The fats in tallow are so close to the make-up of fats below the skin on our body, making tallow balm so nourishing and absorbable to our parched skin.
Why You Need to Make This
- Perfect for skin in all seasons - summer and winter on the farm are hard on hands and feet!
- Works for baby's tender areas at diaper changes.
- Can help with dry patches that crop up anywhere on the body.
Need to know how to "make" your own tallow? I've rendered bear, beef, and deer! It can also easily be done in your slow cooker.
Key Ingredients
Beef tallow - Try and stick with your own stock if at all possible. Since we are putting this on our skin (our largest organ!) I try and use organic, or from my own animals, or at least know the source.
Oil - I like avocado, but any "light" oil works such as sunflower or almond. Again, I try and use organic for this since it's for the skin. If you'd eat it, then it'll work!
Essential oils - These are optional, but sometimes the beef smell can be a bit much for some people, so adding oils helps with that.
How to Make Tallow Balm
Step 1
Measure out the tallow into a small saucepan and melt gently. You want it just melted, where you can still comfortably stick a finger in.
Step 2
Remove from the heat and stir in your essential oils.
Step 3
If your pot is large enough for using your mixer, then let it cool in there. Otherwise, pour into your mixer's bowl.
Step 4
Once mostly cooled, go ahead and whip just like making whipped cream, though it finishes a lot quicker than cream!
Step 5
Scoop into desired jars and label.
FAQs
Nope! The tallow and oil are of course edible, so there's no need to use special equipment. And as long as you aren't using any plastic bowls or utensils, any essential oil residue will wipe right out. I wouldn't be concerned using these dishes and utensils for food after a good washing.
I like lavender for a relaxing smell at bedtime. Tea tree has some great properties that might help with skin issues. Just pick scents pleasing to you and use common sense like maybe you won't use peppermint if you're using this balm for an infant.
Did you know that deer tallow makes awesome candles? It's super easy to do.
Tallow Balm
Equipment
- Small Pot
- Jar or Container
Ingredients
- 6 oz beef tallow preferably organic/know the source
- 2 oz "light" oil of choice such as sunflower, apricot kernel, avocado or almond oil
- 60 drops essential oils favourites include tea tree, lavender, frankincense, orange
Instructions
- Using a scale, measure out your tallow and oil into a small pot
- Over medium-low heat, gently melt until tallow is just about melted, take off the heat.
- If its too hot to hold a finger in, let cool until you can hold a finger in for a few seconds.
- Add essential oils, stir well.
- Let cool either in the pot or transfer to the bowl of your stand mixer. You want it to cool so it isn't liquid, but not return to a fully solid state.
- Once cool, whip like buttercream! It goes very quickly so keep watch on it.
- Scoop into desired containers and label.
Video
Notes
- We use this primarily for dry hands and feet. In winter our hands get so chapped and dry we cant live without it. In summer, the dirt from the garden dries out our feet and hands, often making cracks in our feet, ouch! I use it as a baby bum cream, for chapped cheeks, lip balm, cuts, you name it! Our all purpose balm.
Carli
So I just got a bunch of pork fat, is that a no-no for balm?
katehosie
No its too greasy
Katie
This is a game changer for my skin. The more trips around the sun that I take, the drier my skin becomes. I'm not a big fan of the way moisturizers feel on my skin- this doesn't feel like it's sitting on my skin. It soaks in and leaves my skin silky soft. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe and process!
kateschat
I love this!!
Mercedes Fradl
I have used leaf lard (the whitest of pig fat) and loved it.
Lisa
Would this be a suitable facial moisturizer?
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Yes this is!
Cee
I just came across your recipe! How much lotion will this make? Trying to figure out what size jars I need.
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It makes about 1.5 cups.
Mary Frances Yoos
Can lard be used?
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None of us have ever made this using lard. I'm guessing it would work out, but can't say for sure.
Tabitha Davis
After rendering and straining my oil, I cool to touch and add water, shake in a mason jar and turn upside down until solid. The water will pull and tiny bits of meat that made it through the strainer (causing the beefy smell and can cause it turn rancid) pour off the water with bits and repeat if needed. I also do this to bacon drippings to clarify and remove the bacon scent.
