When I first heard that buffalo meat was leaner than chicken, I thought the joke was on me. However, it's true: Due to the fact that buffalo is a wild animal, it has less body fat than its domestic counterpart. Take a look at the buffalo steaks and you'll notice that it lacks the fatty marblization found in beef. Recently, I was invited to an event hosted by the Buffalo Guys, an odd couple who raise free-range organic buffalo. They turn the meat into a variety of products, from hot dogs to steaks.
Being a buffalo virgin, I was incredibly surprised at how good it tasted. The steaks were pink, moist, and meaty. I falsely assumed that buffalo would be gamy or more like lamb. If I hadn't known it was buffalo, I would have guessed the steaks were a lean cut of beef. It's extremely important to properly cook the meat because it can dry out quickly. Generally a buffalo steak cooks a few minutes less than a beef steak.
Check out my photos below and tell me: have you eaten buffalo? What did you think of it?
Vic Matiﾏ
Paul & Joe
Hogan
As a Midwesterner, I first had buffalo as a child in the form of a burger. It really is great stuff...lean and beefy tasting. But it can be a bit tricky to prepare, given that it is so low in fat. Very quick or very slow cooking methods are ideal. Don't pass it up if you get a chance to taste it!
1I love buffalo. It's tasty.
2I eat it all the time its so good!
3We use ground buffalo for our hamburgers and spaghetti. It's delicious and better for us. I didn't love the steaks as much but we have yet to master not overcooking the steaks.
4I'm interested. Does it taste like steak or is it gamey?
5I've had buffalo in a burger once, when I was in Utah on Antelope Island. The park has a number of buffalo running around, and they let the Native American community in the area (I think they're part of the Ute tribe, not sure) hunt the buffalo and sell the meat to the park each year...so the park can sell it to patrons in the form of buffalo burgers. It's a nice system.
Since the buffalo on the island were pretty wild, the meat did taste a bit gamey. I didn't mind though. It tasted fresh and cleaner (not as greasy, with all the fat) than beef. I even bought buffalo jerky! Less calories + no fat = really good hiking snack.
There's not much buffalo to consume for cheap in my area (in Texas, it's pretty much cattle country), but I wouldn't mind using it instead of beef in meals!
6Bison is awwwwwsome! Helen's "home of the hateful burger" I miss you so!
7Buffalo doesn't taste gamey at all. Like Party said, its taste is very similar to that of lean beef. I've had buffalo burgers before, but to be frank, they didn't have enough fat, and let's be real -- that's where all the flavor is! I am game (sorry, had to do the pun) for trying a buffalo steak, though.
8Buffalo's really good. It tastes almost exactly like beef, but I've always found it to be a little... sweeter, I guess.
9Thanks, Yum. I don't know. I, like you, enjoy the fat of a burger. But, I might give it a try anyway.
10Oooh, bison meat is very tasty. I've had it a few times...there are a few bison ranches around here and there are a few restaurants that serve it. I like it because it's grass-fed and has a nice mild flavor to it.
11I love buffalo! so good... burgers, meatloaf, steak... everything!
12Buffalo is tasty. I like the bacon it makes -- very good for breakfast with scrambled eggs. Other cuts work very well as steaks or in stews. The ex did a roast buffalo last Christmas time in a crock pot. Man may have had his faults; cooking was not one of them. It was delicious.
The taste is like beef only beefier -- and watch the cooking time and temp. Plus bison don't get stuffed with all the hormones and stuff cows get. Too bad none of the local grocers or butchers carry it, I have to go way south for it.
13I haven't tried it yet, but I can get it at my local butcher shop. I think I'll pick some up next time!
14I need to try the buff bacon! You know what else is lean and really good...........think of the largest bird in the world........tastes more like beef than chicken!
15It's gonna take a whole lotta bacon to wrap an ostrich, Chief!
16But I tell you.........bacon wrapped big bird could keep me going for a month........and top each menu item with an egg cooked in bacon grease!
17I love Buffalo - not gamey at all, taste like a richer beef.
18Rok offers ostrich too....I think I'll give it a try
19My bf and I agree that the best steak we've ever had is the Bison Delmonico at Ted's Montana Grill. Cooked to a nice medium, it is about the best thing in the world with their fresh pickles and a sweet potato.
I also had the Farmstead Burger at a local bar -- ground bison, sharp cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and a fried over easy egg on top (no mayo). YUM YUM!
20I've had buffalo burgers that were good, but my husband and I passed through Jackson, South Dakota on our honeymoon and he had buffalo ribs for dinner. Either buffalo ribs aren't very good or (and I suspect this was the real issue) the restaurant waaayyy overcooked them. They were dry, gamey, and a bit burned. Blech.
21I live in Colorado where buffalo is a mainstay on many local restaurant menus. I *love* buffalo steak, and think if you're new to the meat you should try it that way instead of ground up in a burger.
MmmMmMm!
22It takes just like hamburger, only leaner. A buffalo burger patty is thinner and denser than a beef patty and doesn't have any greasy or fatty taste. I thought its taste was as good as beef if not better. I recommend it and would easily try it again.
23I enjoy buffalo. Buffalo Guys taste fine. But the premade burgers are a mess. Box says "No reason to thaw".I figured they were indvidually pkged. They aren't. If you don't thaw it you have to cook 2 burgers stuck together, which means they fall apart. I emailed just to let them know the problem: to suggest maybe rewriting directions or pkg individually. The email back wasn't rude, but wasn't friendly, kinda like "duh, why didn't you thaw it?". I will keep eating buffalo, just a different brand. Sorry guys.
24I haven't tried it before but it looks like everyone here has enjoyed it.
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