It’s the secret behind your grandma’s rich homemade pudding. It’s a staple in your skincare routine. Used by pioneers, Victorian bakers, Indigenous peoples, and ancient civilizations like the Romans and Greeks, suet and tallow have been treasured for their versatile properties throughout history.
Suet is the raw fat found around the kidneys and loins of beef or mutton, popular in traditional cooking and baking. Tallow is the rendered form of suet, used for frying, roasting, and even skincare products like soaps and balms. The quality of suet or tallow can vary widely depending on its source, and the diet of the animals can have a large impact on the nutrient density and purity of the product.
Sources like Acabonac Farms raise grass-fed, pastured cattle that are free to roam, eat wild forage, and are never exposed to antibiotics or harmful chemicals. These cattle produce the cleanest, most nutritional meat products on the market, including 100% grass-fed beef suet.
Key Takeaways
- Suet is the raw, hard fat from around the kidneys and loins of beef or mutton. Tallow is the rendered form of suet or other animal fats.
- Suet is raw and solid at room temperature, while tallow is processed and melted.
- Suet is commonly used in traditional cooking, such as in puddings and pastry crusts, while tallow is used for frying, roasting, and skincare products.
- Grass-fed and pasture-raised fats are higher in beneficial nutrients like CLA, Vitamins A and E, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Beta Carotene.
What is Suet?
Suet is a hard, white fat sourced from around the kidneys and loins of beef or mutton. It has a high melting point (between 113°F and 122°F), a silky texture, and a mild flavor making it a popular choice for cooking and baking. It’s especially prized for being rich in triglyceride stearin, which allows it to instill a spongy, flakey lightness to baked goods such as pie crusts, dumplings, and pastries.
When suet is harvested, it is first removed from the animal, chopped, and finally boiled to remove impurities. Suet that is further rendered and purified is known as tallow, which is discussed more in-depth later in this article. Suet from 100% grass-fed farms like Acabonac Farms is especially pure and nutrient dense as it is harvested from animals that consume a clean, natural diet, free from herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, or hormones.
What Do You Use Suet For?
Most commonly, suet is used in traditional cooking and baking for the spongy and light texture it adds. It is particularly popular in recipes for puddings and pastry crusts. Suet can be rendered to make homemade tallow, which is useful for cooking, skincare products, and even candle-making. Raw suet can also make a terrific high-energy bird feed in the winter months.
Is Suet Good for You?
Suet is rich in essential nutrients and healthy fats. It contains high levels of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which has potential anti-cancer properties. Additionally, suet provides Vitamins A and E, which are important for maintaining healthy skin and vision, as well as Omega-3 fatty acids that support heart health. Suet is also a good source of Beta Carotene, an antioxidant that helps boost the immune system.
Grass-fed suet, like that from Acabonac Farms, is even more nutritionally dense. The natural diet of pastured and grass-fed cattle results in higher levels of CLA, Omega-3 fatty acids, and other beneficial nutrients that are more scarce in conventional grain-fed suet.
What is Tallow?
Tallow is a rendered form of animal fat, typically from suet, which is the hard fat found around the kidneys and loins of beef or mutton. The rendering process slowly melts the fat to remove impurities, resulting in a purified, versatile fat.
Tallow can be sourced from other animal fats, but suet is the most common origin. This process transforms the raw fat into a stable product that can be used in various ways, from cooking to skincare.
What Do You Use Tallow For?
In cooking, tallow is used for frying and roasting due to its high smoke point and neutral flavor.
In skincare, it is a common ingredient in soaps and balms, with impressive moisturizing and nourishing properties.
Industrially, tallow is used in making candles and lubricants, providing a natural alternative to synthetic materials.
Is Tallow Good for You?
Like its raw brother suet, tallow is also nutritionally rich. It contains healthy essential fats and grass-fed tallow, in particular, offers even higher nutrient density.
Grass-fed tallow is high in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are important for immune function, bone health, and skin health.
What is the Difference Between Suet and Tallow?
Suet and tallow are both animal fats, but they differ in their form and preparation.
Suet is the raw, hard fat found around the kidneys and loins of beef or mutton.
