How to Render Beef Tallow for Skin Care (Using the Wet Method)
Learning how to render beef tallow for skin care or for cooking is surprisingly simple, and once you have a jar of beautiful white tallow ready to use, you can turn it into all kinds of homemade skincare products or use it to cook with in the kitchen.
I started making my own tallow skincare because I wanted toxic free, nourishing products without paying the price of high-end natural skincare brands. For the longest time I was so intimidated of the process of rendering suet into tallow, that I opted to purchase already rendered grass fed tallow. But once I learned the process, I realized that it’s not that hard! It’s just more of a repetitive process, that becomes super simple once you do it a couple of times.
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Once you learn the rendering process, you can take something as basic as beef suet and turn it into your own tallow for homemade tallow balm, soap, salves, and other DIY skincare recipes.
While there are a few different ways to render beef fat, I prefer the wet method when I’m making tallow specifically for skincare. Adding water and salt during the rendering process helps separate impurities from the rendered fat and helps prevent the tallow itself from getting too hot, which means it can help create cleaner, milder-smelling tallow.
It does take a long time from start to finish because I like to purify my tallow through multiple rounds, but most of that time is completely hands-off.
In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to render beef fat into tallow using a crock pot or slow cooker and the wet rendering method.
How to Render Beef Tallow For Skin Care in a Crockpot Using the Wet Method
Ingredients
- Beef suet, preferably grass-fed
- Filtered water
- Sea salt or kosher sea salt
The exact amount of water you need depends on how much beef fat you’re rendering and the size of your slow cooker. Add enough water to surround the fat throughout the initial rendering process.
Equipment
- Crock pot or slow cooker
- Sharp knife
- Clean cutting board
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Cheesecloth
- Large metal bowl or stock pot
- Large spoon or measuring cup
- Mason jar or glass storage container
A food processor is also helpful for cutting the suet into smaller pieces, but it isn’t required.
Instructions
Step 1: Trim & Cut the Beef Fat
Start with cold beef suet. Using a sharp knife on a clean cutting board, trim away any obvious pieces of meat, blood vessels, or connective tissue. Cut the suet into small pieces, roughly 1 inch or smaller. Smaller pieces provide more surface area and help the fat melt evenly.
Step 2: Add the suet, water, and salt
Place the chopped beef fat into your crock pot. Add filtered water and salt. You don’t need to measure the water down to the exact ounce—just use enough water to surround the pieces of fat while everything slowly heats. The salt water will eventually be discarded.
Step 3: Render on low heat
Set your slow cooker to low heat. Allow the fat to slowly render for around 6–8 hours, stirring occasionally. Depending on the amount you’re rendering and the temperature of your slow cooker, it may take a little more or less time.
As the fat melts, you’ll begin seeing clear liquid fat mixed with the water and remaining pieces of tissue.
Avoid rushing this step by turning up the temperature. Higher temperatures can brown or scorch the remaining proteins and contribute to a stronger beefy odor. Low and slow gives you the best results when rendering tallow for skincare.
Step 4: Strain the rendered fat
Once most of the fat has melted, turn off the slow cooker and allow it to cool slightly while the fat is still liquid.
Set a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth over a large pot or metal bowl. Carefully pour or ladle the melted fat and water mixture through the strainer to remove the remaining pieces of meat and connective tissue.
Gently press the cheesecloth to release the remaining liquid fat, then discard the solids.
Step 5: Refrigerate until solid
Place the bowl containing the strained fat and water into the refrigerator for a couple of hours or until the tallow has completely hardened.
As everything cools, the rendered fat rises and forms a solid disk on top while the water and impurities remain underneath.
Step 6: Remove the tallow and scrape away impurities
Once the tallow is completely firm, loosen the edges of the tallow disk with a knife and lift it from the bowl. Pour away the water underneath and flip the tallow disk over.
The bottom may have a thin creamy, grainy, or slightly discolored layer where impurities collected. Using a knife, carefully scrape this layer away until you reach clean, smooth tallow.
You don’t need to scrape deeply. Simply remove the visible film and impurities from the surface.
Step 7: Wet Render a second time
For skincare, I don’t stop after the first render. Cut the purified tallow into smaller chunks and return it to the clean crock pot.
Add fresh filtered water and salt. Heat on low until the tallow is completely melted. Because the fat is already rendered, this round should only take a couple of hours.
Strain the mixture again, refrigerate until solid, remove the tallow disk, discard the water, and scrape any remaining impurities from the bottom.
