I first came across beef tallow in early 2024 when it started popping up on my feed. As someone who’s been shifting toward a more natural lifestyle, I was intrigued by the benefits people were touting — and pleasantly surprised by the affordable price tag. That alone was a refreshing change from the hyped-up brands that often charge exorbitant prices for products that promise a lot but deliver very little.

After browsing a few shops on Etsy, I landed on a small business based in Nebraska. The shop owner sourced the tallow directly from her own family farm’s cows, which felt both trustworthy and personal. I ordered the unscented whipped tallow balm, which had just two ingredients listed on the label: beef tallow and olive oil. It was a nice change to actually recognize and understand everything in the jar.

From the moment I applied it to my face, I loved how silky and smooth it felt—and the healthy, moisturized glow it gave my skin. Yes, there was a slight scent of beef at first, but it faded within 2–3 minutes and wasn’t anything I found off-putting.

 

Why Tallow Works So Well

What I love most about tallow sourced from grass-fed beef is that it’s both 100% natural and sustainable. It comes directly from animals and can be easily rendered in a home kitchen—no factory required. Sustainability-wise, grass-fed cows help replenish grasslands, need little added water, and improve soil quality through natural manure cycles.

I was honestly shocked to learn that in the UK, for every cow butchered, roughly 30 pounds of fat is thrown out. Modern societies have been conditioned to fear fat, but it’s actually a crucial component of both our diet and skincare. I truly believe that decades of low-fat diet trends contributed to the undervaluing of beef fat—a substance our ancestors relied on for cooking and skincare for generations.

 

Tallow Is Making a Comeback

The good news is, beef tallow is making a major comeback. According to recent trend data:

• Searches for “beef tallow for cooking” have surged ~2130% year-over-year, likely due to the movement away from seed oils and toward traditional fats.
• Search interest in “beef tallow for skin” is up ~622%, as more people explore alternatives to synthetic moisturizers.

 

The Skin Benefits of Tallow

One of the most amazing properties of tallow is that its fatty acid profile closely resembles that of human skin, making it highly compatible and easy to absorb. It deeply nourishes without clogging pores, and it's packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)—a powerful anti-inflammatory fatty acid.

Thanks to this rich nutrient profile, tallow helps:

• Repair the skin barrier
• Improve hydration
• Soothe dry skin, eczema, and irritation
  
  

It’s a bioavailable, effective alternative to synthetic moisturizers, and one that your skin actually recognizes and welcomes.

How I Started Rendering My Own Tallow

After buying tallow from that Nebraska-based shop for over a year, I finally decided to try making my own. My biggest concern was sourcing high-quality, grass-fed beef fat that was both organic and local.

After a few visits to my local farmers market, I found the perfect source: O'Connell Organic Farms, just 15 minutes from my house. They offered exactly what I was looking for: clean, USDA organic suet from grass-fed cows.

How to Render Tallow at Home

(Using an Instant Pot, Crock Pot, or Double Boiler)

Here’s my simple method for rendering ultra-pure beef tallow at home. This process involves triple rendering and straining, which helps remove any impurities and creates a final product perfect for skincare or cooking.

Ingredients & Tools:

• 2–4 lbs grass-fed beef suet or fat
• Instant Pot, Crock Pot, or double boiler
• Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Glass jars for storing
• Optional: funnel
  
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare the Fat

• Trim any leftover meat or blood spots from the fat.
• Chop the fat into small cubes or pulse it in a food processor for quicker melting.
  
  

2. First Render

• Add the chopped fat to your Instant Pot (set to “Slow Cook”), Crock Pot, or double boiler.
• Keep the temperature low and steady. You don’t want to fry it, just slowly melt it down.
• Let it cook for 4–6 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Once most of the fat has melted and turned golden, strain it through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a clean metal or glass bowl.
• Discard the crispy bits (cracklings) or save them for cooking.
  

 

3. Repeat the Process (Twice More)

• Once the strained fat solidifies (in fridge or at room temp), use a knife to dislodge it out of the bowl (this can be done the next day).
• If you see residue on the bottom, use the knife to scrape it off and discard.
• Break up the cleaned fat and reheat it again on low using the same method.
• Repeat the slow rendering and strain again.
• Do this three times total. Each time, the tallow becomes clearer, purer, and more neutral in smell.
  

4. Store

• Pour the final rendered tallow into clean jars or glass Tupperware.
• Let cool and solidify.
• Store in the fridge for up to 6 months, or freezer for up to a year.
• At this point, your tallow is ready to use for cooking or skincare products.