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Author Topic: Mutton tallow shelf life  (Read 1776 times)

Offline gmoodyii

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Mutton tallow shelf life
« on: May 15, 2023, 06:51:51 PM »
I have not been able to go out and exercise my guns in a while. But just noticed my tallow is discolored.
Only thing I can imagine is mold. This lamb tallow is over a year old but its fat, and fat does not go bad or so I thought.
It would be easy enough to drive up to Dixie Gun Works and get some more but is there something I could do to this?
Maybe melt it back down to kill whatever contaminates might be mixed in with it?
Or just throw it out and get some fresh?

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Offline Winter Hawk

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Re: Mutton tallow shelf life
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2023, 04:41:57 PM »
I'd use it as it is, but that's just me.  I think it's just discolored because of temperature changes. Maybe as you say, melt it down if you're worried about it.  Or, you can mail it to ME!  :laffing

~Kees~
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Offline RobD

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Re: Mutton tallow shelf life
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2023, 07:56:18 PM »
Mutton tallow generally doesn't spoil easily if at all, not like some other tallows and greases.  If it did spoil a bit, no big deal, yer patches and balls won't mind it a bit.

I have 3lbs of mutton tallow left that I got from Dixie Gun Works about 6 years ago, packaged in translucent plastic LDPE containers and the tallow looks to be okay.  I use it to make GatoFeo #1 lube for ball patches, melted along with pure beeswax and canning wax, then rubbed into strips of cotton patching cloth and either melted in with a heat gun or left out in the sun.  The result is a bit harder lube that doesn't rub off onto everything like pure tallow does, and I roll up the patch strips and pin a strip onto the strap of my shooting bag for easier use during gun loading.  I keep the tubs of mutton tallow in the dark, stored in a cool basement.
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Online Butler Ford 40

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Re: Mutton tallow shelf life
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2023, 02:29:00 PM »
I still have two pounds left that I got in 2005. It's on the back of the bottom shelf of the fridge. Still as white as ever. I don't think I'd use it for cooking but it's still good for lube.  I's say go for it, patches don't get tummy aches.
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Offline gmoodyii

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Re: Mutton tallow shelf life
« Reply #4 on: May 21, 2023, 10:08:02 AM »
Awesome responses!!  THANKS!
I also have two of the same containers of tallow I got from Dixie years ago that I have been using and they are pure white with no discoloring.
I did talk to one of the ladies and she said instead of mutton tallow the newer containers were lambs tallow. I asked her what the difference was and she said mutton is from an older animal and lambs was from, uh a lamb.
I will reheat just for my own sanity. I will do it outside so my house does not smell like a petting zoo! :)

THANKS AGAIN!!!
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