[email protected]
Interesting method and great that it works for you.
Yvonne M Degraw
You can also add arrow root powder to absorb the greasy feeling.
Jamie
I just heard about beef tallow! I bought some recently but would like to try making it. How do I go about asking someone if they have beef tallow? Is beef tallow the language I use to ask a butcher or friend who has cows? Thank you!
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You can ask someone (who has cows) if they have any beef fat.Or you can ask a butcher the same question. From there you will render the fat into tallow. Rendering is the very slow melting of the fat into a liquid, then letting the liquid solidify.
Nat
I just made this! Do i need to refrigerate the whipped tallow after ive made it? Thank you!
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You don't need to refrigerate if you are going to use it up within a year. Or if you live where it gets really hot you might want to put it in the fridge.
Karen Phillips
So easy to make, I used coconut oil and French thieves blend EO, the smell is amazing and it's a great way to moisturize and keep the nasty germs away
Riley Jo
Maybe there is an issue with my tallow, but no matter how much oil I add, it still smells slightly like beef..tips?
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You might have cooked the tallow at too high of a temperature when you were rendering it down. That's usually the cause of beef smell.
Kayla
The beef tallow would need to be rendered more if it still smells like beef. You can heat up the tallow in a crockpot and once it is liquid you would strain out the impurities which would have risen to the top of the liquified tallow. I would do this at least twice to ensure it is purified enough for skin care use. Also I found this info in a tutorial on YouTube, so it shouldn’t be hard to find more info that way!
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You have to be very careful you don't cook fat on a high heat as in renders to tallow. This will also cause a beefy aroma. Low and slow is key.
Ahuva Fisch
Hey looks cool can I use this for hair as well? How do I do that where do I apply it
[email protected]
Would you want to use it as a treatment for dry hair?
Caitlin Gray
Made this from my recent tallow rendering and we love it! It cleared up some dry spots behind my sons ears.
Carla Terry
Loved this recipe. Came out perfect.
Grace
So. You can find a local cow farmer and ask them if they do anything with the tallow. If they say no ask them if you can buy it. Tallow is a specific cut next to an organ (I think), and beef fat in general would work as well, but tallow itself is rich in vitamins and minerals and is great for cooking as well.
Marilyn
True tallow, according to my butcher, is the fat around the kidneys. Best to use grass fed beef for the best quality, but I just made 9 pints from three young grain fed steers and it came out so white and pure. I used a 100% cotton sheet I washed and tore up to make rags for making cheese (as strainers) to do the final (second) straining of the remains of rendered tallow and not a bit of residue in my tallow.
Took me 6 hours to render all the suet into tallow from the three young steers. No smell.
I actually put a tiny bit around my old skin eyes, cheeks and around my lips. It soaked right in and about 8 hours later I don't feel that I ever put in on. SO I would recommend using before bedtime.
I'm going to make your recipe with lavender so I relax more at bedtime from that wonderful smell.
BTW I have a friend who has severe skin issues and she uses deer fat to heal it. Said it was the only fat that healed her skin.
ALSO I butcher beaver for the dogs here on raw. When cutting up the meat or when making bone broth for the dogs and pulling the meat off the bones, the beaver fat, I have found, it the MOST wonderful fat to make my hands super soft. It is a very odd miracle like thing. The tail of beaver is mostly fat.
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Amazing!!
Abigail
Love your stuff... but my girl what is this sonnng I'm going wild
Cindy Padgett
I’ve gone through the process 3 times. I rendered using a crock pot on low. It still
smells like meat. Now what ? I don’t want to waste more products if it will always smell.
Thank you in advance
[email protected]
Are you using back fat or kidney fat? Back fat will always smell beefy. Leaf lard/kidney fat is much milder.
Alisa Lilley
Does this need to be refrigerated?
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No, but if there is extra put aside I store it in a dark coolish place
[email protected]
No it can sit on the counter. I would choose a cool location though.
Megan
Any feedback of anyone using this recipe as a face moisturizer and helping the skin heal free from redness?
