Wagyu Beef Tallow

Wagyu beef tallow (beef tallow) is a classic culinary cooking ingredient. Has it recently gained more popularity than ever? Sure. Is it overhyped? Negative. I'm here to give you my take on some of the details of wagyu beef tallow and include my own process for making, storing, and using wagyu beef tallow. Before we proceed, I will mention that while this guide is for wagyu beef tallow, it applies to beef tallow as well.

What is Beef Tallow?

Beef tallow is a chef's secret weapon. Wagyu beef tallow – even more so. And beef tallow is rendered beef fat. In addition to being a chef’s secret weapon, the use of beef tallow dates back centuries. Unlike other animal fats, tallow is unique in its texture, flavor, and cooking properties.

What is Wagyu Beef Tallow used for?

Wagyu beef tallow or beef tallow isn’t just another cooking fat. In the kitchen, it’s not just about flavor and texture, it adds new a dimension of flavor to dishes when it comes to frying, sautéing, and even baking.

Wagyu Beef Tallow Uses

Diving into the uses of wagyu beef tallow, here are some of the more common uses when it comes to the kitchen:

• Frying: beef tallow has a high spoke point, making it perfect for frying
• Sautéing: use beef tallow to sauté foods to unlock a unique flavor and crispiness to whatever you’re sautéing
• Baking: nothing unlocks flaky pastries and pies like tallow.
• Confit cooking: confit cooking is a form of slow cooking meats in their own fat. Confit cooking with wagyu beef tallow or regular beef tallow is an incredible choice for an elevated culinary experience.

Additionally, beef tallow can be used for soap-making and skin care products, which we have no intention of diving into here.

Wagyu Beef Tallow Smoke Point

A smoke point is simply the point when something begins to burn. All cooking oils, beef tallow, and wagyu beef tallow have a smoke point. Do you need to know the smoke point of oils in cooking? Yes, it’s highly recommended to be aware of your cooking oil’s smoke points.

Wagyu beef tallow’s smoke point? It’s right around 400°F which places it higher than many vegetable oils. What does this mean for you and your cooking? Beef tallow is less likely to break down and smoke during high-heat cooking, keeping dishes healthy and tasting delicious.

Wagyu Beef Tallow Benefits

In addition to tasting amazing? (And better than most cooking oils). Nutritionally, beef tallow is rich in vitamins and loaded with conjugated linoleic acid. Also, utilizing beef tallow is a sustainable kitchen practice by utilizing all parts of an animal. Oh, and flavor. Did I mention the flavor?

How to Make Wagyu Beef Tallow

Making wagyu beef tallow or beef tallow at home is super easy. You can make beef tallow by using high quality beef fat (I make it with every brisket we barbecue!). You’ll find a handful of different ways to make wagyu beef tallow and beef tallow on social media. A popular method is to add beef tallow to the smoker while you are smoking brisket. We will share our preferred method to make beef tallow below.