Learn how to make homemade beef tallow from coagulated fat in beef bone broth. Its a healthy fat that is fantastic in most savory cooking.
Beef tallow is a wonderful healthy fat that should be part of a nourishing diet. It has a long shelf life when stored properly.
Also, this easy method turns the fat that’s already on your beef bone broth into a tasty rendered beef fat. [feast_advanced_jump_to].
Beef bone broth has become hugely popular in recent years due to its many health benefits. It’s packed with nutrients like collagen, amino acids, minerals and more. Making beef bone broth at home is also much more cost effective than buying pre-made broth.
When you make beef bone broth at home, you’ll notice there is a layer of fat that accumulates on top as the broth cools. This fat is full of flavor and nutrients, so it would be a waste to simply throw it out. But the fat is difficult to use in its hardened state. This article will explain what to do with the fat from beef bone broth so you can use it for cooking and baking.
Why Save The Fat?
The fat from beef bone broth is loaded with vitamins A D E, and K which are fat soluble vitamins. It also contains beneficial fatty acids like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3s. CLA has been linked to fat loss, reduced inflammation, and lower risk of heart disease and cancer. The fat is also a great source of energy and tastes delicious when used for cooking.
Since the fat is so nutritious it would be a mistake to discard it. Saving the fat allows you to get the most out of the beef bones and make use of the entire animal. Our ancestors were very resourceful and found uses for every part of the animal. We can honor that by not wasting any of the fat.
How To Separate The Fat
When your beef bone broth is finished cooking, let it cool completely so the fat solidifies on top. Place the broth in the fridge overnight to allow the fat to fully harden. Then you can simply spoon off the fat and collect it in a container. Try to remove as much fat as possible without taking too much of the broth.
If there are small bits of meat, marrow, or herbs in the fat, don’t worry about separating those out. We will strain out the solids later on.
It’s best to store the fat in the freezer until you have enough accumulated to render. Freezing prevents the fat from going rancid. About 1 cup of fat is ideal for rendering.
Rendering The Fat
Rendering simply means melting down the fat and cooking off any remaining water content. This helps preserve the fat and allows you to use it just like cooking oil.
To render the fat, take it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then add it to a saucepan on the stovetop over low heat. You can also use a slow cooker on low if you’ll be away from home. Cook the fat for 2-4 hours, keeping an eye on it and stirring occasionally.
You’ll know when the moisture has fully evaporated because the fat will stop bubbling and making crackling sounds. It will turn clear with a light golden hue when done.
After cooking, let the fat cool slightly. Then strain it through a cheesecloth to remove any bits of meat, herbs or impurities. Pour the filtered fat into a glass jar or container. Allow to cool completely before sealing. The rendered fat can be stored in the fridge for up to 6 months.
Uses For Beef Fat
There are so many ways to use the nutritious fat from beef bone broth. Here are some of the most popular uses:
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Cooking oil – Use it just like you would olive oil, coconut oil, etc. Excellent for sautéing, stir frying, roasting veggies, pan frying meats.
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Adding to soups & stews – Whisk in a spoonful to add richness and healthy fats.
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Baking – Replace other fats in recipes with beef fat. Great for making paleo muffins, breads, and more.
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Frying – The high smoke point makes it ideal for deep frying foods.
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Bulking up ground meat – Mix with lean ground beef or turkey to add juiciness.
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Fat bombs – Add to sweet or savory fat bomb recipes for an energy boost.
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Dog food – Dogs love the beefy flavor. Mix with their kibble or add to homemade food.
With just a little time and effort, you can save the precious fat from beef broth and use it for so many purposes. It adds tons of nutrients and flavor to dishes. Be sure to experiment with beef fat in your favorite recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is beef fat healthy?
Yes, beef fat is a healthy source of fat when it comes from grass-fed cows. It contains vitamins, minerals, protein, and fatty acids that support overall health. The saturated and monounsaturated fat composition makes it very stable for cooking.
How long does rendered beef fat last?
Rendered beef fat that has been strained and cooled properly can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 months. If storing for longer, freeze the fat for up to a year.
What’s the smoke point of beef fat?
Beef tallow has a high smoke point around 400°F making it suitable for most cooking methods including frying and roasting. This smoke point is even higher than olive oil.
Can you use beef fat for bulletproof coffee?
Yes, rendered beef fat can replace coconut oil or MCT oil in bulletproof coffee recipes. It mixes smoothly and adds a rich flavor.
Is beef fat keto friendly?
Beef fat is very low in carbs, high in fat, and moderate in protein meaning it fits perfectly into a ketogenic diet. Use beef tallow liberally on keto to increase your healthy fat intake.
Does beef fat go bad?
It can go rancid if not stored properly. Keep it in the fridge for up to 6 months. For longer storage, freeze for up to a year. Use your senses of smell and taste to check for rancidity before using.
What’s the difference between tallow and lard?
Tallow comes from beef, while lard comes from pigs. The fat composition is slightly different with tallow being harder at room temp than lard. They can generally be used interchangeably in recipes.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to separate, render, and use the fat from beef bone broth, you can get the most value from those beef bones. The fat provides so many nutritional benefits and has a delicious Umami flavor that enhances any dish. With just a small time investment, you’ll have a supply of cooking fat to use for months to come. Experiment with all the versatile ways to use beef tallow in your kitchen!
❤Why you’ll love this tallow
- Eco-friendly: This is a great way to eat nose-to-tail if you care about being kind to animals.
- Zero food waste: Yes, you can get suet from nearby farms, or you can take off the thick layer of solid fat that forms on top of beef bone broth and use it instead of throwing it away. And it makes the broth a little leaner.
- The level of difficulty is easy. To make tallow from suet, you would need more time and work. It is much easier to make beef tallow from bone broth.
- Animal fats naturally contain more nutrients than industrial vegetable oils, which is good for your health.
- Really good for cooking over high heat: beef tallow is a great fat for cooking over high heat, like when you deep fry.
❓What is Beef Tallow?
In short, tallow is fat that is rendered from beef or mutton. Sometimes, tallow can also mean fat rendered from lamb, but to keep things simple, tallow usually means fat rendered from beef or mutton.
Its an ancestral fat that has long stood the test of time in culinary world. It’s an important part of eating an animal from head to tail so that no part of it goes to waste, even the fat.
Traditionally, beef tallow is made from beef suet, the solid fat trimmed from beef. Its cooked down to clarified form, getting rid of any solid pieces. When heated, beef tallow is a liquid fat but should solidify in cooler temperatures.