Tallow is the rendered (melted and purified) version of suet. While suet is solid and crumbly at room temperature, tallow is smooth and solidifies when cooled, making it more versatile.
How is Suet Made
Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Suet:
- Suet Harvesting: Suet is collected from the area around the kidneys and loins of the animal. It's a hard, white fat known for its high melting point.
- Select Quality Suet: You’re probably not harvesting your own suet, so make sure to choose high-quality suet from grass-fed and pasture-raised animals. Acabonac Farms produces grass-fed beef suet free from unwanted additives or chemicals.
- Trim the Suet: Remove any remaining meat, connective tissue, or blood spots from the suet. This ensures a clean and pure product.
- Chop the Suet: Cut the suet into small pieces or grind it. This makes it easier to handle and use in recipes.
- Store the Suet: Place the chopped or ground suet in an airtight container. Keep it in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain its freshness and quality until you're ready to use it.
Tips for Selecting Quality Suet
- Choose Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised: Opt for suet from grass-fed and pasture-raised animals for higher nutrient content and better flavor without unwanted additives. Try Acabonac Farms’ high-quality suet from grass-fed beef.
- Look for Freshness: Fresh suet should have a clean, white appearance and a neutral smell. Avoid suet that looks yellowed or has an off odor.
How Do You Make Tallow from Suet
- Heat the Suet: Place the chopped suet in a heavy-bottomed pot or slow cooker. Set the heat to low to medium. Slowly melt the suet, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and sticking.
- Melt the Fat: Continue heating the suet until it fully melts and the impurities separate from the liquid fat. This process can take several hours, so be patient and keep the heat low to avoid scorching.
- Strain the Tallow: Once the suet has completely melted, strain the liquid fat through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean container. This step removes any remaining solid particles and impurities, resulting in a smooth and clean tallow.
- Cool and Store: Allow the strained tallow to cool and solidify. Transfer the cooled tallow to an airtight container. Store it in a cool, dark place, or refrigerate for a longer shelf life.
Best Practices for Achieving a Clean, Usable Tallow
- Use Low Heat: Render the suet over low to medium heat to prevent burning and ensure a clean melt.
- Stir Occasionally: Stir the suet occasionally during the melting process to promote even heating and prevent sticking.
- Fine Mesh Strainer or Cheesecloth: Strain the melted tallow through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove impurities and achieve a smooth, clean product.
- Cool Properly: Let the tallow cool undisturbed to avoid introducing air bubbles, which can affect texture and quality.
- Proper Storage: Store the finished tallow in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or refrigerator, to extend its shelf life and maintain its quality.
How Do You Safely Store Suet and Tallow
Storing Suet
- Refrigeration: Keep raw suet in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will maintain its freshness and prevent it from spoiling. Suet stored this way can last up to a few weeks.
- Freezing: For longer storage, place the suet in a sealed freezer bag or container and store it in the freezer. Frozen suet can last for several months. Be sure to label the container with the date of storage.
Storing Tallow
- Room Temperature: Tallow can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container, kept in a cool, dark place. It’s stable at room temperature for up to a year if kept away from light and heat.
- Refrigeration: For added preservation, store tallow in the refrigerator. This extends its shelf life and maintains its quality. Refrigerated tallow can last for over a year.
- Freezing: Tallow can also be frozen for long-term storage. Place it in a sealed container or freezer bag, label it with the date, and store it in the freezer. Frozen tallow can last indefinitely.
Shelf Life of Suet and Tallow
Suet
- Refrigerated: Up to a few weeks.
- Frozen: Several months.
- Tip: Divide suet into smaller portions before freezing to make it easier to use only what you need without thawing the entire batch.
Tallow
- Room Temperature: Up to a year.
- Refrigerated: Over a year.
- Frozen: Indefinitely.
- Tip: Store tallow in small jars or containers for convenient use. Ensure they are tightly sealed to prevent contamination and oxidation.
