28 Survival Uses For Tallow

28 Essential Survival Uses For Tallow (That Most Preppers Overlook)

As a survival expert who’s spent decades preparing for the unexpected, I’ve learned that the most valuable resources are often the most overlooked. Tallow—rendered animal fat—might make your stomach turn, but it’s one of the most versatile survival assets you can stockpile. While I’ve relied on this substance countless times for everything from emergency cooking to impromptu medicine, I understand why modern preppers might hesitate to add it to their supplies.

Unlike commercial products with limited applications, tallow serves dozens of critical functions that could prove life-saving when conventional options disappear. Despite my grandmother’s kitchen smelling less than pleasant during rendering sessions, the multi-purpose potential of this traditional resource makes it worth enduring. I typically maintain 1-2 kilograms of pork tallow in my emergency supplies for situations when modern alternatives become unavailable.

Let me share 28 practical applications for tallow that could make the difference between thriving and merely surviving when disaster strikes.

1. Superior Cooking Medium

Despite its appearance, tallow offers exceptional cooking properties that outperform vegetable oils in high-temperature applications. The higher smoke point makes it ideal for deep frying, while its flavor-enhancing qualities elevate simple dishes like bacon, goulash, and fish. Many traditional preservation techniques incorporate tallow as a protective sealing layer when canning meat—creating an oxygen barrier that extends shelf life considerably in grid-down scenarios.

2. Enhanced Edge Retention

Traditional blacksmiths understood what modern preppers often forget—applying a microscopic layer of tallow to freshly sharpened blades significantly extends edge retention. This historical practice creates a protective barrier that prevents microscopic corrosion while providing slight lubrication during cutting tasks. For survival situations where maintaining tool functionality becomes paramount, this simple technique dramatically improves the performance longevity of essential cutting implements.

3. Firearms Maintenance

Before commercial gun lubricants existed, military forces worldwide relied on tallow to maintain weapons functionality under adverse conditions. The historical significance of tallow in firearms maintenance extends to the 1857 Indian Rebellion, where British-issued Lee Enfield rifles featured tallow-coated cartridges—a cultural affront that contributed to the uprising. For modern preppers, tallow provides an accessible backup option when commercial lubricants become unavailable during extended emergencies.

4. Antimicrobial Protection

Tallow contains natural antimicrobial compounds that make it valuable for treating minor infections. Historical medical applications included remedies for candida overgrowth, yeast infections, and wound protection—properties verified by modern research confirming certain fatty acids possess inherent antimicrobial capabilities. When commercial antibiotics become inaccessible, these traditional applications provide alternative intervention options for addressing common bacterial challenges.

5. Emergency Soldering Flux

In situations requiring electrical or mechanical repairs without commercial supplies, tallow functions as an effective flux substitute for soldering operations. Simply dipping a heated soldering tip into tallow creates sufficient surface preparation for making electrical connections or minor metal repairs. This application proves especially valuable for maintaining communication equipment, solar systems, or other critical electronics during extended grid-down scenarios.

6. Protective Skincare

The molecular structure of tallow closely resembles human sebum, making it exceptionally compatible with skin biology. This similarity explains its historical use as a protective barrier against environmental damage, particularly in extreme weather conditions. Though lacking the pleasant fragrance of commercial products, tallow provides superior moisture retention, healing support, and barrier protection—making it invaluable for maintaining skin integrity during extended outdoor operations or harsh environmental exposure.

7. Natural Deodorant Base

Commercial deodorants become luxury items during extended emergencies. A simple mixture of tallow with baking soda creates an effective odor-control solution that addresses bacterial growth while maintaining skin health. For those concerned about the natural scent, adding a few drops of essential oil (pine, cedar, or citrus) effectively masks the base aroma while adding complementary antimicrobial properties. Applied thinly post-shower, this mixture provides day-long protection without commercial alternatives.