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I think it has a good possibility of working. It definitely helps heal eczema but everyone if different.
sara
Do you need to use essential oils I am very scent sensitive?
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No essential oils are always optional.
Erin
How long do you wait to whip it? I tried and mine wouldn’t whip. It got whiter looking but not whipped. Wondering if I should have waited longer for it to set up. Any suggestions?
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Kate said she usually waits until it's firmed up like cold butter from the fridge.
Emma
The tallow that I got from the butcher has some meat mixed in. Do you just strain it out through a mesh strainer? Should I "cook" longer?
[email protected]
Definitely strain it. You always end up with leftover bits in your tallow liquid. It won't all disappear.
Marilyn
I have NO remnants of meat or suet bindings in my cooked tallow after first straining the oil in a fine mesh strainer. Then I used the larger strainer with a cotton sheet tore up into larger rags that I used to make cheese, etc., attached to the strainer with wooden clothes pins to keep in place. Not a bit of residue in my tallow. Check out HEY GIRL, HEY FB page for making tallow.
Well washed, bleached, then rinsed and rinsed then dry and I reuse unless I make something like this. Then use and toss.
Love your FB page. Its fun
Andrea Nicholas
Cut the meat that's off before rendering ?
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If there are any little bits of meat stuck to the fat it's a good idea to remove it before you start rendering it down.
Andrea Nicholas
TIP: cut the meat bits off before rendering
Theresa
Could I use rendered down pork lard?
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I would say no, but you can use it in soap. I've never replacing the tallow with lard though.
Elke
Mine won‘t stay whipped, it melts in my glass jar. I tried refrigerating it but it still melts as soon as it sits out for a little while. Can you tell me why?
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Kate's reply.... I’m sorry this happened but I’ve never experienced so I don't know how to troubleshoot It for you
Carol
You mentioned you tried venison Tallow as well as beef. Can you compare the two? I know venison is more waxy, but still does well on skin. Any other advice? Thank you!
[email protected]
We haven't tried it as a tallow balm, maybe next time we have a fatty deer!
Michelle
I have dried lavender I've been soaking in almond oil. Do you think that will provide enough scent to cover any tallow smell? Or do you think I'll still need to add some essential oil?
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I think it depends if your tallow has much of a smell. I would add a bit of lavender essential oil just to be safe.
Brandilynn Teaney
Also good to note if you’re new to tallow, there are two different types of fat used for tallow. If you can get lead fat, it’s leaner and typically won’t have as big of a “meaty” smell. But I usually just cover the smell with EO if I got mixed or anything. So so good for you!!
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The secret to rendering tallow is to do it on a low heat. If it gets too hot the smell with increase. Lavender in almond oil will give you some scent but not as much as an essential oil. I know the fat, from pork, around the internal organs carries a lot less scent when rendered into leaf lard. I don't know if that is the same with tallow/beef fat.
Jackie Ladomato
An absolute favorite at our house and with all our friends! We love it with Lime essential oil.... it smells amazing?
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Oh lime essential oil would be amazing in this!
Elke
Be careful not to go out in the sun, citrus essential oils are photosensitive and you can burn easily.
[email protected]
You can use whatever essential oils you would like.
Daisy
Does it need to be refrigerated?
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It doesn't need to be refrigerated but I think it will last longer it you do.
Martha
How long does scented whipped tallow last?
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Honestly I had it in my cupboard for at least a year and it was great. It will start to smell when it is going off. You could store it in the fridge if you've made a larger batch.
Aly
Hey Kate,
We have a bunch of lamb tallow as we raise Icelandic sheep. Do you think that would work for this recipe?
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I think it would work for this recipe. It might be a bit different, but I think the effectiveness would be the same.
Loni Lichfield
Can my container be plastic?
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Yes it can. I like to use the really small canning jars.
Brenda Hicks
Excellent information.
freedom
Hello Kate,
Can you tell me if Duck Fat would work in this recipie?
Thank you
freedom
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Kate said she hasn't had any experience with Duck Fat so she has no idea about that. Sorry.
