Beef Tallow Is Trending Again. Here's Why.
From fryers to face creams, beef tallow is riding a wave of anti-seed oil sentiment. Experts urge caution.
From TikTok kitchens to fast-food fryers, beef tallow is back. Once dismissed as artery-clogging animal fat, it’s now being repackaged as a stable, “ancestral” alternative to seed oils. Some brands market it as a source of fat-soluble vitamins. Others lean on flavor and tradition.
Chefs, influencers, and some nutrition advocates are embracing it. Federal guidelines are not.
What's Driving the Shift
"People are rethinking their fear of saturated fat," said Dr. Anthony Gustin, a functional medicine provider and founder of Perfect Keto. "Beef tallow is stable at high temperatures, and unlike seed oils, it doesn't oxidize easily."
Tallow is rich in saturated and monounsaturated fats. It was a staple of American cooking until the 1980s, when public health campaigns pivoted to promoting vegetable oils. That shift was largely driven by concerns over cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
Now, with more scrutiny of industrial seed oils like soybean and canola, some consumers are turning back to animal fats.
Flavor First
Chefs are also fueling the revival.
"It just makes everything taste better," said Matt Jennings, a chef and food strategist. "Whether you're frying potatoes or searing meat, it adds this incredible mouthfeel and flavor."
Several brands are banking on that appeal. Epic Provisions and Fatworks offer jarred beef tallow for home use, sometimes infused with herbs or garlic. Primal Kitchen recently added it to a new high-heat cooking line.
Health Claims Under Fire
Beef tallow is especially popular in paleo and carnivore circles. Influencers tout it as “clean,” “anti-inflammatory,” and “nutrient-dense.” Some highlight its vitamin A, D, E, and K content.
But nutrition experts are skeptical.
"I don’t see any health benefit of using tallow," said Dr. Alice Lichtenstein, senior scientist at Tufts University’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging. In an April 2025 explainer from Tufts, Lichtenstein stated there is "no data" showing typical seed oil consumption causes inflammation. She emphasized diets high in unsaturated fats remain best supported by evidence.
She also warned consumers to be cautious about influencer claims not grounded in peer-reviewed science.
Beyond the Fryer: Skincare Controversy
Tallow’s resurgence isn’t limited to food. A growing number of brands now sell it as a face or body moisturizer, often labeling it “ancestral” or “biocompatible.”
Beef tallow has a comedogenic rating of 2 out of 5. That places it in the moderate range — similar to coconut oil or cocoa butter — meaning it may clog pores in some individuals, especially those with acne-prone or sensitive skin.
A 2024 scoping review, Tallow, Rendered Animal Fat, and Its Biocompatibility With Skin, found minimal clinical research backing topical claims. While tallow’s fatty acid profile does resemble human sebum, the authors concluded there is no robust evidence showing therapeutic benefit compared to other moisturizers.
Other reviews, including Vegetable Butters and Oils as Therapeutically and Cosmetically Active Ingredients for Dermal Use (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020), have more thoroughly documented the properties of plant-based emollients like shea butter. A separate publication, A Review of Moisturizers (Cosmetics, 2021), outlined common ingredients such as lanolin, glycerin, and mineral oil — but did not include tallow among standard or well-studied agents.
Dr. Farah Moustafa, a dermatologist at Tufts Medical Center, said beef tallow may help retain moisture due to its fatty acid content. But she warned that it can clog pores and cause irritation, particularly when combined with essential oils. “Its vitamin A content isn’t comparable to retinol,” she told Tufts researchers.
Anecdotal reports are more favorable. “I wash my face with water, use a standard quality lotion, and layer tallow on top before bed,” said Gavin Wilson, founder of The Health Signal. “Since starting that, I’ve had zero facial acne and deeply moisturized skin.”
Still, no clinical trials to date have directly tested beef tallow against synthetic or botanical moisturizers for acne, hydration, or skin barrier repair.
The Health Signal Has Contacted:
Epic Provisions, Fatworks, and Primal Kitchen: sourcing, product demand, and health messaging
Fuddruckers and chef-led restaurants: customer reactions and culinary rationale
Tufts researchers and independent dietitians: saturated fat risks and seed oil comparisons
We will update this story if responses arrive.
Bottom Line
Beef tallow’s return is more than a flavor trend. It reflects growing distrust of industrial fats and a shift toward whole-animal cooking. Whether science catches up to the hype is still an open question.
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