Tallow is rendered beef or mutton fat. It has had a small comeback in frying and skincare, and the comeback does not make it plant-based.
Made fromRendered beef or mutton fat
Also calledBeef dripping, suet tallow
VerdictNot vegan
Where it hides
Some deep-fried foods and fries
Soap and candles
Skincare balms
Pastry and shortening
What it is
Tallow is what you get when you render the hard fat of cattle or sheep and let it set. It is having a moment in frying and in skincare, sold as a natural fat, but its source is not in question.
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Tallow is a rendered form of beef, pork, mutton suet, primarily made up of triglycerides.
Tallow turns up in some restaurant fryers, in traditional soap and candles, and in a wave of tallow skincare balms. A plant swap is easy: neutral high-heat oils for frying, and shea or cocoa butter for the balm.
LardLard is pig fat with a friendlier name. It shows up in flaky pastry and old-school refried beans, and no amount of good technique changes what it is.
SuetClassic suet is the crumbly kidney fat of a cow or sheep. There is a vegetable version that works just as well, but the boxes sit side by side, so read carefully.
GheeGhee is butter with the milk solids cooked off. The process is clever, the nutty flavour is real, and it is still dairy from start to finish.
Frequently asked
Is beef tallow vegan?
No. Beef tallow is rendered fat from cattle, so it is an animal product and not vegan.
Do any fries use tallow?
Some do. A number of chains fry in vegetable oil, but others use beef tallow or a blend, so it is worth checking rather than assuming.
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