What Is Beef Suet? A Comprehensive Guide along with Why Eat it as Part of a LCHF Diet

Many people ask “what is beef suet?” Beef suet is versatile and adds nutrition to every meal. It is common in traditional recipes and also a great addition to a low-carb, high-fat (LCHF) diet.

In this blog, we’ll explore why it’s an excellent choice for an LCHF diet.

What is beef suet and where does it come from?

Beef suet is a white, waxy substance that is solid at room temperature and has a high melting point. It is the raw, unrendered fat that is found around the kidneys and loins of cattle. Suet is distinct from beef tallow, which is the rendered and clarified fat of beef.

Is beef suet healthy?

Beef suet is a great source of healthy, natural fats and fat-soluble vitamins that are essential for a healthy diet, for brain function – and overall health. It is also known for its high smoke point, which makes it ideal for frying and roasting.

Beef suet, used in many traditional dishes, is also a great addition to a LCHF diet. Suet is a great source of natural fats, which are essential for a healthy diet. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Why is beef suet important?

Stearic acid, a type of saturated fatty acid found in high amounts in beef suet, is particularly significant. Shown to have neutral effects on blood cholesterol levels, unlike other types of saturated fats that can increase LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, stearic acid is considered a healthy fat and a beneficial component of a balanced diet.

Stearic acid can be converted into ketones through a process called beta-oxidation. This conversion is aided by the presence of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) found in beef suet.

MCTs are metabolised differently than other types of dietary fats. They are rapidly absorbed by the liver and converted into ketones, which can be used as an energy source by the body. This process is known as ketogenesis.

On the other hand, beef tallow is a rendered form of beef fat that has been heated and filtered to remove impurities. It contains a lower concentration of stearic acid and MCTs compared to beef suet, making it less effective in producing ketones.

How to use beef suet

Beef suet can be used in a variety of ways, including frying, roasting, and baking. It is ideal for making traditional dishes such as Christmas pudding and steak and kidney pie. It can also be used as a cooking fat, in preference to vegetable oils. Stay in the fat burning zone and add suet to your morning coffee, prior to your first meal of the day.

Where to buy beef suet?

Beef suet can be purchased from butchers and select food stores. It is also available online from specialty food websites. Grassland Nutrition offers an organic sourced beef suet product that is freeze-dried and offers an easy on the go option. With as little as 1% moisture content, this stable shelf product lasts for up to 2 years and can be eaten in snack form or used as a cooking fat in meal preparation.

Why use beef suet for a LCHF diet?

We’ve explored why beef suet is a great addition to a low-carb, high-fat diet because it is high in healthy saturated fats and low in carbohydrates. This makes it an excellent source of energy for those following a ketogenic or LCHF diet. Suet is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients are essential for overall health and wellbeing.

Recipes using beef suet

Some recipe ideas to try using beef suet:

- Beef and suet burgers: Mix ground beef and grated beef suet together for an extra juicy burger.
- Roast beef with suet: Rub beef suet on a beef roast before roasting it for added flavour and moisture.

Give beef suet a try

Try Grassland Nutrition’s freeze-dried Beef Suet that is sourced from OBE Organic who have been practicing certified organic agriculture for 30 years.

Grass Fed Beef Suet 150g

Suet – sourced from the finest fat around the kidneys, freeze-dried for extended shelf life. With a smoke point of 200°, it’s perfect for various cooking methods. Rich in Stearic Acid.