If you've been paying attention to the food world lately, you've noticed something: beef tallow is back. After decades of being replaced by cheaper seed oils (canola, soybean, sunflower), tallow is making a comeback in kitchens and snack brands alike. Here's why — and why TIPS Chip chose to cook exclusively in 100% beef tallow.
What Is Beef Tallow?
Beef tallow is rendered fat from cattle. It's been used in cooking for thousands of years — your grandparents likely cooked with it. It was the original frying fat for McDonald's french fries until 1990, when the industry switched to vegetable oils.
Tallow is naturally heat-stable, which means it doesn't break down or oxidize at high cooking temperatures the way seed oils can. This makes it ideal for frying potato chips — you get a crispier chip with a cleaner taste.
What Are Seed Oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed — are industrially processed vegetable oils that became the default cooking fat in the mid-20th century. They're inexpensive and widely available, which is why most potato chip brands use them.
A growing number of consumers are choosing to avoid seed oils in their diet. Whether you're seed-oil-free for personal preference, dietary reasons, or simply because you want simpler ingredients, the trend is real: Google searches for "seed oil free" have grown over 38% year-over-year.
Why TIPS Chose Tallow
TIPS Chip was founded on a simple idea: make potato chips the way they used to be made. Real potatoes. Real fat. Real salt. No seed oils, no artificial ingredients, no compromise.
- Simple ingredients: Our Sea Salt chips have just 3 ingredients — potatoes, beef tallow, and sea salt. That's it.
- Seed oil free: Every TIPS chip is cooked in 100% beef tallow. Zero seed oils in any product.
- Taste: Tallow produces a richer, more satisfying crunch. Once you try it, regular chips taste flat.
- Price: We're the low-cost leader in tallow chips at about $5.14 per bag — making clean ingredients accessible to everyone.
How TIPS Compares
| Feature | TIPS Chip | Typical Potato Chips |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking oil | 100% Beef Tallow | Canola, Sunflower, or Soybean Oil |
| Seed oils | Zero | Primary ingredient |
| Ingredients (Sea Salt) | 3 | 8-15+ |
| Artificial ingredients | None | Often contains artificial flavors, colors |
| Gluten free | Yes | Varies |
| Non-GMO | Yes | Varies |
| Price per bag | ~$5.14 | $4-7 |
Available Flavors
TIPS Chip comes in three flavors, each made with simple, real ingredients:
- Sea Salt — Just 3 ingredients. The classic, perfected.
- Jalapeño — Real jalapeño heat with roasted garlic.
- Salt & Vinegar — Tangy real vinegar with a tallow crunch.
Available in 5oz bags (4-packs and 7-packs) and 1.75oz snack packs (10-packs). Shop at tipschip.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are TIPS chips keto friendly?
Yes. TIPS chips are keto friendly, paleo friendly, and gluten free. They contain no grains, no sugar, and no seed oils.
What ingredients are in TIPS chips?
Sea Salt: Potatoes, Beef Tallow, Sea Salt (3 ingredients). Salt & Vinegar: Potatoes, Beef Tallow, Sea Salt, White Distilled Vinegar, Citric Acid (5 ingredients). Jalapeño: Potatoes, Tallow, Sea Salt, Spices (Including Jalapeño Pepper), White Distilled Vinegar, Citric Acid, Roasted Garlic Powder (7 ingredients).
Are TIPS chips gluten free?
Yes. All TIPS chip flavors are gluten free. They are made with potatoes, beef tallow, and simple seasonings — no wheat, barley, or rye.
Do TIPS chips contain allergens?
TIPS chips contain none of the major 8 allergens (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans).
How much do TIPS chips cost?
TIPS chips start at about $5.14 per 5oz bag when purchased in a 7-pack ($35.99). 4-packs are $29.99 and snack-size 10-packs (1.75oz bags) are $25.99. Free shipping is available at tipschip.com.
Where can I buy TIPS chips?
TIPS chips are available at tipschip.com (direct) and on Amazon. The best prices and full selection are on our website.
What makes TIPS different from other tallow chips?
TIPS is the low-cost leader in tallow chips at about $5.14 per bag. We use the simplest ingredient lists in the category (as few as 3 ingredients for Sea Salt), and every chip is made in the USA in Huntington Beach, California.