Step 8: Repeat if necessary
Repeat the wet rendering process until you’re happy with the color, texture, and smell. Two or three rounds are usually enough, although some batches naturally retain more scent than others.
Your final product should be smooth and clean, ranging from creamy white to pale yellow with very little beefy odor.
Step 9: Melt and Store
After the final render, pat away any visible water with a clean paper towel. Gently melt the clean tallow one final time over very low heat without adding water.
Once completely melted, pour the clear liquid tallow into a clean, dry mason jar and allow it to cool at room temperature before covering.
What Is Beef Tallow?
Beef tallow is simply beef fat that has been slowly rendered to separate the pure fat from meat, connective tissue, moisture, and other impurities.
Finished tallow is solid at room temperature and melts into a clear liquid when heated. It can be used for cooking, soap making, tallow balm, and other homemade skincare products. As well as in cooking.
Why I Use the Wet Method for Skincare
There are two primary ways to render animal fat: dry rendering and wet rendering.
With the dry method, beef fat is slowly heated without added water. This works well for cooking tallow but can make it easier to overheat the fat, potentially resulting in a stronger beefy smell.
The wet rendering method uses water and salt while the fat melts. The water helps buffer the fat from direct heat, while repeated melting, chilling, and scraping helps remove impurities.
For skincare, my goal is clean, mild-smelling tallow, so I prefer to wet render it two or three times. This is the best method if you’re wondering how to render beef tallow for skin care.
Why Use Tallow for Skin Care?
Tallow is rich in fatty acids, including oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid, which give it a rich, moisturizing skin feel.
I especially love tallow for my naturally dry skin and use it as the base for homemade tallow balm and whipped face cream.
Because it’s a rich fat, different skin types may respond differently. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, start with a small amount.
Wet Rendering vs. Dry Rendering
If you’re wondering how to render beef tallow for skin care and find yourself questioning whether you really need to go through the extra wet-rendering steps, the answer is yes you do. That is if you want the most high quality tallow.
For cooking, the dry method works well. If I’m rendering animal fat to use for frying french fries, roasting vegetables, or other recipes, I’m much less concerned about a mild beef aroma.
For skincare, I prefer wet rendering because I want clean tallow with as little residual odor and impurities as possible.
Neither method is necessarily better—they simply work well for different purposes.
Can You Render Beef Tallow on the Stove?
Yes. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can use a large pot or stock pot on the stove.
Follow the same wet render method, keeping the burner on very low heat. Stir periodically and make sure there is enough water in the pot. If the fat begins browning or frying, the temperature is too high.
What Can You Make With Rendered Tallow?
Once you’ve learned how to render beef fat, you’ll have a base ingredient for all kinds of homemade skincare products, including:
- Whipped tallow face cream
- Whipped Tallow Balm (Body Butter)
- Tallow & Honey Balm
- Tallow lip balm
- Tallow sunscreen
- Tallow Diaper Rash Cream
Tallow can be used on its own, but I usually combine it with another oil for a softer, more spreadable texture.
Jojoba oil is one of my favorites for facial skincare. Depending on the recipe, you can also combine tallow with olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, infused herbal oils, beeswax, or essential oils.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best beef fat for making tallow?
I prefer grass-fed beef suet, the firm fat found primarily around the kidneys. It produces a firm, smooth tallow that works especially well for skincare. Look for beef suet from a local farm or local butcher whenever possible.
How do you get the beef smell out of tallow?
Start with clean beef suet, trim away meat and connective tissue, and render it over low heat to avoid developing a stronger cooked smell. Wet rendering the tallow two or three times can further reduce impurities and odor.
Keep in mind that properly rendered tallow may still have a very faint natural scent.
How should rendered beef tallow be stored?
Store your finished tallow in a clean, dry mason jar in a cool, dark place. For a longer shelf life, you can keep it in the refrigerator or freezer. Always use clean, dry utensils to avoid introducing moisture.
How many times should you wet render tallow?
I typically recommend three rounds for skincare. If you still have visible impurities or a stronger beefy smell, you can repeat the wet rendering process again. If you are making the tallow primarily for cooking 1 or 2 rounds will be enough.
Does tallow have to be completely odorless for skincare?
No. Well-purified tallow should have a very mild scent, but a faint natural smell doesn’t mean your rendering process failed.
Why is my tallow yellow instead of white?
The color of rendered tallow can vary based on the animal’s diet, the type of fat, and the rendering process. Grass-fed beef fat can naturally have a more yellow hue, so your final product doesn’t need to be pure white.
How long does homemade tallow last?