8. Diaper Rash Prevention

Families with infants face special challenges during emergencies when commercial care products become unavailable. Tallow provides an effective barrier protection for preventing and treating diaper rash through its moisture-repelling properties and skin-compatible fatty acid profile. The antimicrobial components also help manage the bacterial environment that contributes to irritation, making it a multi-functional solution for infant care during resource-constrained situations.

9. Animal Nutrition Supplement

Maintaining livestock condition becomes challenging during feed shortages or economic disruptions. Adding tallow to animal feed significantly increases caloric density while providing essential fatty acids that support immune function and coat condition. This application proves particularly valuable for working animals that require sustained energy for farm operations or transportation when commercial feed becomes limited or unavailable.

10. Cognitive Function Support

Sleep disruption commonly accompanies stressful situations, yet mental clarity remains essential during emergencies. Research suggests that adequate fat consumption—particularly from animal sources containing specific fatty acids—supports neurotransmitter production necessary for restorative sleep cycles. A tablespoon of tallow daily provides these essential neurological building blocks, potentially improving sleep quality when normal patterns become disrupted by emergency conditions or high-stress environments.

11. Insect Sting Treatment

Wilderness emergencies often involve encounters with stinging insects, particularly during warm-weather operations. Applying tallow directly to sting sites creates a sealed environment that draws venom components from the tissue while reducing exposure to air that intensifies pain sensation. This simple intervention can significantly reduce discomfort and inflammation from bee, wasp, and hornet encounters when pharmaceutical options remain unavailable.

12. Hemorrhoid Relief

Medical conditions don’t pause during emergencies, and hemorrhoids represent a painful distraction from critical survival tasks. Tallow’s antimicrobial properties combined with its skin-compatible structure make it an effective substitute for commercial preparations. The application creates a protective barrier that reduces irritation while supporting tissue healing—addressing an uncomfortable condition that could otherwise compromise operational effectiveness during physically demanding situations.

13. Lice Management

Parasitic infestations become more common during disasters when normal hygiene routines face disruption. Historical remedies combining apple cider vinegar with tallow effectively address head lice by creating an environment hostile to the parasites while dissolving their attachment capabilities. In community shelter situations or extended emergencies where conventional treatments become unavailable, this traditional approach provides an accessible intervention for preventing infestations from spreading through close-quarter populations.

14. Cardiovascular Support

Contrary to outdated nutritional perspectives, research increasingly suggests that natural animal fats play important roles in vascular health. The specific fatty acid profile in properly sourced tallow contains anti-inflammatory components and antioxidant properties that support cardiovascular function. These protective effects may help prevent conditions ranging from peripheral vascular issues to certain neurological disorders during extended emergencies when conventional medical support becomes unavailable.

15. Fastener Lubrication

Construction and repair operations often involve driving fasteners into seasoned wood or other resistant materials. Applying tallow to screw threads or nail shafts dramatically reduces insertion resistance while decreasing splitting potential—extending both tool life and material efficiency. Additionally, a mixture of equal parts tallow and apple cider vinegar creates an effective rust removal solution for revitalizing corroded fasteners when replacement options remain unavailable during rebuilding operations.

16. Mechanical Lubrication

When commercial lubricants become unavailable, tallow provides an effective alternative for maintaining critical mechanical systems. The application extends to hinges, locks, chains, and other friction points that require ongoing protection to prevent premature wear or failure. Unlike petroleum products that eventually evaporate, tallow creates a more persistent protective layer that maintains effectiveness through extended operational periods without requiring frequent reapplication.

17. Grooming Applications

Maintaining professional appearance might seem secondary during emergencies, but psychological resilience often connects to personal grooming standards. Historically, tallow served as the base ingredient for mustache wax and hair styling products before commercial alternatives emerged. During extended scenarios without commercial options, this traditional approach allows maintaining normal grooming routines that support psychological well-being while preserving social structures during community response operations.

18. Shaving Assistance

Maintaining hygiene during emergencies remains important for both health and psychological reasons. Tallow functions effectively as a shaving lubricant when commercial preparations become unavailable, providing necessary skin protection while softening hair for easier cutting. The application proves particularly valuable during travel or evacuation scenarios when normal routines face disruption but maintaining basic grooming standards remains important for operational effectiveness or professional interactions.

