Why You Should Be Using Tallow: A Traditional Fat Making a Comeback

 

For generations, families cooked with tallow. Then it disappeared from kitchens, replaced by industrial seed oils and highly processed fats. Today, more people are rediscovering what our great-grandparents already knew:

Beef tallow is one of the healthiest and most versatile fats you can use — both in the kitchen and in skincare.

At Rebel Hollow Farm, we render our own farm-raised beef tallow and are bringing this traditional fat back to modern homes.

Let’s talk about why.

What Is Tallow?

Tallow is rendered beef fat, typically taken from suet (the fat surrounding the kidneys). When slowly heated and purified, it becomes a clean, shelf-stable cooking fat with incredible versatility.

Properly rendered tallow is:

  • Solid at room temperature

  • Stable at high heat

  • Mild in flavor

  • Long lasting

And when it comes from healthy, responsibly raised cattle, the benefits go even deeper.

Why Tallow Is Excellent for Frying

One of the biggest benefits of tallow is its high smoke point, typically around 400°F. That makes it ideal for:

  • Frying potatoes

  • Searing steaks

  • Cooking eggs

  • Roasting vegetables

Unlike many vegetable oils, beef tallow is highly stable. That means it is less likely to oxidize or break down into harmful compounds when heated.

Benefits of frying with tallow:

✔ Stable saturated and monounsaturated fats
✔ Naturally rich flavor
✔ No industrial processing
✔ No seed oils
✔ Traditionally used before hydrogenated oils became common

Tallow contains beneficial fats such as:

  • Stearic acid (linked to metabolic support)

  • Oleic acid (also found in olive oil)

  • Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K

When you choose tallow from a local farm instead of commercial seed oils, you’re returning to a more traditional, less processed fat source.

Tallow for Skin: Why It Works So Well

Here’s something fascinating: tallow is remarkably similar to the natural oils in human skin.

That’s why it absorbs beautifully without feeling harsh or synthetic.

Benefits of tallow for skincare include:

✔ Deep moisturization
✔ Supports skin barrier repair
✔ Rich in fat-soluble vitamins
✔ Free from synthetic preservatives
✔ Naturally nourishing

Because it is bioavailable and compatible with our skin’s structure, many people find tallow helpful for:

  • Dry skin

  • Eczema-prone skin

  • Cracked hands

  • Weather-damaged skin

  • Sensitive skin

It’s simple. It’s traditional. And it works.

Farm Rendered Tallow from Rebel Hollow Farm

At Rebel Hollow Farm, we sell farm-rendered beef tallow made from our own farm-raised cattle.

Our cattle are raised without hormones, without antibiotics, and fed non-GMO grain. We believe what the animal consumes matters — because it ultimately affects what you consume and what you put on your skin.

Our tallow is:

  • Carefully rendered

  • Clean and shelf-stable

  • Perfect for cooking or DIY skincare

And we’re excited to share that we will soon be offering whipped tallow face cream — a smooth, nourishing moisturizer made from our farm’s tallow for simple, traditional skincare.

Why People Are Switching Back to Tallow

Many families are moving away from ultra-processed seed oils and synthetic skincare products. They’re looking for:

  • Ingredient transparency

  • Traditional food preparation

  • Fewer chemicals

  • Whole-animal sustainability

Using beef tallow supports nose-to-tail farming practices and reduces waste. It honors the animal and makes use of a nutrient-dense fat that has fueled families for generations.

The Bottom Line

Tallow isn’t new — it’s just been forgotten.

If you’re looking for a stable cooking fat, a natural skincare option, or a more traditional way to nourish your family, beef tallow deserves a place in your home.

You can purchase farm-rendered tallow from Rebel Hollow Farm, and keep an eye out for our upcoming whipped tallow face cream.

Sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.

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