Tallow

<p ><b>Tallow</b>&nbsp;is a&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(industrial)" title="Rendering (industrial)" class="mw-redirect" >rendered</a>&nbsp;form of&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beef" title="Beef" >beef</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutton" title="Mutton" class="mw-redirect" >mutton</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat" title="Fat" >fat</a>, processed from&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suet" title="Suet" >suet</a>. It is solid at room temperature. Unlike suet, tallow can be stored for extended periods without the need for&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigeration" title="Refrigeration" >refrigeration</a>&nbsp;to prevent&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decomposition" title="Decomposition" >decomposition</a>, provided it is kept in an airtight container to prevent&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidation" title="Oxidation" class="mw-redirect" >oxidation</a>.</p>

<p>

In industry, tallow is not strictly defined as beef or mutton fat. In this context, tallow is animal fat that conforms to certain technical criteria, including its&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melting_point" title="Melting point" >melting point</a>. It is common for commercial tallow to contain fat derived from other animals, such as&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lard" title="Lard" >lard</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_pig" title="Domestic pig" >pigs</a>, or even from plant sources.</p>