Chloe Adams
Deer fat has been used for hundreds of years to make tallow candles. Tallow is the refined fat from an animal, and deer tallow is more saturated and better for candles than beef tallow. Rendering deer fat is a messy but easy process that eliminates food particles in fatty tissues, making the fat usable for candles. The slower the fat is rendered, the cleaner the wax will be.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Process | Rendering deer fat involves removing impurities from the fat to create tallow, which can then be used to make candles. |
| Equipment | A large pot or Dutch oven, a stove, containers, wicks, and twist ties. |
| Fat Source | Deer fat can be obtained from butchering a deer or by requesting it from a butcher. |
| Candle Type | Deer tallow candles are natural, long-lasting, and eco-friendly, making them suitable for gifts or emergency lighting. |
| Scent | Deer tallow candles have a mild scent, and essential oils can be added to enhance the fragrance. |
| Rendering Speed | Slow rendering produces cleaner wax, while faster methods may result in a "dirtier" appearance. |
| Storage | The candles have a long shelf life and can be stored for a year or more in a cool environment without spoiling. |
| Rendering Location | Rendering deer fat can be a messy and odorous process, so it is recommended to do it outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. |
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What You'll Learn
Rendering deer fat into tallow
To render deer fat into tallow, start by trimming off as much meat as possible while still keeping most of the fat. Don't worry if some meat hangs on to the fat, as it will be strained out later. Put the deer fat in a large pot or Dutch oven on the stove. The slower you render the fat, the cleaner the wax will be, so take your time with this process. It can take up to an hour for the fat to fully melt.
Once the fat is melted, use a spoon to fill tea light cups or other containers. You can also pour the tallow into wide-mouth pints, which will make candle-making easier down the line. Be sure to add wicks to your containers before pouring in the tallow. Cotton core wicks are recommended for natural waxes like tallow. You can also add essential oils to the tallow before it sets to create scented candles.
After pouring the tallow into your containers, straighten the wicks and let the candles cool and harden for a minimum of two hours before lighting. Your homemade, all-natural deer tallow candles are now ready to use or gift to others!
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Trimming and preparing the fat
Deer fat can be found all over the animal's body, but it is often cross-sectional around the kidney, loin area, and spine. The most sought-after fat is kidney fat, as it is the whitest and has the least flavour. When preparing the fat, it is important to trim off as much meat as possible while retaining most of the fat. Don't worry if some meat remains attached to the fat, as it will be strained out later.
The fat can be cut into small chunks to facilitate the rendering process. Rendering is the act of removing impurities from the fat to create tallow. This can be done slowly over low heat for cleaner wax, or more quickly over higher heat for "dirtier"-looking wax. The fat can be rendered in a crock pot, Dutch oven, or other large pot. It is a messy process that should be done outside or in a well-ventilated area, as it produces a strong odour.
Once the fat has been rendered, it can be formed into bars for later use, or immediately poured into containers to make candles. The rendering process eliminates food particles in the fatty tissue, making the fat usable for a variety of purposes, including candle-making.
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Heating the tallow
Rendering deer fat into tallow for candles has been a common practice for hundreds of years. Tallow is the refined fat from an animal, and deer tallow is more saturated and hardens better than other animal fats, making it ideal for candles.
To render deer fat, you must first trim off as much meat as possible while retaining most of the fat. Don't worry about the meat that remains attached to the fat, as it will be strained out later. Place the deer fat in a large pot or Dutch oven on the stove. The slower you render the fat, the cleaner the wax will be, so it is recommended to heat the tallow on low heat.
One method is to fill a pot with water, place a jar of tallow in the pot, and heat the water on medium heat with the lid on until the tallow is fully melted. This can take up to an hour or more, so prepare your candle-making supplies in the meantime. Cover a solid cutting board with parchment paper and lay out your tealight cups or other containers. You can also add essential oils to the tallow before it sets to add a scent to your candles.
Another method is to heat the tallow directly in a pan until it is completely melted. Be sure to use a pan specifically for heating tallow, as the process can be messy.
Once the tallow is fully melted, you are ready to pour it into your containers.
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Adding wicks and pouring into containers
Once you've rendered your deer fat into tallow, you can start preparing your containers and wicks.
Choosing the right wicks
Cotton wicks are the best option for natural waxes like tallow. You can purchase pre-measured wicks that already have a bottom tab, or you can buy 6-inch or 8-inch wicks and cut them to size yourself. If you opt for the latter, you'll need to fashion your own bottom tab.
Preparing the containers
Select containers that can withstand hot temperatures, such as canning jars. Place two twist ties across the jar opening, creating a place for the wick to rest in the centre. Secure the wick by placing it on top of the twist ties.
Pouring the tallow
Completely melt your tallow in a pan. Then, carefully pour the hot liquid into your prepared containers, ensuring the wick remains centred. Leave the tallow to cool and harden.
Finishing touches
Once the tallow has cooled, trim the wicks to 1/2 to 3/4 inch, if necessary. You can decorate the jars with non-flammable items. You can also add essential oils to your candles, but be very careful when doing so as they are highly volatile and can burn quickly if not stirred in well.
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Decorating and scenting the candles
Deer fat can be rendered into tallow and used to make candles, a practice that has been around for hundreds of years. Here are some tips for decorating and scenting your homemade deer tallow candles:
Decorating the candles
The containers for your candles can be decorated with any non-flammable materials of your choice. For example, you could use stickers, paint, or ribbons to embellish the jars and make them more visually appealing. You could also consider adding decorations directly to the surface of the candle itself, such as dried flowers, glitter, or other small items that can be embedded in the wax.
Scenting the candles
To scent your candles, you can add essential oils to the melted tallow before pouring it into the containers. Aim for a concentration of 1 to 2% essential oil in the final mixture. This translates to approximately 30 to 60 drops of essential oil per cup of tallow. Popular essential oils for candle-making include lavender, lemongrass, bergamot, peppermint, citrus, cinnamon, ginger, clove, cedarwood, and sandalwood.
It is important to note that the type of fat used can also impact the scent of your candles. For example, if you use pork fat, you may need to add more essential oils to counteract the "porky" smell that can remain even after rendering. Leaf fat from pigs is nearly odourless when rendered, so it may be a better option if you want to create unscented candles or prefer a very subtle fragrance.
Additionally, you can experiment with different types of animal fats to see how they affect the scent and characteristics of your candles. For example, bear grease is described as having a smooth and creamy texture, which may result in a unique burning experience or fragrance for your candles.
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Frequently asked questions
Rendering deer fat involves removing impurities in the fat to create tallow, which can then be used to make candles.
First, trim off as much meat as possible while keeping most of the fat. Put the deer fat in a large pot or Dutch oven and place it on the stove. Heat the fat until it is fully melted, which can take up to an hour. Prepare your candle containers by adding a wick to the centre. Once the tallow is melted, pour it into the containers with wicks and let it cool and harden.
Cotton core wicks are recommended for natural waxes such as tallow. Pre-measured wicks come with a bottom tab that serves as an end piece, but you can also fashion your own wicks.
Yes, you can add essential oils to the tallow before pouring it into the moulds.