Properly rendered tallow with the moisture removed has a long shelf life, especially when refrigerated. If you notice mold, rancidity, or an unusual odor, discard it.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to render beef tallow for skin care may sound intimidating the first time, but it’s really a simple process of melting, straining, chilling, and purifying.
Start with high-quality beef suet, use low heat, and repeat the wet render method until you’re happy with your finished product.
Once you’ve done it once or twice, the process becomes incredibly simple—and you’ll have your own beautifully rendered tallow ready for homemade balms, creams, soaps, and other natural skincare products.
How To Render Beef Tallow For Skincare
Equipment
- 1 Crock pot or slow cooker
Ingredients
- 3-5 lbs grass fed beef suet
- filtered water refer to recipe for amount
- 2-3 tbsp sea salt
Instructions
- Start with cold beef suet. Using a sharp knife on a clean cutting board, trim away any obvious pieces of meat, blood vessels, or connective tissue. Cut the suet into small pieces, roughly 1 inch or smaller. Smaller pieces provide more surface area and help the fat melt evenly.3-5 lbs grass fed beef suet
- Place the chopped beef fat into your crock pot. Add filtered water and salt. You don't need to measure the water down to the exact ounce—just use enough so that all of the suet is sitting in several inches of water. It doesn't need to be fully covering the suet. The salt water will eventually be discarded.filtered water, 2-3 tbsp sea salt
- Set your slow cooker to low heat. Allow the fat to slowly render for around 6–8 hours, stirring occasionally. Depending on the amount you're rendering and the temperature of your slow cooker, it may take a little more or less time. As the fat melts, you'll begin seeing clear liquid fat mixed with the water and remaining pieces of tissue. Avoid rushing this step by turning up the temperature. Higher temperatures can brown or scorch the remaining proteins and contribute to a stronger beefy odor. Low and slow gives you the best results when rendering tallow for skincare.
- Once most of the fat has melted, turn off the slow cooker and allow it to cool slightly while the fat is still liquid. Set a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth over a large pot or metal bowl. Carefully pour or ladle the melted fat and water mixture through the strainer to remove the remaining pieces of meat and connective tissue. Gently press the cheesecloth to release the remaining liquid fat, then discard the solids.
- Place the bowl containing the strained fat and water into the refrigerator for a couple of hours or until the tallow has completely hardened. As everything cools, the rendered fat rises and forms a solid disk on top while the water and impurities remain underneath.
- Once the tallow is completely firm, loosen the edges of the tallow disk with a knife and lift it from the bowl. Pour away the water underneath and flip the tallow disk over. The bottom may have a thin creamy, grainy, or slightly discolored layer where impurities collected. Using a knife, carefully scrape this layer away until you reach clean, smooth tallow. You don't need to scrape deeply. Simply remove the visible film and impurities from the surface.
- For skincare, I don't stop after the first render. Cut the purified tallow into smaller chunks and return it to the clean crock pot. Add fresh filtered water and salt. Heat on low until the tallow is completely melted. Because the fat is already rendered, this round should only take a couple of hours. Strain the mixture again, refrigerate until solid, remove the tallow disk, discard the water, and scrape any remaining impurities from the bottom.
- Repeat the wet rendering process until you're happy with the color, texture, and smell. Two or three rounds are usually enough, although some batches naturally retain more scent than others. Your final product should be smooth and clean, ranging from creamy white to pale yellow with very little beefy odor.
- After the final render, pat away any visible water with a clean paper towel. Gently melt the clean tallow one final time over very low heat without adding water. Once completely melted, pour the clear liquid tallow into a clean, dry mason jar and allow it to cool at room temperature before covering.
Notes
- Start with high-quality suet. Grass-fed beef suet from around the kidneys is my favorite for skincare because it produces a firm, smooth tallow with fewer impurities than general beef fat trimmings.
- Keep the heat low. Don’t rush the rendering process. High heat can brown or scorch the fat and contribute to a stronger beefy smell.
- Cut the suet into small pieces. Smaller pieces render more evenly and efficiently. Partially freezing the suet can make it much easier to chop or process.
- Don’t skip the additional wet renders. For skincare, I recommend wet rendering the tallow 2–4 times to further purify it and reduce the beefy odor.
- Scrape only the impurities. After chilling, you’ll often see a thin, creamy or discolored layer on the underside of the tallow disk. Scrape this away without removing more clean tallow than necessary.
- Remove all moisture before storing. After the final render, pat the tallow dry and gently melt it once more without water before transferring it to a clean, dry jar. Residual moisture can shorten its shelf life.
