CATEGORIES

Buffalo Meat or Bison Meat?

Question: Is it Buffalo Meat or Bison Meat?

Answer: Even though referenced in popular folklore and campfire songs, the buffalo did not, in fact, roam in America. The animal commonly referred to as a buffalo, is in fact, the American Bison. Officially, there are two species of buffalo, the African Buffalo and the Asian Buffalo, but these animals are completely unrelated to the American Bison and they don’t even look like Bison. So technically, the Buffalo has never been native to North America.

There was a time when bison had nearly died out in the country’s Bison Belt. Their meat was valued for being rich in nutrients and high in protein, however the real value in bison during the westward movement was the animals’ large and plush hides. A select few small herds survived the near extinction by hiding in isolated areas such as Utah’s Antelope Island or Pelican Valley near Yellowstone National Park. In the early 1900’s, a few ranchers tried to revive the bison by gathering small herds together in order to create a sustainable population. Because of the diligent work of these ranchers to reestablish the bison as a mainstay in North America, the North American Bison is no longer an endangered species.

For the last couple of decades, ranchers and bison enthusiasts alike have worked hard to reintroduce bison as a consumable meat, a delicious alternative to beef.

So, in answer to your question, buffalo and bison are often used interchangeably to describe this delicious meat, but technically, it is “bison” meat.

Tags: bison meat, buffalo meat

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at 8:29 pm and is filed under Q & A. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply

How would you cook tongue?

Question: How would you cook tongue?

- From Anne in Missouri

Answer:

Bison Tongue
by Carrie Sayers, SayersBrook Bison Ranch

Ingredients:

Preparation:
Place Bison tongue in cooking pot, cover with water. Add pickling spices, salt and pepper, apple cider vinegar, and onion. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer until tender. May be served hot with crackers, or sliced cold for finger sandwiches. Serves 4-6.

Enjoy!

Got any tips for a bison meatloaf?

Question: Got any tips for a bison meatloaf?

- From Jack in Arkansas

Answer: You could spice up your Bison Meatloaf with jalapenos — dice up and stuff throughout the loaf. Or go Italian with the below recipe:

Italian Bison Meatloaf with Fresh Basil and Cheese

1 lb. ground Bison
1 c. boiling water
1/2 c. sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil
1/2 c. ketchup
1/3 c. ketchup (keep in a separate dish for spreading over top of loaf)
1 c. seasoned bread crumbs
3/4 c. fresh basil, chopped
1/2 c. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
nonstick cooking spray
2 lg. egg whites
2 cloves garlic, minced

Combine boiling water and tomatoes in a bowl; let stand for 30 minutes or until soft. Drain tomatoes and finely chop. Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a broiler pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for 1/3 cup ketchup. Shape mixture into a 9 x 5 inch loaf on broiler pan. Spread remaining ketchup over top.

Bake for 1 hour or until thermometer inserted in the center registers 160°. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Cut into 12 slices. Serves 6.

What temperature should I set the oven…

Question: I have the bison prime rib that I purchased from you a few weeks ago, and plan to serve it for Christmas dinner. What temperature should I set the oven and approximately How LONG will it take to get to the ideal temp…. I’d like to have it ready as guests arrive, able to slice and serve, without worrying about it cooling off too much, or over cooking trying to keep it warm. any suggestions??

- From Nancy in Pennsylvania

Answer: For a medium roast, use a meat thermometer to 135 degrees in a 350 degree oven, ovens vary as to the time, which is the reason for the thermometer.

For a rare roast, rub the roast with olive oil and fresh minced garlic then sprinkle it liberally with lemon pepper. I put the roast in a shallow baking pan on a rack and into a 500 degree oven for 10 minutes. I turn the oven down to 250 and cook the roast to 120 degrees on your meat thermometer. Take it out and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes then slice. If you wait longer to serve it, I would take the roast out at 10 degrees below rare for beef. It should take about an hour. Make sure you have a good meat thermometer and start checking the roast after 1/2 hour.

Merry Christmas from SayersBrook!

What is the difference when cooking bison compared to beef

Question: What is the difference when cooking bison compared to beef? Thanks!

- From Judy in Cleveland, Ohio.

Answer:

Hi Judy,

Great question! Even though you can really use bison to replace beef in almost any recipe, there is a difference in how you prepare it. Remember that since bison is leaner (and healthier!) it cooks quicker and you are able to cook at a lower temperature.

Buffalo/Bison steaks and burgers are at their very best when done rare or medium (with a pink center). Your meat thermometer should reach 135°F (57ºC) for rare, 145°F (62ºC) for medium rare, or 155° F for medium.

If you oven broil your buffalo/bison, try moving the oven rack a notch lower than you normally would and check on their progress a few minutes sooner than you normally would. You’ll be rewarded with a juicier piece of meat.

If you grill your buffalo/bison, we suggest doing so over medium hot coals at a distance of from four to six inches. Again, a little extra care will reward you with a much juicer meal.

When roasting buffalo/bison, we suggest that you follow the creed “lower and slower.” Lower your oven temperature to cook the meat more slowly. It will shrink less, thereby retaining more natural juice. To be sure that it is done to your liking, we suggest using a meat thermometer – it’s an inexpensive reusable insurance policy.

The rich red color of the buffalo/bison meat is indicative of the higher levels of iron and the lack of marbling (fat). Both of these are GOOD things and are probably among the reasons that you purchased buffalo/bison meat in the first place.

We recommend using more tender cuts of bison meat such as rib-eyes, sirloins and New Your strips when grilling or broiling. Roasts, steaks and chops are better for oven broils and roasting.

Check out a few of our other cooking tips!

Women and Bison Meat

Q: Is bison meat good for women?

A: Yes. Iron is very important to women’s health…and Bison Meat is high in iron (has more iron per serving than beef, chicken, or pork). Women require more iron than males and are susceptible to the iron deficiency condition: anemia. Having low iron levels can also make you feel tired, affect your concentration and increase your risk of infection.

Increased levels of iron in your diet is especially important during pregnancy. Your body makes more blood when you are pregnant because you and your baby are growing and so the pregnant body needs more iron to make healthy blood. Low levels of iron can affect the mom’s health and baby’s growth.

When you choose Bison meat, you are not only getting a meat high in iron, but it is low in fat, calories and cholesterol – a perfect combination for any woman! Plus, it tastes delicious.