19. Maternal Support

Nutritional demands increase significantly during pregnancy and nursing periods—situations that don’t pause for emergencies. Research indicates that specific fatty acids in tallow support enhanced nutrient density in breast milk while potentially reducing allergic tendencies in infants. Additionally, the skin-compatible nature of tallow makes it effective for addressing pregnancy-related skin changes, including stretch marks and tissue regeneration needs during the postpartum recovery period.

20. Emergency Illumination

Extended power outages transform simple conveniences like lighting into critical resources. Tallow’s high energy density and relatively stable burning characteristics make it an excellent candle material when commercial alternatives become unavailable. Simple designs using cordage wicks can provide 6+ hours of functional illumination per unit—sufficient for essential evening operations while conserving more advanced lighting resources for critical activities requiring higher illumination levels.

21. Soap Production

Hygiene maintenance significantly impacts health outcomes during extended emergencies. Traditional soap production using tallow as the fat component creates effective cleaning products when combined with lye or wood ash lye. The resulting soap provides both practical cleanliness benefits and the psychological comfort of maintaining normal hygiene routines—contributing to overall community health while preventing hygiene-related disease transmission in shared shelter environments.

22. Leather Maintenance

Functional equipment often incorporates leather components that require ongoing protection to maintain operational effectiveness. Tallow penetrates leather fibers to restore flexibility while creating a water-resistant barrier that extends service life in adverse conditions. Regular application to boots, belts, holsters, and other functional leather goods significantly improves durability while preventing damage that could compromise critical equipment during extended use without replacement options.

23. Baking Applications

Traditional baking methods often incorporated tallow before commercial shortening products dominated modern recipes. The distinctive flavor profile and superior structural properties create exceptional results in pastries and pie crusts—adding both caloric density and distinctive taste characteristics. During extended emergencies when maintaining food variety becomes important for psychological well-being, these traditional applications provide welcome diversity to otherwise monotonous emergency meal rotations.

24. Biodiesel Component

Long-term scenarios might require alternative fuel production for essential transportation or power generation. Tallow serves as an effective component in biodiesel formulation, providing energy-dense input material that converts effectively to usable fuel. The resulting product offers similar performance characteristics to petroleum diesel while utilizing renewable resource inputs—creating sustainable energy options when conventional fuel supplies become unavailable during extended infrastructure disruptions.

25. Allergy Barrier

Seasonal allergies can create distracting discomfort during critical operational periods. Applying a thin layer of tallow inside the nasal passages creates a physical filtration barrier that captures pollen, dust, and other particulates before they trigger immune responses. This simple intervention effectively reduces symptom severity without requiring pharmaceutical interventions that might become unavailable or cause unwanted side effects during emergency situations requiring full alertness.

26. Hair and Nail Strengthening

Extended nutritional challenges during emergencies often manifest as visible changes to hair and nail quality. Topical tallow application provides concentrated nutrient delivery directly to these structures, supporting protein integrity through essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins naturally present in properly rendered animal fat. Regular application after bathing maximizes absorption effectiveness, helping maintain normal appearance and structural integrity despite dietary limitations during extended emergency scenarios.

27. Nutritional Enhancement

The nutritional profile of tallow includes fat-soluble vitamins and specific fatty acids increasingly recognized for their health benefits. Using tallow as a cooking medium for appropriate foods enhances flavor while improving nutritional density—particularly important during stress periods when metabolic demands increase. The concentrated energy content also provides sustained caloric value during high-exertion activities common in emergency response or evacuation scenarios when maintaining physical performance becomes operationally critical.

28. Plant Irritant Treatment

Wilderness operations frequently involve contact with irritant plants like poison ivy, oak, or sumac. Tallow application to affected areas creates a barrier that prevents urushiol (the irritating oil) from continuing to interact with skin tissues while potentially drawing existing compounds away from the dermis. This intervention reduces symptom development and severity when conventional treatments remain unavailable—allowing continued operational effectiveness despite accidental exposure during outdoor activities.

