tell if your suet has gone off:
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Unusual appearance: Fresh suet is creamy white. Discoloration, darkening, spotting, or slimy film means it has spoiled.
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Rancid smell: Suet with an off, sour, or soapy smell is rancid. A faint beefy smell is normal.
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Bad taste: Saute or microwave a small amount of the suet to taste it. Rancid suet will have a distinct nasty flavor.
Trust your senses – if suet shows visual, smell, or taste signs of spoilage, it’s no longer safe to use. Discard the suet and any dishes it was used in.
Is It Safe to Use Rancid Beef Suet?
No, you should never use beef suet in cooking or baking once it has gone rancid. Consuming rancid animal fats can cause foodborne illness and unpleasant digestive symptoms.
Rancid suet contains oxidized fats that are toxic to the body and provide no nutritional value. The flavor and odor compounds produced are also quite unpalatable.
It’s simply not worth risking food poisoning by trying to salvage soured suet. Even tiny amounts of rancid suet can ruin the texture, smell, and taste of entire dishes. Play it safe and throw away any turned suet.
Storing Other Types of Suet and Tallow
In addition to beef suet, you may also find lamb, pork, or venison suet for sale. These all have similar storage lifespans to beef suet when refrigerated or frozen. Vegetable suet lasts a bit longer than animal-based suet.
Beef tallow, rendered suet, keeps significantly longer than raw suet. It can be stored at room temperature for up to a year when properly sealed and undisturbed. For even longer shelf life, beef tallow can be refrigerated for 18 months or frozen for over 2 years.
Cooking Tips for Beef Suet
When stored properly, beef suet is a delicious and versatile cooking fat. Here are some tips for using it:
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Use suet melted or grated instead of butter in pie dough and biscuit recipes for flakier results.
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Rub plain suet over meat before roasting for self-basting and moisture.
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Fry suet-based batters like Yorkshire pudding at high heat to get a good rise and crispy outside.
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Mix suet into cookie, scone, and crumble batters for tenderness.
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Add suet to savory fillings like sausage rolls or pasties for a rich flavor and texture.
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Use rendered tallow for frying eggs, sautéing veggies, roasting potatoes, and more!
With proper storage to prevent rancidity, beef suet can add great flavor and body to all kinds of dishes. Adjust recipes to account for its higher melting point compared to butter or oils.
The Takeaway on Beef Suet Storage
Beef suet has a comparatively short shelf life of just 5 days in the fridge, or 6 months in the freezer before going rancid. For the best flavor and food safety, store fresh suet properly and watch for signs of spoilage like foul odors, taste, and appearance.
Never try to salvage or eat rancid suet, as consuming spoiled fats carries health risks. With careful storage methods, beef suet can be enjoyed in recipes for months to come without going off.
How long does beef tallow last after opening?
Beef tallow’s shelf life doesn’t change whether it’s sealed or open (based on our research, anyway!). If you buy beef tallow from the store, keep in mind that it will only last for one year after it was made.
Since the jar has been sitting on the shelves for a few months, you should use it or put it in the fridge/freezer before a year to get the most out of its quality and freshness.
| Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
| Sealed beef tallow | 1 year | 12-18 months | 2+ years |
| Opened beef tallow | 1 year | 12-18 months | 2+ years |
Beef tallow has a generous shelf life thanks to its low moisture content. You might be able to use beef tallow after the expiration date, but only if it doesn’t look like it’s gone bad.
If you bought beef tallow that is almost out of date and just opened a container, you can store it in the fridge or freezer for at least a few more months.
If you aren’t sure about it, throw it away. Using beef tallow that has gone bad won’t improve the taste of your food. (It’s likely still fine for other uses like soap making or homemade salves, though!).
How to tell if beef tallow went bad
If beef tallow has begun to spoil, there will be clear signs that it’s going bad. Watch out for these warning signs that beef tallow has gone bad:
- Smell: it smells soapy, sour, or otherwise bad (fresh beef tallow should smell like beef jerky or smoked beef).
- Taste: it has an unpleasant taste.
- Check to see if the beef tallow has changed color, mold growth, or is rock hard at room temperature.
How to make Beef Tallow | The Bearded Butchers
FAQ
How long does beef suet last?
Can suet go out of date?
How to tell if suet is rancid?
How long does packet suet last?
Can beef suet be cooked?
Yes, you can cook beef suet. Before using it in cooking, prepare it by trimming any connective tissue or blood vessels and cutting it into small pieces. Then, render it by cooking it slowly over low heat until the fat melts and separates from any remaining tissue.
What is beef suet used for in cooking?
Beef suet is a versatile ingredient that’s used in both sweet and savory dishes. In cooking, it’s often used to make suet pastry, which is a traditional British pastry used in dishes like steak and kidney pie and mincemeat pies. The suet gives the pastry a rich, flaky texture.
Is beef suet a good fat?
Beef suet, in particular, is a prized cooking fat due to its high melting point, making it ideal for pastry cooking and deep-frying. It is also incredibly nutritious and versatile for baking, without an overpowering smell. Sheep suet, on the other hand, also offers similar benefits and is derived from the kidneys and loins of sheep.