Tallow (edible, beef): SAP value and fatty acids
Tallow (edible, beef) has a saponification value of 196 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.140 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.196 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.139725 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.196 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 196 mg KOH/g
- Iodine value
- 46.5
- INS
- 150
- INCI name
- Tallow
Example: 100 g of Tallow (edible, beef) with no superfat needs 14.0 g of 100% NaOH, or 19.6 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are oleic (37.5%) and palmitic (25%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 93.3% of the profile.
On its own it scores 52 for hardness, 4 for cleansing and 42 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 52 : 42.
Fatty-acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of fatty acids | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|
| lauric | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| myristic | 4% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| palmitic | 25% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 22.5% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 37.5% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 3.5% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0.8% | conditioning |
Basis: Codex CXS 211 section 3 (premier jus/tallow column) midpoints; '<x' = x/2; Codex gives C6:0–C12:0 only as a group total of <0.5%, recorded here as lauric 0.
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 52 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 4 |
| Conditioning | 42 |
| Bubbly lather | 4 |
| Creamy lather | 48 |
| Iodine | 47 |
| INS | 150 |
Each score adds up certain fatty acids, the way Soap Ledger scores a whole recipe. They are for comparing recipes; they don't predict how a bar will feel, and they say nothing about safety or skin.
Sources
SAP value: 196 mg KOH/g (Codex CXS 211 range midpoint), from Codex Alimentarius CXS 211-1999, Standard for Named Animal Fats, FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Printed value: 190–202 mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 190–202 mg KOH/g — FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission
- 193–200 mg KOH/g — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
- 196 mg KOH/g — From Nature With Love (soap/cosmetic supplier)
- NaOH 0.1419 / KOH 0.1999 g alkali per g oil — Certified Lye
Fatty acids and iodine: Codex Alimentarius CXS 211-1999, Standard for Named Animal Fats, FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Also checked: USDA Agricultural Research Service (SR Legacy release 2018-04 (bulk CSV food_nutrient.csv); fatty acids in g/100 g food); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Fettwissenschaft (DGF) (Iodine value table).
NaOH and KOH values are converted from mg KOH/g with the molar masses 39.997 and 56.106 and rounded to 6 decimals, exactly as in the Soap Ledger app. Real oils vary by origin, grade and lot: check your supplier's certificate of analysis. Verify every weight before you make this, and follow lye safety. Not a safety or compliance certification.
Last updated .