Best Ways to Use Beef Suet
No wonder beef suet has been used by cooks and bakers for centuries. It's an incredibly useful ingredient that comes in handy for a ton of applications. Here are some of the best ways to use beef suet:
1. Traditional Puddings
- Christmas Pudding: Suet is a key ingredient in traditional Christmas pudding, giving it a rich, dense texture.
- Steak and Kidney Pudding: Use suet in the pastry for this classic savory dish, resulting in a tender, flavorful crust.
2. Pastry Crusts
- Meat Pies: Incorporate suet into the dough for a flaky and robust crust, perfect for meat pies.
- Dumplings: Add suet to dumpling dough for a light, fluffy texture when cooked in stews or casseroles.
3. Bird Feed
- Suet Cakes: Mix suet with seeds, nuts, and dried fruits to create high-energy suet cakes for wild birds, especially useful in winter.
4. Homemade Tallow
- Rendering Tallow: Suet can be rendered down to make tallow, which can then be used for cooking or in skincare products like soaps and balms.
5. Frying and Roasting
- Roast Potatoes: Use suet or rendered tallow to coat potatoes before roasting them for an extra crispy exterior and rich flavor.
- Frying: Suet or tallow can be used for frying foods, providing a high smoke point and a unique taste.
6. Traditional Scottish Dishes
- Haggis: Suet is a traditional ingredient in haggis, contributing to its distinctive texture and flavor.
7. Pemmican
- Energy Bars: Mix suet with dried meat and berries to create pemmican, a high-energy food traditionally used by Indigenous peoples and explorers.
8. Burgers and Meatballs
- Adding Moisture: Incorporate suet into ground beef or meatball mixtures to add moisture and richness.
Where to Buy Grass-Fed Beef Suet Online
Suet and tallow are incredibly useful fats with a multitude of applications. Use them to enhance traditional recipes, craft natural skincare products, make candles, or even create bird-feed cakes! However, finding high-quality, pure beef suet free from additives can be a challenge in today’s industrialized food landscape.
Experience suet the way it was meant to be with Acabonac Farms. Our beef suet is sourced from sustainably raised, 100% grass-fed, and pastured cattle, ensuring a product that is pure and nutrient-dense. Discover why suet has been a staple in baking and cooking for centuries, and don’t forget to explore its many other practical uses too!
Buy grass-fed beef suet online
Frequently Asked Questions about Suet and Tallow
What is the difference between suet and lard?
Suet is the raw, hard fat found around the kidneys and loins of beef or mutton, while lard is rendered pork fat. They have different textures and melting points, making them suitable for different uses.
Can I substitute suet with tallow in recipes?
Yes, you can substitute suet with tallow in most recipes. Tallow, being rendered suet, offers a similar fat content but with a slightly different texture and flavor.
Is suet or tallow suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet?
No, both suet and tallow are derived from animal fats and are not suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets.
Are there any health risks associated with consuming suet or tallow?
When consumed in moderation, suet and tallow from grass-fed animals can be part of a healthy diet. However, like all fats, they should be consumed in balance with other nutrients. Eating too much fat can lead to higher risk of heart disease.
Is suet better than tallow?
The choice between suet and tallow depends on your intended use. Suet is preferred for certain traditional recipes, while tallow is more versatile for cooking and skincare.
Can suet be made into tallow?
Yes, suet can be rendered into tallow by slowly heating it to remove impurities and solidifying the pure fat.
How much tallow does 1 lb of suet make?
Approximately 12 to 14 ounces of tallow can be rendered from 1 pound of suet.
Is suet a bad fat?
No, suet from grass-fed animals is a healthy source of fat, rich in beneficial nutrients like CLA, Omega-3s, and vitamins.
Is suet or tallow better for pemmican?
Tallow is commonly used for making pemmican due to its stable nature and long shelf life.
Does tallow go bad?
When stored properly, tallow has a long shelf life. It can go rancid if exposed to heat and light, so it’s best stored in a cool, dark place.
How to turn suet to tallow?
Render suet by chopping it into small pieces, slowly heating it until it melts, straining the liquid fat, and allowing it to solidify into tallow.
Why is my tallow yellow?
Grass-fed tallow is often yellow due to the high levels of beta-carotene in the fat. This is a sign of its nutrient richness.