Best Type of Beef Fat to Use to Make Tallow
When plant oils are not popular, animal fat is what they typically used to fry food.
Nowadays, while most of us rarely use beef fat to cook, this ingredient is especially favored by a group of people, not only in cooking but also in the goods' production industry.
In this article, we will enlighten you with the basic knowledge about beef fat and point out where to buy it in the United States.
What is beef fat?
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Beef fat is the fat that can usually be found around the offal and lean parts of a cow.
It can exist in two forms: the raw and hard fat that is trimmed from the beef organs and other meat cuts called suet, and the rendered form that is known as tallow.
The latter is solid (concentrated) at room temperature, but you can still easily scoop by a spoon.
You can make the beef tallow from suet by rendering it and removing any impurities.
The liquid after straining will be concentrated overtime when the heat is cooled down.
It has a butter-like texture and can also work as oil or butter in cooking.
Beef fat can also be used in making candles, soaps, or fuel.
With so many benefits of using beef fat, you can save a lot of money by making use of this byproduct from other meat cuts.
How many calories are in beef fat?
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Like other animal fat, beef fat, no matter what form it is, is high in calories.
In general, one tablespoon of beef fat (equivalent to 13 grams) can provide 115 calories.
This is definitely not an ideal option for those who are following a high-carb diet (with more protein and fewer calories).
On the other hand, it seems to be better for people with a Keto or other low-carb diets.
However, in recent studies, people have proved that animal fat is not that bad.
In fact, saturated fat is likely to be higher in fat-soluble vitamins, such as Vitamins A, D, E, and K2.
Therefore, it will be just fine to occasionally add beef fat to your diet in addition to lean meat.
How to choose the best beef fat?
Beef fat can come in different types, therefore, knowing how to choose the best beef fat to serve your demand will be very crucial.
Although beef fat is not an expensive part of a cow, isn't it better if you can buy the high-quality one?
1. Understanding your purpose to buy the right type of beef fat
As already mentioned, there are suet and tallow when it comes to beef fat.
So before shopping for beef fat, you should determine what you want to buy to not waste time on other things.
For example, you can opt for the tallow version which can last longer at room temperature.
Otherwise, buying the raw fat suet will allow you to make beef tallow from scratch, and also make use of the crackling while rendering beef fat.
2. Buy beef fat with white color and firm in texture
Either the raw or rendered form of beef fat will have a pale white color, which indicates the fat is new.
However, in some breeds of cattle, their fat has a yellow shade, so you better research more before buying it.
Stay away from the beef fat with any discoloration, too soft texture, and an unpleasant smell.
The fat with these signs will not only be bad in taste but can also pose some risks to your health.
3. Buy beef fat from a reputable butcher
The reason why it is recommended to buy beef fat from a reliable butcher if you can is that they often slaughter healthy-raised cows that produce higher quality meat and fat.
4. Never purchase the dented cans, boxes, or out of expiration date
The tallow form of beef fat can be sold canned.
So if you want to purchase this option, don't forget to check the status of the can or package to see if there is any damage to it.
A tiny hole on the can is enough for bacteria to penetrate into the fat and destroy the content.
Where to buy beef fat?
Luckily, although beef fat is not really popular like other meat cuts, it is quite easy to purchase this ingredient at such a reasonable price.
Here are some places where you can find beef fat:
1. Butcher shops
Butcher shops are like the paradise of fresh cuts.
You can ask them to trim the fat and sell it to you.
In this case, beef fat will be suet that requires you to render before being able to use it.
2. Supermarkets
At the meat section of any big supermarket in the United States, you can buy the fresh, frozen beef suet, or the canned tallow.
So it will depend on you to choose which kind of beef fat you want to buy because all of them are available in front of you.
3. Online
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Since tallow is safe at room temperature, as long as it is kept inside an airtight container.
Therefore, you can find this product sold on Amazon or Whole Foods.
Don't forget to read the product's review before making the purchase to make sure that you buy from a reliable brand with the highest quality of beef tallow.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you better understand beef fat, including where to buy it in the United States.
If you are interested in trying something new, like making pastries, or pemmican, see where you can buy beef fat near your location and get started with a step-by-step and delicious recipe.
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