While modern preppers often focus on commercially produced supplies, traditional resources like tallow offer exceptional versatility that might prove invaluable when conventional options disappear. The applications outlined represent generations of practical knowledge refined through necessity—providing proven solutions that remain effective regardless of infrastructure availability or supply chain functionality.

What’s your experience with tallow in preparedness applications? Have you incorporated this traditional resource into your emergency planning? Share your insights in the comments below.

9 Beneficial Effects of Sodium Bicarbonate

As you already know, prepping is also about using what’s at hand. But a real prepper knows what to store in order to have it all at hand. Take sodium bicarbonate for example.

Sodium bicarbonate is very useful in treating stomach acid problems such as gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Gastritis means inflammation of your stomach lining.

Think about it, the stomach is a gastric pit with a pH that can fall as low as 2. This gastric acid pit can dissolve meats, yet it does not dissolve itself…why? The reason is the lining of the stomach secretes a mucous film filled with sodium bicarbonate that helps protect its cells from the acid produced by other cells in the stomach.

Sodium bicarbonate is a very strong base or alkaline solution…the opposite of an acid. It effectively neutralizes the stomach acid before it reaches the wall of the stomach. When this does not happen, the acid eats away irritates the stomach lining, and leads to gastritis.

When this is long-lasting and severe it will erode a hole in the lining, which is an ulcer.

In a postapocalyptic scenario, there will be many opportunities for treating various conditions with a simple, inexpensive substance such as sodium bicarbonate. It can effectively replace all the medications you will presumably not have available to you, such as the H2 blockers and the Proton Pump Inhibitors that many people currently take such as Pepcid, Zantac, Prilosec, Protonix, Prevacid, etc.

This is a safe and effective way to raise the pH of your stomach and your entire body.

Remember, pH is the way an acid/base balance is measured in your body. A pH of 7 is neutral (water), anything lower than 7 is acidic, and anything higher is alkaline or basic. Since the stomach pH is very low because of the acid it is secreting…and if there is a problem such as gastritis or even ulcers…then we need to raise that pH to allow healing.

Note: Do not take sodium bicarbonate if the powder is not fully dissolved, and never take it when your stomach is full of food and you are bloated. It has the potential to release gases and rupture your intestines.

But let’s not forget what we’re here for. Here’s 9 Beneficial Effects of Sodium Bicarbonate:

1. Increasing pH (making you more alkaline) will help the body’s immune system kill off bacteria.

2. PH controls the speed of our body’s biochemical reactions. pH is responsible for rate control in enzyme reactions in our body as well as the speed of electrical conduction of nerve impulses. Even our mitochondria (the cell powerhouses) suffer under acidic conditions. Enzymes work ideally in a narrow pH range; this is because changes in pH change the way chemical bonds function.

3. Sodium bicarbonate is effective in treating poisonings, chemical exposures, and even overdoses of pharmaceuticals, by canceling out the cardiotoxic (heart-damaging) and neurotoxin-damaging nerves) effect. Most of the body’s waste and toxins are acids, thus your body needs to combine them with alkaline buffers like sodium bicarbonate to neutralize them and excrete them. An increasing acid load lowers the pH and leads to many of the degenerative diseases that Americans currently suffer from such as reflux, kidney stones, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, gout, and heart disease, to name a few.

Sodium bicarbonate is capable of absorbing heavy metals and toxins such as dioxins and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Most patients have dioxins in their body’s tissues. These accumulate over a lifetime and persist in people even without continued exposure. Dioxins are known carcinogens or cancer-causing agents, and greater exposure translates to a greater risk of developing cancer and other health problems. Sick patients often have elevated levels of these and other toxins in their tissues since we are constantly exposed to toxins that have entered our waters and our food chain.

4. Sodium bicarbonate is also effective in radiation damage. It will help prevent radiation damage to the kidneys. Currently, the United States Army is using it for this to protect its troops.

