Game meat, bison, separable lean only, raw

Lean bison is close in appearance and use to lean beef, with a deep red color and a slightly sweeter, more mineral flavor. It is popular ground for burgers, where it is often mixed with a touch of added fat or moisture since the trimmed meat itself is quite lean, and it also works well as steaks, roasts, or in chili and stews. Because there is so little intramuscular fat, bison cooks faster than beef and turns dry if taken past medium, so many cooks sear it hot and brief or braise tougher cuts low and slow with broth, onions, and root vegetables. It pairs naturally with bold, slightly sweet accompaniments like caramelized onions, barbecue glazes, or a red wine reduction.

Choose bison with bright red, firm flesh and no grayish patches, and store it refrigerated briefly or frozen for longer stretches, following standard fresh-meat handling. At 109 calories and just 1.84 grams of fat per 100 grams raw, lean bison delivers 21.6 grams of protein, covering 43% of the daily value, which makes it a straightforward swap into any recipe calling for lean ground beef when the goal is more protein for fewer calories. Sodium is low at 54 milligrams per 100 grams, and the meat also contributes iron at 14% of the daily value, so a simple bison burger or stir-fry rounds out a lean, mineral-rich meal.