Cooking meat requires some special care to make it perfect. While overcooking may spoil the taste of meat, undercooking may cause food-borne illnesses. You have to strike the right balance between cooking time, the temperature of cooking, the method of cooking, etc. The outcome will be perfect only if all these aspects are taken care of. This rule is applicable for buffalo meat too. There are certain factors which have to be kept in mind while cooking this meat.
Most people believe that buffalo meat is similar to beef and they tend to cook it in the same way as beef. However,this is not the right method. Buffalo meat and beef are not similar and hence require different rates of temperature for cooking in the right way. Unlike beef, buffalo meat lacks fat, is naturally tender and has its own flavor. The tenderness and flavor of this meat can be enhanced and maintained through the correct cooking method. The following tips may help you in attaining perfection, as far as cooking buffalo meat is concerned.
Buffalo Meat and Cooking Time
Buffalo meat has very low fat content - almost 76% less fat as compared to beef. Hence, there is very less fat to act as an insulator to heat and delay the process of cooking. So, it cooks faster and overcooking can take away the tenderness of the meat. Thus, it becomes very necessary to cook bufallo meat at low to medium temperatures. The ideal cooking range for buffalo meat is considered to be rare to medium, while the internal cooking temperature should range between 135° F - 155° F.
Buffalo Steaks
In case of buffalo steaks, you may resort to various methods like grilling (outdoor or on stove), pan sautéing, broiling, and stir frying. The most important thing to remember is that it should be cooked rare to medium. Cook on low to medium heat and readjust the heat in a regular manner. For outdoor grilling, you can use an instant thermometer to check the internal temperature. The meat should retain some amount of its pink color even after cooking. It will take 6 to 8 minutes for an one inch steak to cook rare, and about 10 to 12 minutes to cook medium. If the steak is 1 ½ inches, then the time taken will be 10 to 12 minutes for rare and 15 to 18 minutes for medium.
Buffalo Roasts
Now we shall discuss the various factors regarding roasting of buffalo meat. Pre-heat the oven to a temperature ranging between 250° F to 275° F. Bring the roast to room temperature and cook at a consistent temperature, preferably between 225° F to 250° F for 6 to 8 hours. Remember to check the internal temperature regularly, with an instant thermometer. 160° F is recommended as an ideal temperature for buffalo roasts. Insert the thermometer into the thickest point of the roast for better results. In case of less tender cuts like, chuck, hump and round roasts, marination can be done to make it tender. Such cuts need a somewhat longer cooking time, as compared to the tender cuts. Searing of roasts helps in retaining moisture. In case of tenderloin, rib eye, and top round roasts, the roasts should be cooked in the rare to medium range only.
Ground Buffalo Meat
In this case, the golden rule is slow cooking with low temperature. Ground buffalo meat originates from a wide range of cuts and are used in a variety of buffalo meat recipes like burgers. Ground buffalo meat can be cooked by grilling, broiling, or pan sautéing. In case of a BBQ or broiler rack, move them one more level above the heat source. Cook until medium. It has been observed that thicker the burger, tastier they become. It does not mean that the burgers should be big enough to be undercooked.
Buffalo meat is also rich in nutrients as it contains proteins, fats, minerals and fatty acids. Studies show that buffalo meat has more iron content than any other meat. Always remember not to eat raw buffalo meat, and cook it properly, before consumption. You can cook buffalo meat with the help of these tips and also can replace red meat with the former in some of the meat recipes.
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