Brynn
Hi! Just had a question. I made this recipe and I put it on my face last night and it felt amazing. I just wondered why mine does not whip into a cream? I halved the recipe because I wanted to make sure it was something I liked before I made that much. But it just stays runny like a liquid and won’t whip up. I put it in the fridge until it hardened and then tried whipping it from there and the consistency seemed better, but then after taking it upstairs to my bathroom and having it sit overnight in the container I put it in it’s back to a liquid. Are my proportions off?
[email protected]
Sorry for the delayed reply. I always chill it before whipping…how warm is your house that it goes to a liquid?? Its gotta be really warm in here before that happens.
Meagan
I read somewhere you can add arrowroot to thicken and it will also make it less greasy. Not sure if that is right. I just read it in a recipe.
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We've never heard of that. Let us know if you try it.
Maureen Brady
Recipe says to whip after essential oils. Is this necessary ?
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It's necessary to whip it to get the creamy texture.
Heather
Hi, just wanted you to know in your introduction picture on the right you say you live in Canda, instead of Canada. Feel free to erase this.
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Hey thanks! Kate likes to know these things so she can fix them.
I Froze
Howdy, we're in central B.C. btwn the rockies and caribou ranges. LOVE what you're doing. RIGHT ON to homeschool! We did that with our 5.
An old timer gave me a hint 30 years ago... when I was rendering bear fat [ my but they come with LOTS of fat on a good year ] just cut a potato in half and throw it in the pot with the fat. It takes out that scent that can be quite offensive.
Your blog said not to use pig fat. hmm. bear fat is MUCH 'shorter' than pig. VERY GREASY. So I don't think I'll make it all with Bear, I'm going to try this with just a BIT of bear with it. or maybe use the bear instead of Avocado???
Any thots?
P.S. Bear lard makes the BEST pie crust.
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Kate says "We have bear fat, it’s sooo much softer than tallow, you could use some for sure but I don't know how much."
TigerPonyMakes
I made this just last night. I have some auto immune skin issues and I struggle with my skin, so I wanted to try this out. I made this with beef tallow and I think it turned out well, I used coconut oil in the mix and it goes on like silk. I added 15-18 drops of rose EO, 5 lavender EO, 4Cedar EO, and 4 Lemon EO. My husband was surprised at how nice it smelled. Thank you. I will be sharing this recipe as well with the cashier who asked me what I was using the free tallow for.
Very easy recipe to follow, low and slow...
Mitzi
I can’t get it to whip even after 40 mins. Also is it normal for it to start to separate after a week or so?
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Kate said "it should whip almost instantly and its never separated for me…"
Hayley H
Has anyone used coconut oil in this recipe?
[email protected]
Yes it's been tried by others with great success.
Natasha Beville
Do you need to use any kind of preservatives for it to keep longer.??
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No we find it stores for a year on the shelf. If you make a big batch you could store the extras in the fridge.
Colleen
I’m loving this recipe so far, but I did tweak it and I have a few questions now.
I added 10% beeswax to hopefully keep the balm from melting in the summer months at markets. Now it’s quite firm and doesn’t seem like it will melt, but I’m not sure I’m in love with the tweaked recipe.
That said, if I made the recipe as is, will it melt during the summer months in northern Illinois at my farmers markets?
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Kate's reply....I’m really not sure as I’ve not had it melt before.
Alison
How long does it stay good. Or does it go off at all??
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I've made this and it stayed usable for at least year sitting in my cupboard.
Bryan
My husband bought me some Kheyleve to try for my face and it has really changed my 50 year old skin that has a hard time adjusting from Illinois to Florida weather. I really want to try and make my own and wondered 1) do you have a suggestion for what tallow I could buy since I wont render my own and 2) any brand of essential oil you think mixes best?
Thanks
[email protected]
If you are rendering your own tallow, try Etsy to purchase. As for essential oils I would just find one that suits your budget.
Renee
How long does it last? Does it have to be refrigerated?
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It doesn't have to be refrigerated and lasts in the cupboard up to a year. I made a larger batch and ended up putting a portion of it in the fridge as the tallow will eventually go rancid. Didn't want that to happen
Tessa York
Does this harden when stored? Also, how long will it last before going bad?