5. Sodium bicarbonate also helps treat radiation-exposed soils to neutralize the damage, where it can be mixed with the top two or three inches of soil where it has been found to bind up radioactive particles for removal and remediation of the soil. At Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, researcher Don York has used baking soda to clean soil contaminated with radioactive uranium. He has shown that sodium bicarbonate binds with this uranium, enabling him to separate it from the soil. Using this method he was able to remove approximately 92 percent of the uranium from contaminated soils.

For us Preppers this is huge; with a generous enough supply of sodium bicarbonate stockpiled, you will be able to make your survival garden once again capable of producing life-sustaining food.

6. Hay fever and chemical and food allergies are also improved with alkalinization of your body with sodium bicarbonate.

7. Headaches and pain relief: Sodium bicarbonate has potent analgesic (pain relieving) properties. Take one teaspoon dissolved in a glass of water. It works very well for migraine headache relief. Migraines are frequently caused by neck pain, sinus and allergy problems, and magnesium deficiency. When taking any medication for a migraine (I highly recommend Excedrin: which is Tylenol, aspirin, and caffeine. (As long as you are not allergic to any of the ingredients or are on a blood thinner of some type, which would be highly unlikely in a post-apocalypse scenario). Take it immediately, as soon as you feel the headache starting.

Most migraineurs learn this eventually; migraines, once they start, cannot be ignored, they always worsen until you are down and vomiting and clutching your throbbing head. Ice packs or anything cold you can apply to your forehead and top of your neck where it meets the base of your skull will help. A dark, quiet area will also help.

8. Earwax: A mixture of sodium bicarbonate and warm water when flushed into the ear gently with a turkey baster or something similar will dissolve and dislodge the wax blocking your ear. Do this several times until it opens up. Some people use some warm mineral oil to get the same result.

9. Constipation and colitis symptoms have been known to improve with the use of sodium bicarbonate enemas. Mix half a cup of sodium bicarbonate in a quart of warm water put it in an enema bag and instill it into your colon. is will act as a natural cleanser and help any bowel irritations as well. I also highly recommend Epsom salt orally for constipation.

All these and hundreds of other practical examples you can find – HERE.

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As you already know, prepping is also about using what's at hand. But a real prepper knows what to store in order to have it all at hand. Take sodium

14 Uses For Bread That Will Blow Your Mind

Bread is a truly wonderful food. It tastes good no matter what you do to it — whether you’re toasting it and slathering it with butter, or covering it in eggs and making French toast for breakfast. Heck, it’s even delicious when you’re eating it completely plain. Bread is a super versatile item in the kitchen when cooking or baking, but what you may not have realized is that even when you’re not eating it, bread can be used for so many other things around the house. There are so many weird things you can do with bread that, after reading this, you’ll want to make sure you always have a loaf in your kitchen, just in case. Basically, to quote the great Oprah Winfrey, “I love bread. I love bread.”

It doesn’t matter if you’re using white bread, multigrain bread, whole wheat, sourdough, or rye — any type will work for these life-changing hacks. Bread of all kinds can be a valuable tool when it comes to cleaning your house (seriously!), and it can actually bring certain foods back to life (more on that in a minute). Honestly, I’m not quite sure why bread hasn’t been labeled a superfood yet, because it deserves the title.

Check out these weird things you can do with bread, and prepare to see this item differently for the rest of your life.

1 Remove Stains

Sometimes, cleaning requires products full of chemicals and bleach that will destroy everything in its path. Other times, though, you’ll be just fine with a natural cleaner — in fact, you may even be better off. According to Country Living, bread is an excellent natural cleaner. White bread or rye bread rolled into a ball is basically an eraser that can lift stains off walls, wallpaper, kitchen cabinets, and more. The site advises dabbing gently at the surface with the rolled-up bread ball, and you’ll notice the smudges and marks disappear.

2 Soak Up Grease Spills

Bread doesn’t just get rid of smudges or tiny marks. It’s also incredibly helpful in soaking up annoying grease stains, which can be difficult to get rid of. Simply take a piece of bread and lay it over the stain, pressing gently until it goes away.

