Meat

Brain

Beef brain is extremely soft, high in fat, and mild when soaked and poached—classically crumbed and fried, or used in tacos de sesos and other traditional dishes. Food-safety and BSE-era rules restrict brain sale in many countries; where legal, buy from inspected sources and cook thoroughly per local guidance. It is prized for custardy texture in cultures that kept head cookery alive. Soak in cold water or milk, remove membranes, then poach gently before frying or scrambling with eggs. Handle carefully—the texture falls apart if boiled hard.

Track this ingredient

Quantity

Unit

Kg Liters Whole

Note

Characteristics

Preparations

FreshFriedPoachedScrambledSoaked

Traits

CustardyMild When PreparedOrganRegulatedRestricted AvailabilitySoak And CookTraditionalVery Soft

Nutrition

Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.

Nutrition Facts

Per 100 g edible portion

Calories 265

Amount per 100 g

Total Fat 28.5 g
Saturated Fat 11.1 g
Trans Fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 4.8 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.12 g
Cholesterol 579 mg
Sodium 56.5 mg
Salt 0.16 g
Total Carbohydrate 0 g
Dietary Fibre 0 g
Total Sugars 0 g
Complex / starch 0 g
Protein 11.7 g
Water 55.7 g

Detailed nutrients

Energy 265 kcal
Water 55.7 g
Protein 11.7 g
Fat 28.5 g
- Saturated Fat 11.1 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 4.8 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 3.12 g
  - Omega-3 0.31 g
- Trans Fat 0.2 g
Vitamins 37.7 mg
- Vitamin A 15 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.07 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.17 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 4.68 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.5 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.33 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 2.1 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 9.4 µg
- Vitamin B12 — Cobalamin 1.2 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 0.2 µg
- Vitamin E 0.35 mg
- Vitamin K 1.7 µg
Minerals 354 mg
- Major Minerals 353 mg
  - Calcium 33 mg
  - Sodium 56.5 mg
  - Potassium 263 mg
- Trace Minerals 1.5 mg
  - Iron 1.5 mg
Salt 0.16 g
Cholesterol 579 mg

Vitamins

vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-b12-cobalamin: 1.2 · vitamin-a: 15 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.07 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.17 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 4.68 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.5 · vitamin-b6: 0.33 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 2.1 · vitamin-b9-folate: 9.4 · vitamin-d: 0.2 · vitamin-e: 0.35 · vitamin-k: 1.7 ·

Minerals

Sodium: 56.52 · Potassium: 263 · Calcium: 33 · Iron: 1.5 ·

Brain is unusually rich in structural lipids and cholesterol compared with lean muscle.

History

1700

Calf’s and beef brains featured in European classical and peasant head cookery.

1990

BSE controls sharply limited cattle brain in the human food chain in many markets.