I made #tallow recently, and in the jar that is sealed for room-temp storage, a thin layer of yellow liquid has appeared on the *top* of the tallow. It's a pale yellow color, more pale than melted tallow but it could look paler because there are flakes of tallow suspended in it. It seems to be about the same density as the tallow, since the tallow flakes don't float or sink in it despite the liquid having a low viscosity.

When I try to search the internet, I pretty much exclusively get information about liquid appearing at the *bottom*, that liquid being water. I tested my tallow with a thermometer before jarring, and it was far above the boiling point of water, so there shouldn't have been any left.

I did see one person saying tallow can "sweat" oil, but I couldn't find concrete information about that.

Anyone know what's up? I don't want to have to remelt and rejar the tallow but I also don't want this liquid to cause spoilage.

So, while we had the woodstove going yesterday, I decided to render some suet in one of my cast iron pans. Now the pan is completely seasoned! Suet/Tallow seems to work way better than even high-heat safflower oil (which left weird sticky spots and wasn't preventing rust). Spending some of my snow day re-seasoning my pans.

#AnimalProducts #Tallow #Suet #CastIronPans

Is beef tallow making a comeback?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/dining/beef-tallow-food-pyramid-rfk-jr.html

#HackerNews #beef #tallow #comeback #food #trends #culinary #history #sustainability

Hmmmm. I just came across a recipe for #HandSalve made with #Tallow that doesn't involve essential oils -- only herbs!

How to Make Herb Infused #TallowSalve
November 13, 2018 by Marisa Tolsma

"Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups grass fed tallow balm
1/4 cup dried comfrey leaf
1/4 cup dried plantain leaf
1/4 cup dried calendula flowers
1/4 cup dried chickweed leaf
2 tbsp beeswax

Directions:

- Melt tallow balm over a gentle heat until it is liquid.
- Pour needed amount of tallow balm into a quart mason jar.
- Add dried herbs to liquid tallow balm and stir to incorporate well.
- Create a double boiler by placing the mason jar on a cloth inside a saucepan with water.
- Heat the water until it comes to a low simmer.
- Let the mason jar full of tallow balm and herbs sit in the simmering water for at least 3-4 hours, but much longer is better. I often let mine go 12 hours. Just keep an eye on it and replace water in the pan as it evaporates.
- Strain herbs out of tallow balm using a metal strainer lined with cheesecloth.
- Put the jar of herb infused tallow balm back into the double boiler, and return it to the gentle simmer.
- Add the beeswax to the herb infused tallow balm.
- Once beeswax is melted, stir to combine well.
- Pour hot mixture into tins or jars to store.
- Allow tins to sit until salve is solid.
- Put lids on containers and store in a cool, dark place."

Full article:
https://bumblebeeapothecary.com/how-to-make-herb-infused-tallow-salve/

#TallowSalve #AnimalProducts

This method involves using #tallow and #beeswax to keep the end-product more workable. Note: The resin is very volatile! Only do outside and using appropriate precautions!

How to Make Pine Pitch
by Jamie L. Burleigh

"I try to collect pine resin deposits that happen naturally, usually caused by a fracture in a limb by a storm, lightning, or animals scratching on the bark. I also gather resin that oozes naturally out of the broken knots in the pine tree. The runny clear resin, the dried up clumps of amber or the flakey white drips, dried from seasons past, are all good resin for making pine pitch."

Learn more:
https://primitiveways.com/pine_pitch_stick.html

#SolarPunkSunday #AnimalProducts #PinePitch #DIY #Waterproofing #SyntheticAlternatives

#Soapmaking pics! These are the #Tallow / Coconut / Olive Oil soaps, scented with Sandalwood, Frankincense, Myrrh and Cedar (Three Magi). We made some bars and some fancy shapes!

#SolarPunkSunday #TallowSoap #AnimalProducts #NoPalmOil

So, the #TallowSoap hardened just fine! (Pics soon...) I trimmed it today and it was harder than the soap made with palm oil -- so they are obviously interchangeable. The tallow-blend (with coconut and olive oils) just needed more curing time!

#Soapmaking #AnimalProducts #Tallow #SolarPunkSunday #AlternativesToPalmOil #PalmOilAlternatives

This #SoapRecipe calls for using an immersion blender (aka, bar mixer). We switched to using one of those for our #soapmaking, and it makes a huge difference!

How to Make Soap with #Tallow: Recipe & DIY Tutorial

November 4, 2018 by Marisa Tolsma

"Today I’m sharing how to make tallow soap. Grass fed tallow has amazing skin benefits, and when combined with other natural oils for extra lather, it makes a beautiful soap."

Learn more:
https://bumblebeeapothecary.com/how-to-make-tallow-soap-recipe-diy-tutorial/

#AnimalProducts #SolarPunkSunday #SoapRecipes #BeefTallow #DIY