[email protected]
This hardens to a nice paste texture and should last for a year without being refrigerated.
Douglas Vuong
thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.
Christine
Hi,
If I have already refrigerated the tallow can I put it in the pantry or does it need to stay refrigerated?
If so is it safe to soften the tallow for use using a hot water bath every time I need to use it or will this make the tallow go bad.
[email protected]
I would advise against heating it up. Oil will eventually go rancid without preservatives. Usually I find the warmth of my hand is enough to get some out of jar. If you are going to use it up within the year, it should be fine in the pantry.
Courtney
I’ve been beating for 10 minutes and it’s still just a liquidy. Yes I followed all the instructions to a T. It has changed color but not consistency. Any ideas?
[email protected]
Chilling before whipping is key in this recipe. That could be the reason.
Hannah
What causes it to separate? I used coconut oil and the batch is separating.
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Chilling before whipping is key in this recipe. That could be the reason.
Melanie
Read through the recipe and now most comments. It would be great if you added cool/chill in fridge to the directions. It says cool and that generally means let it sit until it’s no longer warm. Chill is very different. If it’s not chilled it won’t whip which is the point of this recipe!!
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If you chill it in the fridge the tallow goes back to solid and won't whip. I just made it a month ago and let it sit on the counter for a couple of hours to be sure. It wasn't runny anymore, yet not solid. Whipped up like a dream.
claudia scacchi
I would like to use this balm for skin conditions....psoriasis...i use castor oil .....i would like to experiment with tallow...your thoughts, please.....
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We have a family member (Kate's Auntie) that uses this Tallow Balm for her eczema and she says it's changed her life. She had bad eczema for decades and now she has it under control using this awesome recipe.
Becky
I am SOOO excited to make this!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipie and helpful tips and notes - it makes it a lot less intimidating and inspires me to browse your site for everything and anything else because you explain the process in a way that make sense and covers anything that I could think to ask before, during, after! Two quick questions: 1) can I use beef tallow from the grocery store? Do I need to look for unrefined?? (You know how coconut oil has refined and unrefined? I typically go with the unrefined because I don’t care for the heating up process of the refined). And 2) For the oil, you use sunflower oil, is that cooking sunflower oil or more of a beauty/topical sunflower oil?
Thank you! I’m so excited to hear back from you and get started with this!! I’ll be browsing your site in the mean time! I hope you’re having a wonderful day when you read this!
[email protected]
Kate said she's not sure because she's never bought beef tallow at the store. You can use cooking sunflower oil, yes.
Britani Wright
Mine isn’t whipping, it’s still very runny.
[email protected]
Did you chill it before whipping? It needs to be cold.
Dennis
Can I use the tallow left over from making grass fed bone broth?
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No you can't as this will have been cooked too long and possibly flavoured with other things which would affect how shelf stable it is.
Kristin
How do you store it once in a jar? How long does it last?
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I put my extras in a dark cupboard. Usually lasts at least a year. You will notice the smell going off when it's passed it's prime.
Valesta
How long is this shelf stable?
[email protected]
Easily a year in a container with a good lid.
Sara
Would vitamin E oil work instead of the sunflower, avocado, etc?
[email protected]
Vit E could be used for some but not all.
Kathi
I followed your recipe and my end product feels a bit gritty. Any advice?
[email protected]
Sorry but the only thing we can think of is it's from how the tallow was rendered.
RobinR
Help! Mine turned out very soupy, not like buttercream, what did I do wrong?
[email protected]
Did you cool it before whipping?
Alana
Can this be rendered beef tallow? Like could I just use EPIC beef tallow?
[email protected]
Yes, this is made with rendered beef fat. You can use Epic beef tallow. Any plan beef tallow will do.
Denney
I made this recipe today. this is my third attempt to make tallow balm. this recipe is great, it's easy and low-cost, thank you.
Susanne Leasure
I not only have been making this for about 6 months, but have given jars as gifts and shared the recipe! I’m 57 and use it on my face every night along with castor oil on my eye lids and around my mouth. My fine lines are nearly gone and my skin is glowy and healthy! Love this dooo much!
