Beef Tallow vs Butter
A tie on seed oil PUFA: Beef Tallow and Butter both run about 5% of their fat, so a spoonful of either carries about the same.
Per tablespoon that is an estimated 0.7g of PUFA in each. The shares are the ones our estimates use (how we estimate).
| Beef Tallow | Butter | |
|---|---|---|
| PUFA share of fat | ~5% | ~5% |
| Est. PUFA per tablespoon | ~0.7g | ~0.7g |
| Type | animal fat | dairy fat |
| Seed oil? | no | no |
Beef Tallow
Rendered beef fat, the classic American fry medium before the 1990s. Mostly saturated and monounsaturated fat, very stable at fryer heat.
A short list of chains discloses tallow fryers. See Tallow Watch.
Butter
Dairy fat, about 5% PUFA. The steakhouse standard for finishing, and what a few breakfast chains still use on the griddle.
Common as a finishing fat; rare as a fryer. See chains cooking in butter or olive oil.
Restaurants that cook with beef tallow
49 restaurant chains we track name beef tallow in their cooking oil information.
Restaurants that cook with butter
81 restaurant chains we track name butter in their cooking oil information.
Frequently asked
Which has less PUFA, beef tallow or butter?
Neither. Beef tallow and butter both carry an estimated 5% of their fat as polyunsaturated fat, by the shares our estimates use.
How much PUFA is in a tablespoon of beef tallow?
Roughly 0.7g of PUFA per tablespoon, since a tablespoon of oil carries about 14g of fat and beef tallow runs about 5% PUFA.
Which is more stable for frying, beef tallow or butter?
Neither has the edge: both run about 5% polyunsaturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat is the part that breaks down fastest under heat.
Is beef tallow or butter a seed oil?
Beef Tallow is not a seed oil. Butter is not a seed oil.
More matchups
Or work out any amount with the PUFA calculator.