The debate on whether bison meat is a healthier alternative to beef is now a subject under scrutiny among meat lovers. Learn about this exciting meat alternative that will set your taste buds tingling.
A bison is an elephantine animal with shaggy hair covering its body in thick layers and a prominent hump on its back. This animal is easily identifiable, and was once thought of as an extinct species although today they are being reared for their meat. A bison and buffalo although not similarly featured are in fact from the same line of ancestors. A bison is also known as an American buffalo which should pretty much conclude that a bison is in fact a kind of buffalo. Cattle on the other hand are an entirely different kind of animal from bison. Bison meat is known for its rich, extraordinary flavor. What is interesting is that bison meat is almost at par with what beef tastes like, although much juicier, tastier and less fattening.
I remember watching a show on the best restaurants around the United States that serve a mean portion of buffalo meat, and this one place had a shocking way of further tenderizing their buffalo meat before it was up for devouring. When the buffalo were being reared pre-slaughter, they were given beer to drink in large portions, where those who brought them up said that it made the meat so tender, it melted in your mouth like molten cheese. Although a harsh way of having your meat done to perfection, it did prove to be a hit among those who visited the restaurant. It has a hint of sweetness in its taste, and is growing in popularity in the United States, being openly available to those who are willing to give this incredibly succulent meat a try.
Nutritional Differences Between Bison Meat and Beef
To really understand how the two differ, it is better that we look over a table with a compact outline of each one’s nutritional content. You be the judge of this, since people who are hardcore beef lovers are willing to try an alternative that is healthier and believe it or not, much more flavorful.
Bison Meat | |
Nutrient Content | Values (Calories= 141.80 Portion= 3 and a half oz.) |
Sodium | 56.60mg |
Fat | 2.35g |
Cholesterol | 81.32mg |
Protein | 28.15g |
Saturated Fat | .89 |
Monounsaturated Fat | .90 |
Beef Meat | |
Nutrient Content | Values (Calories= 281 Portion= 3 and a half oz.) |
Sodium | 60.50mg |
Fat | 19.02g |
Cholesterol | 82.33mg |
Protein | 25.4g |
Saturated Fat | 7.55g |
Monounsaturated Fat | 8.25g |
As you can see, bison meat is also low in cholesterol, fat and saturated fat which when high can prove to be a lethal combination for those who are obese and heart disease prone. Beef can be a bad source of meat for those who have high cholesterol problems, where switching over to bison meat seems like something you’d most likely want to consider. The other plus point of eating bison meat is that these animals are brought up using grass as their main staple food, avoiding its substitution with grains. That is why it is such a healthier alternative since bison are brought up eating healthy organic grass and are comparatively less chunkier than their ‘beefy’ counterparts.
There’s so much you can do with bison meat in terms of cooking up a storm, where any add-on would seriously up the flavor of this meat, being already such a flavorsome food. While beef is slightly tougher than bison meat, it can of course break down and tenderize through a patient timed process of slowly letting it cook, breaking down its fat and juice to make it luscious. Bison meat on the other hand is already tender before it is cooked, making it quite the catch for beef lovers wishing to make a change.
Two tantalizing websites that offer an incredible serving of bison meat are NorthStar Bison and Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Co.. Their dishes, recipes and delivery options will make you swoon. Why not try give it a try using these places as a stepping stone to get you closer to converting into a buffalo-eating junkie? So in the debate of bison meat vs. beef, the clear winner in my books would be the former, although you’d seriously have to first give bison meat a try to make a conclusive decision for yourself. So the next time you decide to eat a hunk of beef, try its cousin instead and find out if it’s worth switching over to. Have a healthy tomorrow.