Niki
I don’t need to strain anything?
[email protected]
No you do not.
Bobbie Devine
You say to use avocado oil. Yet, its not in the instructions!!
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Her key ingredients say "Oil - I like avocado, but any "light" oil works such as sunflower or almond. Again, I try and use organic for this since it's for the skin. If you'd eat it, then it'll work!"
And in the recipe she lists it under the oils. Basically you get to choose which light oil you would prefer to use
Nicole
Can you repost the link to make your own tallow? The link in the post isn’t found
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Thanks for letting us know. We will get that sorted.
Bel
Is there a way to make this with only tallow? Just made my first attempt and it went nowhere ?
[email protected]
What do you mean by "went nowhere'? If would be waxy and solid with only tallow.
carla
Can you use venison tallow?
[email protected]
We've never had enough fat on our venison to give that a try.
Denise Millard
How can I make tallow from deer fat ?
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There has never been enough deer fat around to give that a try!
Jocelyn Callahan
Can I use leaf lard?
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Leaf lard has other properties than tallow and I know Kate's hasn't made tallow balm with it.
Maddie
First time making this today & am so proud of how it turned out!!!
This recipe was easy to follow. Thanks for sharing!
Caitlyn
Could you use coconut oil?
[email protected]
Yes, but remember coconut oil is a solid at room temperature which might make the tallow balm not so whippy and creamy.
Jocelyn Callahan
I made this with high grade store bought tallow. It was lovely, soft and fluffy. Several weeks later every jar had turned grainy. Any idea on what happened?
Louise Ayre
Does this skin cream need to be refrigerated?
[email protected]
No it does not need to be refrigerated. If you keep one jar out and the rest in a cool cupboard it should last a year. Keeping your "not in use jars" in the fridge would keep it longer.
Colleen
How long does it take to cool to the proper consistency?
Thanks, Colleen
[email protected]
Hard to say how long as that can depend on the temperature of your house. But leaving it to cool completely leaves you with a soft white bowl of oil. Do not put in the fridge or the tallow will return to a solid state. When I made it in January I just walked away for a few hours then came back to whip it.
Colleen
How long does this have to cool to the proper consistency?
Thanks, Colleen
[email protected]
Hard to say how long as that can depend on the temperature of your house. But leaving it to cool completely leaves you with a soft white bowl of oil. Do not put in the fridge or the tallow will return to a solid state. When I made it in January I just walked away for a few hours then came back to whip it. Worked like a dream.
Margie M Duckworth
After sealing jars, do you refrigerate. If not, what is shelf life for the profuct.
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After putting the lids on tightly (this does not "seal" them in the canning sense of the word), storing them in a cool cupboard will give them about a year of shelf life. You can also store the "not in use jars" in the fridge for longer life.
Krystine Thompson
Has anyone very tried bear fat? I tried and it doesn’t seem to be thickening?
David T
On its own maybe, but whenever I've rendered bear fat it has been really soft from the start. Really similar to lard, becoming liquid even during the summer time when stored in the pantry. If I was to try with that I keep the other oil out, just bear fat and fragrance oils. Then store it in the fridge.
Chris
Do you have to refrigerate it?
[email protected]
Not if you are going to use it within the year. Extra is best stored in a dark cool cupboard and in a fridge if it is going to last you longer that a year.
Sabrina
Can I use two different "light" oils? For instance, 1oz avocado oil and 1oz jojoba oil?
[email protected]
Yes you could use those oils along with the tallow
Melis
Would coconut oil work?
[email protected]
You could use coconut oil but it's more unpredictable.
Jen Sundermeier
Does it need to be refrigerated?
[email protected]
Not unless you won't use it up within the year. I put extra jars in my fridge.
Luigi Balducci
In the video you don't whip it. Is that a necessary step?
[email protected]
The video is called DIY Tallow Balm, which is a different recipe than the whipped recipe. Having said that the only main difference is the whipping, which makes it light and creamy!
Lee
Thank you so much for this! Have you tried adding a bit of powdered herb to this mixture? Would this be possible if the oil was not available?
