Bison meat is a delicious and nutritious alternative to beef. It is leaner, lower in cholesterol and calories, and higher in protein. If you want to eat this delicious beef alternative like bison, here are a few tips:
Due to the low-fat content, bison meat can be tough if it is overcooked, so stick with medium rare at minimum for a steak.
Cook low and slow!
When cutting bison steaks, cut it against the grain.
What Does 'Cutting Against the Grain' Mean?
Cutting meat against the grain means slicing it perpendicular to the muscle fibers. This breaks down the muscle fibers and makes the meat more tender. The muscle fibers are long and tough when meat is cut with the grain. This can make the meat more chewy than you may be expecting.
Let's See an Example
Take the flank steak in the picture above as an example. You can see the muscle fibers headed straight down (black arrow). This is where the muscles are aligned; the grain is the direction in which the muscle fibers run. In tougher cuts of bison meat, such as flank, hanger, and skirt steak, the grain is more clearly defined and easier to see compared to a fatty piece such as the ribeye. When cutting against the grain (blue arrow), we are cutting perpendicular to the muscle fibers, which shortens them and makes them easier to chew. This is because the cutting process has already done some of the work of breaking up the muscle fibers.
Cutting Against the Grain Tips and Tricks
There are a few things to keep in mind when cutting bison meat against the grain.
Here are some tips for cutting bison meat against the grain:
Identify the grain of the meat. The grain is the direction in which the muscle fibers run. You can identify the grain by looking at the surface of the meat. The muscle fibers will appear as long, thin lines.
Place the meat on a cutting board.
Use a sharp knife to slice the meat perpendicular to the grain. A dull knife will tear the muscle fibers instead of cutting through them.
Bison meat can be cooked in a variety of ways, including grilling, frying, baking, and roasting. Ready to try some recipes? Check out our blog!
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