Meat
Bison
Bison (American buffalo) is a lean red meat with a clean, slightly sweet beef-like flavour and lower intramuscular fat than grain-finished beef. Farmed and ranch-raised animals supply steaks, roasts, and ground meat popular in North American specialty markets. Quick cooking for prime cuts and moist methods for tougher pieces preserve tenderness. Grass-finished bison is darker and more aromatic than grain-finished product.
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Cuts & parts
Breeds & varieties
A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
Characteristics
Preparations
Provenance
Sources
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 11.7 g
- Saturated Fat 5.26 g
- Trans Fat 0.2 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 4.68 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 1.04 g
- Cholesterol 72.3 mg
- Sodium 61.8 mg
- Salt 0.16 g
- Total Carbohydrate 0 g
- Dietary Fibre 0 g
- Total Sugars 0 g
- Complex / starch 0 g
- Protein 21.1 g
- Water 59.5 g
- Energy 205 kcal
- Water 59.5 g
- Protein 21.1 g
- Animal Protein 20.1 g
- Fat 11.7 g
- Saturated Fat 5.26 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 4.68 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 1.04 g
- Trans Fat 0.2 g
- Vitamins 42.6 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.07 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.18 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 4.88 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.53 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.35 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 2.1 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 6.8 µg
- Vitamin B12 — Cobalamin 3.4 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 0.2 µg
- Vitamin E 0.25 mg
- Vitamin K 1.8 µg
- Minerals 352 mg
- Major Minerals 340 mg
- Trace Minerals 12.3 mg
- Salt 0.16 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.16 g
- Cholesterol 72.3 mg
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-b12-cobalamin: 3.4 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.07 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.18 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 4.88 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.53 · vitamin-b6: 0.35 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 2.1 · vitamin-b9-folate: 6.8 · vitamin-d: 0.2 · vitamin-e: 0.25 · vitamin-k: 1.8 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 61.82 · Potassium: 229 · Calcium: 49 · Iron: 3.9 · Zinc: 3.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Muscle meat is protein-dense with variable marbling fat.
In the kitchen
Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Bison.
Usually avoid with
Often clash in flavour or tradition
Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains relied on American bison for meat, hides, tools, and cultural life for millennia.
Commercial overhunting collapsed wild herds; conservation later rebuilt populations from remnant stock.
Ranch bison production expanded as a specialty red meat alternative to conventional beef.
Retail and restaurant demand for lean bison steaks and burgers grew across North America and export markets.