[email protected]
Never been tried. Not sure that it would work the same as oil infused with herbs
Val
Can I use coconut oil?
[email protected]
You can use coconut oil instead of avocado or olive oil but coconut oil is a solid when cooled which might make the tallow balm not so whipped and creamy.
Deidra Prestridge
Have you tried or would you recommend Jasmine oil?
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Kate said she hasn't tried Jasmine oil. We really don't have access to it, other than super spendy small amounts. I'll bet it smells divine.
Ty
Hi, thanks so much for this post! Can I just place the tallow in a pot on the stove to heat up? I've seen other posts where they say to use a double boiler? Is that necessary?
[email protected]
Yes, you can just put the tallow in a pot. Make sure you heat it up slowly so it just melts, not boils or gets really hot.
Michael Bressette
Is Castor Oil beneficial in this preparation ?
I have almond oil & castor oil & want to use one or a mix of both to make this.
I bought an organic NON GMO grass fed & grass finished Tallow for this purpose.
[email protected]
We've never used Castor oil in Tallow Balm. Almond oil is lovely, but sunflower oil works too. I've used Castor oil in soap making and it's a very sticky oil. Not sure that I would attempt it here. Remember to cool down the oil/tallow completely on the counter before whipping.[Some people have suggested to chill it in the fridge but that returns the Tallow to a solid state.] Sounds like you have a lovely batch of Tallow to work with!
Brianna
How long would this last if I use it solely for my face? Also, could I add honey to this? And how long would it take to melt all the beef tallow? I've heard multiple things, so I'm not sure.
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Here is a post Kate did on rendering fat. If you make excess you can store it in the fridge so that is lasts longer. Typically a jar of it, not refrigerated, lasts a year.
https://venisonfordinner.com/how-to-render-fat-pork-beef-bear-lard-tallow/
Colleen Steele
Hi, Colleen. I've just started making my own tallow. So far, I've only used it for cooking. My last batch, I put several cloves of my home-smoked garlic in it to infuse that flavor. Now I'm thinking about using some of my home-grown herbs in it for use as a skin treatment. Will your process work without using the essential oils? Would I just use olive oil to make it more like a balm?
Thanks, another Colleen
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Yes this recipe would work without the essential oils and yes, you would need the olive oil to keep the balm soft.
Melanie French
Love it
Susan Simpson
I thought uou were supposed to whip the tallow ta make balm.
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Yes you are whipping the tallow and other oil together.
Ashley Kuerschner
Oh my I NEED that mug with the milking mom and the baby on her back!! Also this turned out great.
Karen Hyde
Any way we can avoid the nut and seed oils in the recipe ?
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You can choose what ever light oil you would like.
Molly
Ok Kate, could it be possible to do this with deer tallow?
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Yes you could!
Ashley
I made this many times in the past, and it turned out great. The last two times I've made it, it turns out oily and didn't whip at all. I am not sure if is the humidity or what. But I am beyond frustrated. Hoping someone else has experienced this and can give me some advice. Thanks!
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Since you've already had success it's hard to know what to suggest. Maybe if you are making it on a hot day (summer) it's not cooling down enough?
Deb LaLonde
Do you recommend a name brand for the essential oils?
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Doterra is one of Kate's preferred eo's but they get pretty expensive with the exchange for Canadians.
Keaghan
Perfect easy recipe to turn my rendered tallow into balm. I scented it using vanilla and almond extracts!
Rachel Sims
Super simple and great on sensitive skin. My kids have eczema and this tallow balm helps so much! I used frankincense.
Alison
The whipped body butter turned out great! It is super moisturizing and healing.
Sonja Heath
Perfect homemade tallow balm. So luxurious, and great for gifting.
Shawna
Only thing that my family uses during cold, dry weather that actually helps! I use it year round on my face too
Deanna Taylor
So easy and turns out everyone!
Brit
Definitely easy to make and now I don't have to buy it!
John west
Could you use goat fat instead of beef?
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It's not been tried due to lack of goat fat. Not sure it would work, but also no reason why it shouldn't.
Vanessa Lambie
Why is "Venison for Dinner" using beef??? I was hoping this was a tallow balm made with venison tallow.
