Wagyu Fat Guide: How to Use and Render Wagyu Fat in Cooking

Wagyu is well-known for its exceptional marbling, offering a buttery flavor that melts in your mouth with every bite. For those who want to make the most of the meat, it’s vital to know how to cook with the leftover savory Wagyu fat.

Every portion of a delicious Wagyu steak elevates a meal, including the fat. Read on to better understand how to utilize delicious Wagyu fat in cooking, from frying up some potatoes to baking delicious pastries. 

What Can You Do With Wagyu Fat?

Leftover Wagyu fat doesn’t have to make its way to the trash can at the end of the evening. There are ample ways to take quality Wagyu fat and incorporate it all over your cooking.

Sear 

One of the easiest ways to use wagyu fat is to incorporate it into a seared meat or veggie product. Add it to the dish you’re using to sear a steak, wait for it to break down, and cook as you normally would. The wagyu fat will bring out the flavor in the other proteins. 

Consider searing a Wagyu steak in the Wagyu fat, such as a Miyazaki A5 Wagyu. Or, consider trying a combination of tastes with a Prime Tomahawk.

Fry

Take it a step further and fry your next dish using Wagyu fat. You need a little more of the fat, enough to almost cover what you’re frying. Let it get up to a high temperature and then fry away with the succulent oil. 

Not only does Wagyu have an unforgettable flavor, but it also possesses a high smoke point. This means it’s much easier to fry with than other fat sources.

Create Butter

Make unforgettable butter or tallow by using Wagyu fat as your base. All you need to do is render the fat, which we will discuss later, and mix it with your favorite herbs and seasonings. This process makes a compound butter. If you prefer a plain iteration, you can leave the seasonings and other flavors out of it.

The rendered butter will typically keep in the fridge for around two weeks. In the freezer, it will last upwards of three months. 

Utilize in Sauce and Dressing

Wagyu fat makes an excellent base for your next sauce or dressing. Since it’s very rich and packed with flavor, it makes a quality starting point. Hollandaise, bechamel, and vinaigrettes are sauces and dressings that tend to perform very well with the incorporation of Wagyu fat.

Use the fat to elevate a basic vinaigrette, create a base for a sauce, and even pull together an aioli-like emulsion. It’s a fun opportunity to experiment and see which recipes turn out the best. 

Roast Veggies

Veggies make an excellent pairing with meat fat. Melt the fat down, then toss your favorite veggies in the liquid. Once they are coated and seasoned, roast them as usual and allow all the delicious fat renderings to drip down into the meat. 

Add to Baked Goods

Finally, consider adding your Wagyu fat to your next baked good creation. In a recipe, substitute half the typical butter for Wagyu fat. It will create a deep, buttery goodness that takes a baked good to the next level.

It may sound strange, but Wagyu fat will elevate the richness of your baked goods. It goes especially well in cornbread, shortbread, and more savory baked options. 

How to Render Wagyu Fat

To use Wagyu fat in your cooking, it’s necessary to render it. Luckily, it’s a very simple process to take the leftover fat and make it usable in your next cooking endeavor.

To render the Wagyu fat:

• Trim meat and gristle from the fat

• Chop it into smaller pieces

• Place in a heavy-bottomed pan

• Heat on the lowest heat setting

• Let the fat melt slowly

• Allow to cool, then strain through a mesh

Once the fat cools, place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge.

When the fat is rendered, you can use it for any of the cooking options above. It will ensure your Wagyu fat is ready to go.  

How to Store Wagyu Fat

When stored in the correct container, Wagyu fat can be kept at room temperature, in the fridge, or the freezer. In an airtight container, Wagyu fat can survive at room temperature for up to a year when sealed properly. It can last even longer in the fridge or the freezer.

Of course, improper storage could lead to dangerous Wagyu fat that doesn’t last as long. Take care with your storage methods. 

Is the Fat in Wagyu Good for You?

Everything should be eaten in moderation, including the fat in Wagyu. Many would call Wagyu fat healthy thanks to the inclusion of monounsaturated fatty acids. Thus, it would be considered a good fat though it isn’t a health food by far. 

What is the Difference Between Wagyu Fat and Beef Fat?

Although it might not seem like Wagyu and beef fat are dramatically different, there are some substantial differences. One is tastier and healthier than the other.

Some of the key differences between Wagyu and beef include the following:

• Beef is higher in saturated fat than Wagyu.

• Wagyu fat has a lower melting point.

• Wagyu fast holds a more buttery flavor than beef.

These distinguish the two from each other dramatically. If you want a fat that’s healthier, easier to work with, and tasty, go with Wagyu beef fat. It’s the far superior of the two options.

Where Can You Find Quality Wagyu?

Unfortunately, a quality Wagyu with excellent fat can be tricky to find online or at your local grocery store. Many sellers aren’t honest about the quality, which leaves you with less-than-ideal fat for cooking. Where can you find excellent Wagyu? 

If you want a quality Wagyu steak and top-notch Wagyu fat, check out options from Kolikof Caviar & Gourmet. Here, you can find everything from a classic American Wagyu to an Australian Wagyu Tomahawk. Each product, with tons fat you can use for future cooking, will arrive safely at your front door, cooled and ready for your next meal.