How to Make Beef Tallow in a Slow Cooker or on the Stove

Tallow is made out of beef fat trimmings that have been slowly heated, or rendered, until they liquefy. After tallow is cooled and solidified, it can be melted down for cooking, frying, and baking and to make all-natural soaps, body creams, and lip balms.^{[1]
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Kia Paylor
Soapmaker

Expert Interview} Making beef tallow is actually really easy (if a little time-consuming)! So let us guide you step-by-step through rendering beef tallow yourself using 2 simple methods. Plus, we'll share a recipe for turning your homemade tallow into soap bars.

How to Make Beef Tallow: Quick Steps

Cut beef trimmings into small chunks and put them in a large slow cooker.
Turn the burner on the lowest heat setting and render the fat for 6-8 hours.
When the liquid fat is clear and only brown cracklings remain on top, remove from the heat.
Strain the tallow and store it in a sealed glass container.

Section 1 of 5:

Making Tallow in a Slow Cooker

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Leave the lid off the slow cooker to allow any excess liquid to evaporate into the air.^{[2]
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Let it come to a simmer, but never a boil. Stir occasionally to remove any pieces of fat or beef from the bottom of the slow cooker before it sticks and burns.^{[3]
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Don't let any of the solid fat turn black or the liquid fat get too brown or orange, or it will have an almost burnt flavor and smell.^{[4]
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4
Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and strain the tallow through it. The liquid tallow will filter through the cheesecloth and the fine mesh strainer into the bowl, while the cheesecloth will catch any remaining pieces of solid fat and beef.^{[5]
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- It's important to strain any remaining beef from the tallow to prevent the tallow from going rancid too soon after it's been stored.
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Pour the liquid tallow into a glass container with an airtight lid. Let it cool and solidify thoroughly before screwing the lid on the container. Then store the tallow in a cool, dry place, such as your refrigerator.^{[6]
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- Wide-mouth glass mason jars work best, since they're easier to scrape tallow out of once it's solidified.

Section 2 of 5:

Making Tallow on the Stove

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Refrigerate the trimmings beforehand to make them easier to cut.^{[7]
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Stir the beef trimmings periodically. Remember to scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent pieces of beef or beef fat from sticking to it and burning.^{[8]
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Remove the tallow from the heat before it browns or burns and let it cool for a few minutes.^{[9]
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Ensure the liquid tallow is completely free of any pieces of beef and solid fat.^{[10]
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Allow it to cool thoroughly before putting the lid on the container and storing it in your refrigerator.^{[11]
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Make Beef Tallow Soap

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1
Gather your tallow soap ingredients and supplies. This basic beef tallow soap recipe only requires three ingredients, but you'll also need protective gear and several cooking utensils. We have everything you need listed below.^{[12]
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- 30 fl oz (890 mL) liquid tallow
- 3.88 oz (110 g) lye (sodium hydroxide)
- 11 fl oz (330 mL) distilled water
- White vinegar to neutralize lye that comes in contact with your skin
- Goggles, face mask, long-sleeved shirt, and gloves
- Measuring cup
- 3 bowls and 1 pan
- Wax paper
- Soap mold and bar cutter
- Digital kitchen thermometer
- Digital kitchen scale
- Immersion blender
- Wooden spoons
2
Pour 11 fl oz (330 mL) water into a bowl and slowly stir 3.88 oz (110 g) lye into it. Complete this step outside or turn on your kitchen vent hood to help waft away the lye fumes. Once the mixture is complete, let it cool to 100–110 °F (38–43 °C).^{[13]
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- Avoid pouring water onto the lye, as this will cause the two substances to react too quickly and result in a miniature explosion.
- Wear your goggles, mask, long-sleeved shirt, and gloves while mixing the lye with the water. Not only are the fumes toxic, but lye is caustic and will burn your skin if it gets on you. If lye comes into contact with your skin, pour distilled vinegar on it to neutralize it.^{[14]
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  Kia Paylor
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Then remove it from the heat and pour the lye and water mixture into it.^{[15]
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Blend the tallow and lye mixture with an immersion blender until it resembles pudding.^{[16]
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Research source} At this point, you can add up to 50 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional). You can also leave it unscented if you prefer or are allergic to essential oil.^{[17]
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- Use only high-quality essential oil, as it is the safest for your skin and overall health. Brands that sell pure essential oil will list the oil as the only ingredient (usually by its Latin name) and the process they used to extract it.^{[18]
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Wear your gloves during this step to protect your hands from the hot mixture.^{[19]
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Kia Paylor
Soapmaker

Expert Interview}^{[20]
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It should be firm enough that you can cut into it with a knife, and the knife will come out clean.^{[21]
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You can use a straight or wavy cutter to create a rippled texture on either side of each soap bar.^{[22]
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This step allows the excess moisture in the soap bars to evaporate, leaving the bars completely solid and ready for use.^{[23]
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Wrap the individual soap bars in wax paper to store them until use. You can store them in a cool, dry place until you're ready to use them, or you can give bars away to friends, family members, and coworkers.^{[24]
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Shelley Williams
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- According to Shelley Williams, soapmaking expert and founder of Craft and Light, storing your tallow soap bars in wax paper helps protect their texture and maintain the oils and fats inside them.

Section 4 of 5:

Other Ways to Use Your Homemade Beef Tallow

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1
Cook, fry, and bake with tallow. Beef tallow has a mild flavor and a high smoke point, both of which make it an excellent oil to use when you create all sorts of delicious meals. Swap butter and oil for tallow in these tasty recipes:
2
Make hydrating tallow body cream. Whip tallow with a hand mixer until it's soft and aerated to create a body cream you can apply to your skin. You can also add other ingredients like essential oils, Vitamin E, and jojoba oil to make it smell better and make it more nourishing.^{[25]
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- Tallow naturally contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a type of fat that has anti-inflammatory properties. When applied to your skin, CLA and other vitamins in the tallow provide hydration and may improve your skin's elasticity.^{[26]
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Make an all-natural, moisturizing tallow lip balm. Melt beef tallow with beeswax and add optional ingredients like Vitamin E and non-phototoxic essential oils. Pour the mixture into lip balm containers and allow the balm to cool and solidify before applying it to your lips.^{[27]
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- Avoid phototoxic essential oils like orange, lemon, and Litsea cubeba. These oils can severely irritate your skin when they're exposed to sunlight, as they would be if you incorporated them into a tallow lip balm or body butter.^{[28]
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Section 5 of 5:

How long can you store homemade beef tallow?

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Homemade beef tallow stays good for up to 1 year at room temperature. You can also store it in the fridge for 12-18 months and in the freezer for up to 2 years if you don't plan on using it all right away.^{[29]
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- You'll know your tallow has gone bad when it develops a sour, rancid smell and taste, at which point you should throw it out and make a new batch.^{[30]
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