Have
you noticed lately that what’s old is new, and old-fashioned things are now
trendy? Has everyone forgotten how
things were done less than 100 years ago?
It’s like we have a collective case of cultural amnesia!
Old
School...
%20is%20the%20traditional%20oil%20lamp%20used%20by%20Inuit.jpg)
Later tallow was the main cooking fat used in medieval Europe, because
of its high smoke point (ability to withstand heat without oxidizing), its long
shelf life, its ability to lubricate machinery, its use in soap making and as a
fuel for candles, rushlights and slush lamps, to light the dark of night.
It wasn’t until the early 20th century that tallow was
replaced by cheaper vegetable and seed oils.
The hydrogenation process, discovered by Paul Sabatier in the 1890’s, used
nickel as a catalyst for the reactions adding hydrogen to the fat molecules. Hydrogenation led to the development of
shortening and margarine, after Wilhelm Normann further refined the process and
patented it in 1902.
What is
tallow and what can it be used for?
Tallow is rendered (melted, skimmed and strained) beef, sheep or hog
fat. It is the belly fat, also known as
suet, which surrounds the animal’s vital organs. The tallows from different animals have
different properties and uses, some being better for baking, frying or candle
making.
· For cooking, because of tallow’s high smoke
point, the point at which it begins to oxidize or burn, it can be used to fry food
at higher temperatures without breaking down into harmful compounds.
· As a flavor enhancer, beef tallow has a beef
flavor, while bacon tallow will have a bacon taste.
· To season cast iron, condition wooden cutting
boards or waterproof and condition leather.
· As the base for soap and candle making.
· As an industrial lubricant or as a moisturizer
for skin or hair.
· As a food, tallow is a key ingredient in
pemmican, a traditional food source high in fat and protein, that has a long
shelf life.
To
render your waste fat into tallow
Some tips for making tallow; cook it low and slow, avoid overheating
it, and stir it regularly. One pound of
beef suet will yield between one and two cups of tallow.
The rendered tallow should be strained into a clean, airtight glass
jar or container. Store the jar in a
cool, dark place or in your refrigerator.
And now you know how to recycle something that most modern folk waste
by throwing away or pouring done the drain.
This should make both the “Zero-wasters” and the “Frugal” happy!
I
hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me
on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE. Don’t forget to follow me on both The
Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE,
and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube. If you have questions, as always, feel free
to leave a comment on either site. I
announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at
bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.
That
is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!
Sources
Ariaansz,
Rob F. Dr; “Hydrogenation in Practice”, February 16, 2022, [© 2025 AOCS], https://www.aocs.org/resource/hydrogenation-in-practice/,
accessed May 3, 2025
Author Unknown; “The
History of Beef Tallow (2025): From Ancient Cooking to Modern Kitchens”,
December 19, 2024, https://www.cookingwithtallow.com/,
accessed May 3, 2025
Burdeos, Johna, RD, LD;
“Beef Tallow: Health Benefits, Cooking and Skin Care”, Feb. 4, 2025, [2025 ©
U.S. News & World Report L.P], https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/beef-tallow-health-benefits-cooking-and-skin-care,
accessed May 3, 2025
Ministry of Food; “Making
the most of the Fat Ration”, 1939-1945, From the Folkestone Museum Collection, https://learn.folkestonemuseum.co.uk/objects/leaflet-making-the-most-of-the-fat-ration/,
accessed May 3, 2025
No comments:
Post a Comment