Beef Gelatin / Collagen

Liorasol · 2025-02-01T22:51:43-0500

I just rendered beef fat to make some tallow and got a LARGE portion of gelatin/collagen that I’d hate to waste.

I’m just curious if this can be used in soaps, body butters, creams, face masks, serums, shampoo, hair masks, etc. or if I should just save it to use for food lmao

Has anyone done this?

AliOop · 2025-02-01T23:21:27-0500

I've never tried it in body care products because I wouldn't know how to preserve it, or how to eliminate the beef smell. Besides, I do love it for making soups, so it never goes to waste.

squidstings · 2025-02-02T10:02:10-0500

AliOop said:
I've never tried it in body care products because I wouldn't know how to preserve it, or how to eliminate the beef smell. Besides, I do love it for making soups, so it never goes to waste.

I'm with @AliOop! Soup base!

I've heard of tallow for the skin. Not gelatin though. Other than being, very, beneficial in the diet.

What little I do know is that it's separated from the liquid with acid (vinegar is one if i recall correctly). Once it's purified and dried, it's pretty shelf stable when well stored. Just some say I've heard.

akseattle · 2025-02-02T19:46:55-0500

@Liorasol , I just googled your question and AI says:
Yes, beef gelatin can be used in soapmaking because it's a common thickening and gelling agent. It's also used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

I have seen bacon ice cream sold at some ice cream shops, and, to me that seems like a weird pairing. Although I'd definitely use that gelatin in soup or something, if I had a whole pile of it laying around like you do, I'd be tempted to experiment with small batches. Let us know if you do.

AliOop · 2025-02-02T20:09:53-0500

akseattle said:
Yes, beef gelatin can be used in soapmaking because it's a common thickening and gelling agent. It's also used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

This refers to the dried and powdered version, which can be created as Squidstings mentioned above. I don't think that beef gelatin would be great to use as-is from rendering. The latter is what I assumed the OP has on hand.