3 Treat Calluses

According to Fluster Buster, bread is a lifesaver when it comes to fixing calluses and other various foot ailments. For calluses and corns, you can soak a piece of bread in apple cider vinegar, then place it on the callus. Tape the bread in place, cover it in plastic wrap, and let it sit overnight.

For boils, you can soak a piece of bread in some milk, then apply it to the affected area, tape it in place, and allow it to dry overnight — it will drain out the liquid.

4 Prevent Vegetables From Smelling Weird

You know how some vegetables get super smelly when you cook them? (I’m looking at you, broccoli and cauliflower.) You can eliminate that odor with bread. Simply place a piece of bread on top of the vegetables in the pot to get rid of the stinky smell.

5 Revive Stale Marshmallows

Marshmallows are delicious — until they get stale and hard. But if that happens, don’t toss the bag just yet. According to Food and Wine, you can put a squishy piece of bread in a plastic bag with the marshmallows, seal it, and give them a few days to sit. They should become fluffy again, just like magic.

6 Remove Splinters

Removing splinters with tweezers can be painful. Using bread, you can make a poultice that gets the job done. According to Genius Kitchen, you can fold a handkerchief along the diagonal, place the bread on the handkerchief, pour boiling water over the bread (don’t let it get dripping wet), and then let it cool slightly. Place it over the splinter. Tie the ends of the handkerchief around the part of your body where the splinter is, elevate that body part if possible, and keep the bread on there as long as you can. You can repeat if necessary, until the splinter is close to the surface of your skin and easily removable with tweezers.

According to The Farmer’s Almanac, you can also soak bread in cool milk, press out the milk, and apply the bread to the affected area, then tape it there, and let sit for a few hours or overnight. After, the splinter will have risen close to the surface of your skin, or (if it’s not that deep of a splinter), it may be removed from your skin completely. Easy peasy!

7 Clean Old Paintings

If you have old paintings in your house, you’ll notice that they might get full of smudges, dust, or dirt. The best way to clean them is actually with bread. According to The Brick House, you can rub the soft spot of white bread all over the painting. Be gentle, and just run the bread over the surface. It kind of works like a sponge to pull off grime and dust.

8 Make Bread Art

If you really want to get creative, look into bread art. There are basically a million different ways to mold bread into something aesthetically pleasing. You might not want to eat it when you’re done, but you will want to put it on display for everyone to see!

9 Cut Onions Without Crying

No one enjoys cutting onions because of how much they burn your eyes, leaving you teary. Apparently though, bread can help. If you put a piece of bread in your mouth while cutting, it will absorb the sulfates that cause the tears.

The Farmer’s Almanac also suggests spearing a piece of stale bread with your knife and sliding it up to the end of the blade near the handle to absorb the sulfates.

10 Fix Burnt Rice

Burning rice happens to the best of us. Unfortunately, it’s not very tasty… at all. But bread can make things better! The Healthy Home Economist recommends putting a slice of bread on top of the rice, covering it, and letting it finish cooking. Use a regular slice of bread instead of crust. The bread will absorb any burnt taste that might be there.

11 Pick Up Broken Glass

Picking up tiny pieces of broken glass can be made easier with a piece of bread. Simply press it gently on the area, and it will snatch up all the teensy pieces.

12 Clean A Coffee Grinder

To clean out a coffee grinder, The Farmer’s Almanacrecommends pinching off three or four small pieces of stale bread, grinding them in your grinder, dumping the crumbs, and then wiping the inside of the grinder clean. Voila!

13 Keep Cake Fresh

Once a cake is cut, it can get stale quickly. To keep it fresh, simply put a piece of bread against the cut part and leave it there.

14 Skim The Fat Off Soup

If you notice a lot of fat on the top of your soup, you can easily get rid of it by skimming a piece of bread along the top. It absorbs the oil and grease quickly in a mess-free way.

Honestly, I’m beginning to feel like there’s no problem in life that bread can’t fix.