Rendered Tallow for Frying
Rendered tallow is a cooking fat made by melting down beef or mutton fat, then straining it to remove impurities. It is a traditional, shelf-stable frying medium with a high smoke point, historically used across many cuisines for frying, sautéing, and baking. Its use dates back centuries in European, American, and Asian cooking.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
Rendered tallow is almost entirely fat, providing a dense source of calories with no carbohydrates or protein. It is a good source of fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin D and K2, and contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), with a typical serving containing around 115-120 calories.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 116 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbs | 0 g |
| Fat | 13.1 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Vitamin K2 | ~3 µg |
| Vitamin D | ~2 µg |
| Vitamin E | ~0.4 mg |
| Choline | ~1.5 mg |
| Saturated Fat | ~7 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | ~5.5 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | ~0.5 g |
Per 1 tablespoon (14 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, tallow was a staple of pioneer and frontier cooking in North America and remains a key ingredient in traditional dishes like British roast potatoes. Nutritionally, it is unique for being a stable, saturated fat that is less prone to oxidation during high-heat cooking compared to many vegetable oils.