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You can make it with venison tallow. Our deer do not normally have enough fat on them to make much tallow balm...hence using the beef tallow as beef tallow balm is better than no tallow.
David T
Just did this on a few deer. I harvested the fat from on the rear quarters, around the kidneys and then all around the ribs. What would be bacon on a pig holds a good bit of fat on the deer. I can honestly say that you don't want any of this fat in the grind if you are making sausage. It hardens at a higher temperature than your mouth so then it feels like you have sand in your mouth (per my kids). I also make bone broth and save all the fat that floats to the top after boiling the bones. Chill the broth and scoop off the hardened fat with a fork.
Cut deer fat into small 1/2" cubes or grind it if you have a grinder. Then place it all in a pot with a little bit of water (1/2 cup). Set it on low/medium heat and let it go. Mix it occasionally, scraping the bottom. It will pull all the oil and cook the pieces in there until you end up with crackling. While it cooks it pulls both oil and moisture out so make sure you done have it covered. You want all the water OUT. This took me half a day. Don't rush it because if you increase the temp you will get a burned smell in the tallow. Filter out all the crackling and little bits floating and you have tallow.
Take the tallow (either from rendering process described above or from the stuff floating on the broth) and now you should clean it. I'll put it in a pot (it should be hard at this point) with water. 1 part tallow, 3 parts water. Bring it to a boil and let boil for 5 minutes. BE VERY CAREFUL HERE!!!! I've had it exploded on me from when the water gets low. I don't advise doing this over a gas burner indoors.
After it had boil for about 5 mins, take off heat and let it cool. After it's hard, take off the water and scrape the bottom of the tallow to clean impurities. Pour the water outside. Don't pour it down the drain or you'll have issues. Repeat this 5 min boil and scraping until the bottom is pretty clean and it doesn't have a strong smell. I always do it 3 times total.
After that's been done, you have clean tallow that should be white as milk and a faint deer tallow smell. You'll find that it is about as hard as candle wax. You can use it to make soap, mix with beeswax to make candles or to make this lovely lotion.
On making lotion, I did 5 oz deer tallow and 3 oz coconut oil. Since the deer tallow is a lot harder that beef tallow I like to add more coconut oil.
Heat both oils in double boiler then mix the oils together really well. When oil is hardening I like to add the fragrance/essential oil for better mixing. I don't like adding the fragrance to hot oil. When the mixture is completely hardened again you can whip it with a hand mixer. Now find somewhere to put it. If it starts to melt you can put it in the fridge. Never had this issue in an air conditioned house.
Couple of notes on things I've noticed.
1. If you are getting your oil/tallow from skimming the bone broth then pay attention to any oils you add along the way to make broth. The olive oil you use to roast the bones will end up in the tallow at then end. I leave off the olive oil when making the broth to avoid this
2. Processing the tallow by boiling it adds water to the tallow. It can settle out but then you may end up with water at the bottom of your jar of lotion. I've tried removing all the water by microwaving all the tallow (you know, boiling it out). Don't do it, water boiled all at once and exploded burning hot tallow everywhere.
3. Deer tallow is basically wax. Wash everything by hand, use really hot water and pour it all outside. Don't pour anything down the drain!!!! You or your husband will hate you when trying to clean the drain.
Bonus: My son made a batch and he called this fragrance Texas Fall. Enjoy!
Sweet Orange - 30 drops
Texas Cedar - 12 drops
Cinnamon Leaf - 18 drops
Melissa
citrus oils are photsensitive, so you have to be careful using them on your face, otherwise great receipe, thanks!
kim pierson
Can you use an immersion blender instead of whipping it?
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You should be able to use an immersion blender. I never have but I can't see why it wouldn't work.
Maddy
Instead of oil, could you use 2 oz of fresh aloe gel?
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Kate says she's never done it with aloe gel. You will have to let us know if you do.
Cindy
I have some bear tallow and want to try this out. How long is the shelf life. Does this need to be refrigerated after making?
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Shelf life is easily up to a year with tallow. You don't need to refrigerate but if you make a big batch it helps it to last longer.