Nowadays, the most commonly used wax is beeswax which, as the name suggests, is naturally produced by vast swarms of bees. Tallow wax, on the other hand, is a man-made product, based on a by-product of the processing of animal fats. Homemade tallow wax can be used to make candles and soap bars, as well as other beauty products. This article will teach you how to make wax.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Fat
Step 1. Purchase animal fat
Tallow wax is normally composed of beef kidney fat, which is the fat located near the kidney and liver of the cow. Kidney fat is almost completely devoid of cartilage and other animal parts.
- You can replace kidney fat with other animal fat, but the process can be messier and lead to an unpleasant odor.
- The process of making tallow wax is quite lengthy, so you may decide to make a large amount each time. 2, 5 kg of tallow will produce a sufficient amount of wax; increase or decrease the doses according to your personal needs.
Step 2. Grind the fat
The tallow will have to melt completely, and grinding it early can make the melting process much faster.
- Ask your butcher to grind the fat for you if you don't find it ready.
- Alternatively, you can grind the fat in a home process, using a grinder or food processor. Make it as fine as possible to be able to dissolve it very quickly.
Method 2 of 3: Dissolve and Filter the Fat
Step 1. Place the fat in a large pot and cover it with water
The pan should be large enough to accommodate all the fat and be filled to the brim with water.
- A large cast iron pot should be the correct size.
- Consider reserving the chosen pot for future tallow wax preparations. The process of melting the grease to make tallow will leave a residue of wax on the sides of the pot, and removing it can be difficult. For this reason, you may decide not to use it to cook other ingredients.
Step 2. Heat the pot over medium-high heat
Slowly bring the water and fat to a boil. As soon as it has boiled, reduce the heat and simmer.
- The fat should melt slowly; do not boil it to dissolve it quickly.
- If you want to speed up the process, you can decide to cover the pot with a lid, but don't leave it in place during the entire melting process. Steam production could interfere with the process.
- Each half pound of fat will take about 10 minutes of slow cooking. For this reason, using 2.5kg of fat as recommended, it will take about 50-60 minutes of cooking.
Step 3. Filter the fat
During the process, the fat will separate from the tallow becoming liquid and will need to be filtered. Place a large piece of food fabric inside a colander and place it on a large metal bowl. Pour the liquid through the coated strainer to separate the fat from the tallow and water.
- Be very careful during this process, the liquid fat will be very hot and may splash.
- You may spot bone fragments or other solid parts that will need to be removed. They will be retained by the colander.
Step 4. Lift the strainer from the bowl
Discard the solid parts and be prepared to use the liquid contained in the bowl, which is tallow mixed with water.
Method 3 of 3: Separate the tallow wax
Step 1. Let the tallow cool
During this time, it will rise to the surface of the water. When it has cooled completely, it will turn into a white disk on the surface of the liquid.
- Cover the bowl with cling film to avoid unpleasant accidents during the cooling period.
- Consider placing the bowl in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.
Step 2. Remove the wax from the bowl
The hardened wax should be easy to pull out in one or two pieces. Carefully lift the wax from the bowl and rinse it with cold water. The liquid left in the bowl can be discarded.
- The wax, on the side facing the water, may be sticky. Use an old knife to remove the top layer and then throw it away.
- Do not throw anything in the sink that has been in contact with wax, including water. Wax residues can clog the pipes. Strain the water through a piece of fabric and then discard it along with the retained wax residue.
Step 3. Store the wax
You can keep the wax disc whole or cut it into small pieces. Place the wax in a clean, sealable bag and store it in the freezer for up to 30 days. Label the bag to prevent possible misunderstanding.
