Jessie Taylor
Tallow candles are a clean and cost-effective alternative to store-bought candles. They are made from rendered animal fat, which can come from beef, deer, lamb, or even bear. Rendering tallow is a simple process of melting the fat and allowing it to cool before straining out any impurities. Once the tallow is rendered, it can be poured into a mould or container with a wick and allowed to solidify, resulting in a clean-burning, natural candle.
Rendering Tallow for Candles
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tallow Source | Animal fats such as beef, deer, cow, goat, elk, or bear |
| Fat Selection | Densest fat, such as fat along the back, leaf fat, or suet around the kidneys |
| Melting Process | Use a crockpot, stockpot, or shallow pan; remove impurities and strain |
| Cooling Process | Pour into a skillet or cake pan and cool; refrigerate or freeze for later use |
| Scenting | Add essential oils, whole food ingredients, or fragrance oils |
| Wick | Cut wick an inch taller than the candle holder; wrap around a stainless steel straw or pencil |
| Moulds | Glass jars, metal tins, old pottery, potato chip containers, waxed drink boxes, paper towel rolls |
| Storage | Keep in a cool, dry place to prevent melting or softening |
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What You'll Learn
Rendering animal fat into tallow
To begin rendering animal fat into tallow, you will need to select the densest fat possible. The fat located along the back, as well as the leaf fat or suet found around the kidneys, is ideal. If you are sourcing your fat from a local butcher, you may not be able to request fat from specific areas. In this case, simply choose the hardest sections of fat available.
Once you have obtained your fat, it is time to start the melting process. This can be done in a crockpot, stockpot, or shallow pan. The time required for melting will depend on the size of your batch and the type of vessel used. As the fat melts, it will start to hiss and spit, releasing impurities such as water and tissue. Small pieces, known as "cracklings," may float to the top and can be removed with a slotted spoon. These can be discarded or salted and enjoyed as a snack. Other impurities will settle at the bottom of the pan and will need to be strained out later.
After all the fat has melted, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. Once it is cool enough to handle, strain the melted fat through a cheesecloth-lined colander to remove any remaining impurities. It is important to do this before the tallow thickens and solidifies.
At this point, you can choose to proceed with making your candles or pour the tallow into a skillet or cake pan to cool and harden. Refrigerating or freezing the hardened tallow is recommended if you plan on storing it for later use.
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Choosing the right wick
The next step is to secure the wick in place. One method is to wrap the wick around a stainless steel straw or a pencil. Alternatively, you can use a wick sticker or putty to adhere the wick to the jar. A wick centring tool can also be used to ensure the wick stays in the correct position.
When using multiple wicks in a larger candle, it is important to space them out evenly. This can be achieved by forming a triangle shape with the wicks, which also helps the candle burn more effectively and prevents tunnelling.
Finally, once the tallow has cooled and solidified, trim the wick to 1/4 inch. This step is crucial for maintaining a clean and even burn. It is recommended to trim the wick each time before burning the candle.
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Adding scent with essential oils or whole foods
Once you have rendered the tallow and prepared your wicks, you can add scent to your candles with essential oils or fragrances that use whole foods.
Essential Oils
Essential oils can be added to the tallow once it has cooled slightly. You should add the oil when the wax reaches 185°F (85°C), gently stirring for 2 minutes to ensure the oil is fully incorporated. As the wax continues to cool, you can pour it into your chosen containers.
Whole Foods
You can also add scent to your candles using fragrances that are inspired by whole foods. These candles can be made with 100% soy wax and can include a variety of scents, such as:
- Peach and nectar
- Lemon and sage
- Hibiscus and fig
- Lavender and earl grey
- Seaside and citrus
- Bacon
- Caramel
- Hazelnut
- Oven-baked bread
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Straining and pouring the tallow
Straining the Tallow:
- Once your tallow has finished melting, remove it from the heat source. It's important to wait until all the fat is melted before proceeding.
- Allow the melted tallow to cool slightly. You want it to be cool enough to handle safely, but still in a liquid state. This is the ideal time to strain the tallow.
- Use a cheesecloth-lined colander to strain the tallow. This setup will help catch any remaining impurities that didn't float to the top during the melting process.
- Carefully pour the tallow through the cheesecloth and colander setup. This step will help ensure your final candles are smooth and free of sediment.
Pouring the Tallow into Containers:
- After your tallow is fully strained, you have the option to pour it into containers or molds to create your desired candle shape.
- Prepare your containers by adhering the wick to the centre bottom of each container using a wick sticker or putty. You can use recycled jars, glass jars, metal tins, or even old pottery.
- If you're using a wick stabiliser, now is the time to set it up. Place the wick stabiliser on top of the jar, ensuring the wick is centred and straight.
- Gently pour the strained, melted tallow into your prepared containers. Fill them to your desired level, leaving some space at the top for the wick.
- If you plan to add essential oils or fragrances, do so now. Add a few drops of your chosen essential oil or fragrance oil and gently stir to distribute it evenly. You can also infuse herbs, spices, or citrus zest into the melted tallow before pouring.
- Allow your candles to cool and solidify completely before trimming the wicks to the appropriate length (usually about 1/4 inch).
Remember, you can always add beeswax to your tallow if you want your candles to have a harder consistency. Additionally, always store your tallow candles in a cool, dry place to prevent melting or softening.
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Storing and maintaining tallow candles
Tallow candles can be stored on a shelf and will not melt in the summer heat or get mouldy at room temperature. They can also be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. To prevent tunneling, which is when only a small circle of wax melts around the wick, you should let the wax melt to the edge of the candle's container each time you burn it.
Before storing your tallow candle, ensure it has cooled undisturbed for at least 4-6 hours or overnight. Once fully hardened, trim the wicks to about 1/4 inch. Trim the wick to 1/4 inch each time you burn the candle.
Tallow candles should be stored in a cool, dry place to prevent melting or softening. They will last through multiple lightings before needing to be replaced.
Tallow can be frozen or refrigerated for later use in candles.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use any animal fat, such as beef, deer, cow, goat, elk, or even bear fat.
First, select the densest fat possible, such as the fat located along the back or the leaf fat around the kidneys. Then, melt the fat in a crockpot, stockpot, or shallow pan. As the fat melts, remove any impurities, such as water and tissue, with a slotted spoon. Once all the fat is melted, remove it from the heat and strain it through a cheesecloth-lined colander before it cools and thickens.
This depends on the size of your batch and the containers you have. As a general rule, use about 1/2 lb of tallow for every two pints of candle mixture.
You will need a jar, wick, wick sticker, and wick centre. If you want to add scent to your candles, you will also need essential oils or fragrance oils.
