View source for Tallow

{{otheruses}}
[[Image:Tallow-beef suet after rendering.jpg|thumb|240px|Tallow made by rendering calf [[suet]]]]
'''Tallow''' is a [[rendering (industrial)|rendered]] form of [[beef]] or [[mutton]] [[fat]], processed from [[suet]]. It is solid at room temperature. Unlike suet, tallow can be stored for extended periods without the need for [[refrigeration]] to prevent [[decomposition]], provided it is kept in an airtight container to prevent [[oxidation]].

Industrially, tallow is not strictly defined as beef or [[mutton]] fat. In this context, tallow is animal fat that conforms to certain technical criteria, including its [[melting point]], which is also known as [[titre]]. It is common for commercial tallow to contain fat derived from other animals, such as [[lard]] from [[domestic pig|pigs]], or even from plant sources.

== Uses ==
Tallow is used in animal feed, to make [[soap]], for [[cooking]], and as a [[Birdfeeding|bird food]].  It can be used as a raw material for the production of [[biodiesel]] and other [[oleochemical]]s. Historically, it was used to make tallow [[candle]]s, which were a cheaper alternative to [[wax]] candles. 

===Lubrication===
Tallow is used in the [[steel]] rolling industry to provide the required lubrication as the sheet steel is compressed through the [[steel roller]]s. There is a trend towards replacing tallow based [[lubrication]] with synthetic oils in rolling applications for surface cleanliness reasons.<ref>[http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4891161-description.html Cold rolling mill lubricant - US Patent 4891161<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The use of tallow or lard to lubricate rifles was the spark that started the [[Indian Mutiny of 1857]].   To load the new Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle, the [[sepoys]] had to bite the cartridge open. It was believed that the paper cartridges that were standard issue with the rifle were greased with lard (pork fat) which was regarded as unclean by Muslims, or tallow (cow fat), regarded as sacred to Hindus.

Tallow, along with beeswax, was also used in the creation of lubricant for American Civil War ammunition used in the Springfield Rifle Musket.

Tallow is used to make a biodegradable motor oil by a Stamford, Connecticut based company called [[Green Earth Technologies]].<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/automobiles/08BIO.html?nl=wheels&emc=wheelsa2</ref>

===Medicinal===
In [[Germany]], [[deer]] tallow ("Hirschtalg") is commonly used as a base ingredient in [[salve]]s.<ref name="wiki">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirschtalg</ref>

Tallow used to be used commonly in high-end shaving soaps, particularly those of elite British firms such as [[Geo. F Trumper]], [[Truefitt %26 Hill]], and Taylor of Old Bond Street.  While these firms have reformulated to a glycerin base, tallow-based soaps still exist, including the soaps from an American firm, [[The Art of Shaving]], as well as soaps from Turkey and Italy.

===Food===
Before switching to pure vegetable oil in 1990, the [[McDonald's]] corporation cooked its [[french fries]] in a mixture of 93% beef tallow and 7% [[cottonseed oil]].<ref>Schlosser, Eric (2001). ''Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of All-American Meal''. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-97789-4</ref> 

===Other uses===
Tallow can also be used as [[flux (metallurgy)|flux]] for [[soldering]].<ref>[http://www.fantasyinglass.com/fantasyinglass.com/Tech_Help_files/flux.html Hey Flux<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Tallow is also the primary ingredient in some leather conditioners.

== Composition ==
{{nutritionalvalue | name=Beef Tallow | kJ=3774 | protein=0 g | fat=100 g | carbs=0 g | satfat=50 g | monofat=42 g | polyfat=4 g | opt1n=[[Cholesterol]] | opt1v=109 mg | opt3n=[[Selenium]] | opt3v=0.2 mg | right=1 | source_usda=1 | note=Fat percentage can vary. }}
The composition of the fatty acids is typically as follows:<ref>National Research Council, 1976, ''Fat Content and Composition of Animal Products'', Printing and Publishing Office, National Academy of Science, Washington, D.C., ISBN 0-309-02440-4; p. 203, [http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?chapselect=yo&page=203&record_id=22&Jump+to+Specified+Page.x=0&Jump+to+Specified+Page.y=0 online edition]</ref>
*Saturated fatty acids:
**[[Palmitic acid]]: 26 %
**[[Stearic acid]]: 14 %
**[[Myristic acid]]: 3 %
*Monounsaturated fatty acids:
**[[Oleic acid]]: 47 %
**[[Palmitoleic acid]]: 3 %
*Polyunsaturated fatty acids:
**[[Linoleic acid]]: 3 %
**[[Linolenic acid]]: 1 %

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{fatsandoils}}

[[Category:Animal fat products]]
[[Category:Cooking fats]]
[[Category:Garde manger]]

[[br:Soav]]
[[de:Talg]]
[[es:Sebo]]
[[eo:Sebo]]
[[fr:Suif]]
[[io:Sebo]]
[[is:Tólg]]
[[it:Sego]]
[[nl:Talg (dierlijk)]]
[[ja:ヘット]]
[[no:Talg]]
[[nn:Talg]]
[[pl:Łój]]
[[sv:Talg]]
[[zh:牛脂]]
[[Category:2Fix]]