What Is Tallow Oil?
Tallow oil is derived from tallow, which is rendered beef or mutton that is processed from suet. Tallow oil has many purposes. It can be used for cooking, bird food or as a substitute for biodiesel, or even candles. Does this Spark an idea?
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Benefits
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Tallow can stored for long periods of time and does not need to be refrigerated as it will not decompose. Tallow oil stored in an airtight container can last longer than most types of oil. This makes is a viable alternative to diesel oil. When used as a biodiesel, tallow is cleaner and more efficient for engines because it has a higher amount of cetane than plant oil biodiesel. Cetane relates to the rate of ignition properties in diesel fuels.
Disadvantages
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When used as a biodiesel, tallow oil tends to have a higher cloud point due to crystallization at high temperatures. This makes it unsuitable for use during the winter months. In addition, the amount of cows needed to produce substantial levels of oil could prove to be a problem as livestock can be limited for wide range use.
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Going green
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Tallow oil has been touted as a greener alternative to engine oil. Because engine oil uses toxic substances such as benzene, lead, zinc and camium, it can be very harmful to the environment. This is not the case with tallow oil, which is a natural byproduct of rendered cow beef. One cow can produce as many as 110 qts. of oil.
Health
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Tallow is a healthier alternative for use in cooking than vegetable oil. Tallow oil is rich in fat soluble vitamin K2, which is good for bones and teeth and could prevent osteoporosis and cavities. Cooking with tallow oil can even provide more health benefits when cooking fatty food, because vegetable oil contains little to no nutrients compared to tallow.
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References
- Photo Credit cooking image by Daria Miroshnikova from Fotolia.com
