The Differences Between Bison and Beef

Bison is delicious. At Omaha Steaks, we have an obvious focus on steaks and burgers made from beef, but bison steaks have a special place in our hearts (and on our plates), too. Most people aren’t as familiar with bison, though, and there are some questions you may have before buying bison steaks.

Bison Steaks

Bison steaks are cut more or less identically to the beef steaks you’re used to — you’ll find bison filet mignon, bison ribeye, bison T-bones, and just about anything else at a good butcher. The differences between those steaks are similar, as well. The filet mignon is the most tender bison steak, the ribeye has the most marbling, the top sirloin is naturally leaner, etc. Ground bison or bison burgers are made just like beef burgers, too.

Taste

Bison tends to have a lighter, more delicate flavor than beef, a flavor some describe a slightly sweeter. Bison meat is considerably high in iron, too, which gives it a unique flavor that many people describe as “earthy” or “mineral.” This flavor is not overwhelming, though — bison is not “gamey” in the slightest.

Color/Appearance

That high iron content in bison gives the raw meat a beautiful bright red color. When cooked, it sears and browns similarly to beef and may not look any different on the plate.

Preparation

Cooking bison is just as easy as cooking beef. Bison steaks can be grilled, pan-seared, cook sous vide, or any combination of these methods. The target cooking temperatures for rare, medium-rare, etc. are the same. Try one of these healthy bison steak recipes from our executive chef team. Cook bison burgers exactly as you would any burger – here are our secrets of grilling the perfect burger. Consider the flavor differences when choosing your seasoning, but no special techniques will be needed.

Nutrition

Bison tends to have fewer calories and fat per serving than its beef counterparts, making it a frequent choice of the health-conscious eater. It’s also high in iron, rich in selenium — which helps naturally fight inflammation and acts as an antioxidant — and plentiful in other vitamins vital and helpful to the human body. Here’s how a number of bison steaks stack up next to beef:

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2014 and has been updated for freshness and comprehensiveness.