How Long Does Beef Tallow Last & How to Store It?

Tallow balm is a natural, effective moisturizer full of nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K to heal and protect the skin. To maintain all its benefits, we should store it properly. If your tallow balm is under heat, light, and air, it may be oxidized or lose its effectiveness. But how long does beef tallow last? Let’s find the answer and learn how to store beef tallow balm to have a longer shelf life.

What Is the Shelf Life of Tallow Balm?

How long does beef tallow last? Well, many years if stored under proper conditions.

Tallow is naturally durable and resilient against going bad because of its stable fatty acid profile and low moisture content. So, it doesn’t spoil as fast as plant-based oils and is a healthy, natural preservative for skincare.

However, several factors affect the shelf life of tallow balm. If you keep it in places where there is so much light, air, and heat, its shelf life decreases because light, air, and heat can degrade the fats and speed up oxidation.

Also, some additives like oils or certain essential oils can impact how your tallow balm can stay fresh. Generally, high-quality tallow balm can last for many months to over a year if stored in a proper place.

Factors Affecting Tallow Balm Shelf Life

Three main things can affect the quality and shelf life of tallow balm, including:

• Oxygen: When the tallow balm is exposed to oxygen (air), it oxidizes and spoils.
• Heat: High temperature and heat can speed up chemical reactions that decrease tallow’s shelf life.
• Direct Light: UV rays from sunlight negatively affect fats, destroying tallow over time.
  

How Long Does Beef Tallow Last?

If you have pure rendered beef tallow, you don’t need to worry about it because it can last up to a year at room temperature and even several years if you keep it in the refrigerator or freeze it.

When it comes to tallow balms, their shelf life varies based on their ingredients. Adding oils like jojoba oil, olive oil, or even essential oils may slightly reduce the balm’s stability.
Most tallow balms with additional ingredients have a shelf life of 6 to 12 months if you store them in good conditions. The more sensitive the added oils, the quicker the balm might start to spoil if exposed to air, light, or heat.

That said, we can extend its shelf life if we learn how to store beef tallow balm like a professional and experience the wonderful results of beef tallow on skin.

How to Store Beef Tallow Balm Properly

Learning how to store beef tallow balm to increase its shelf life is easy. You just need to keep it in a cool, dark, and dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources like radiators or warm bathrooms.

A stable, moderate temperature is usually enough to keep it fresh and effective. Do not keep tallow balm where it undergoes a lot of temperature changes, like near windows or kitchen stoves.

While refrigeration can extend the freshness of tallow balm, it's not necessary unless you live in a very warm climate.

However, if you prefer a firmer texture or want to keep a larger batch fresh for longer, refrigeration or even freezing parts of it is an excellent way to maintain its quality.

 

Choosing the right container also matters. Unlike some plastic containers, glass containers, especially amber or cobalt blue jars, are the best because they don’t let tallow be exposed to light and do not leach chemicals.

Plastic may react with essential oils and fats over time, negatively affecting the balm's purity. Also, seal the container tightly after each use to prevent air and moisture from getting inside, because they can spoil your tallow balm.

Learn More: DIY Tallow Balm Recipe + Photo

Commercial vs. Homemade Tallow Balm Storage

Store-bought tallow has a generally longer shelf life than homemade tallow because of its ingredients and preservatives. However, homemade tallow balm can last shorter, but without harmful preservatives.

You can easily make tallow balm at home with this DIY Tallow Balm Recipe if you like hands-on experiences.

The table below compares commercial vs. homemade tallow balms.

 

Although commercial, the Primal Tallow Balm has no preservatives and is made from 100% grass-fed, high-quality tallow. This means less shelf life than other commercial tallows, but it's better for skin health.

But that’s not all! There are many other reasons why use the Primal tallow balm for your skin.

Does Tallow Balm Go Bad?

Although tallow balm is naturally resistant to spoilage, it can eventually go bad if you keep it under the wrong conditions. There are 3 main signs you can tell if your tallow balm has gone bad: Smell, Color, and Texture.

Smell

One of the first signs is a change in smell. Fresh tallow balm has a mild, slightly beefy or nutty scent. When it spoils, it may develop a sour, rancid, or unpleasant odor that’s significantly different from its original aroma.

Color

Another sign is a color change. Fresh tallow balm has a creamy white to pale yellow hue, depending on any added ingredients like essential oils.

Spoiled tallow balm can darken or develop a yellowish or even slightly brown tint. This color shift usually signals mild oxidation, which can gradually affect the balm’s freshness and effectiveness, although it's still safe to use if the scent remains clean and natural.

Texture

Spoiled tallow balm becomes uneven, grainy, overly soft, or even starts separating.

Graininess often happens when the fats melt and re-solidify at different rates, creating small crystals. While this doesn’t necessarily harm the balm’s moisturizing effects, it can make it less smooth and pleasant.

It is not common to see mold in tallow because it has low water content. However, if you contaminate it with dirty hands or utensils, it can grow bacteria and get spoiled.
However, be careful not to confuse natural changes with spoilage. For instance, slight graininess in tallow balm is normal due to fat crystallization and doesn’t mean it has gone bad.

Trust your senses! If the balm smells off, feels sticky or slimy, or shows any odd changes, it’s safer to discard it.

Here, you can find the best tallow balm for face, lips, and body, and enjoy the premium quality of fresh, 100% grass-finished tallow.

What Happens If I Use Spoiled Beef Tallow Balm?

Although you can still use tallow balm after some months of buying it, you should avoid it when it is spoiled, meaning when:

• It smells sour, metallic, or off.
• The texture has changed (too grainy, sticky, or separated).
  
• It has visible mold or unusual discoloration.
  

This is because it may cause the following reactions:

• Skin irritation: Spoiled tallow can grow bacteria or mold, causing redness, itching, rashes, or breakouts.
• Bad smell: Spoiled tallow has a strong, unpleasant, rancid odor that lingers on your skin.
  
• Reduced quality: Spoiled tallow loses benefits, so it won't nourish, moisturize, or heal your skin the way it should.
  
• Possible infection: If tallow has bacterial contamination and you apply it to broken or sensitive skin, there’s a small risk of skin infections.
  

Tips for Extending the Shelf Life of Tallow Balm

• Use tallow balm with clean, dry hands or a spatula to scoop out the balm to avoid contamination.
• Close the lid tightly to minimize air exposure and oxidation.
• Store the balm in a cool, dry, dark place away from heat and sunlight.
• Freeze the balm for long-term storage because freezing completely stops oxidation and spoilage.
• Keep your daily-use jar in the fridge if you live in a hot or humid climate.
• Put labels on balms you keep in the fridge or freezer.

Summary

How long does beef tallow last? In short, tallow balm naturally lasts long. But if you keep it in dark, dry, cool places in glass containers, you will maintain its freshness and effectiveness for several years.

FAQs

Does Beef Tallow Go Bad?

Yes, beef tallow can go bad over time, especially if it is left under heat, light, or air.

How Will I Know If Beef Tallow Has Gone Bad?

Rancid tallow has a sour, metallic smell, a color change, or a grainy, sticky texture.

How Do You Store Tallow for a Long Time?

Store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. You can also refrigerate or freeze it to extend its shelf life.

Does Beef Tallow Need to Be Refrigerated?

Daily-use balm is fine at room temperature for up to a month. For longer storage, keep extra jars in the fridge to stay fresh.

Can I Freeze Beef Tallow?

Yes, you can freeze tallow to preserve it for a year or more without losing quality.