Comparisons of 3 Premium Lean Meat Options

At NebraskaBison.com and Good Life Premium Meats, we are committed to making top quality, naturally raised and healthy meats more widely available throughout the United States. Each of the three meats we offer (Naturally Raised Elk Meat, 100% Grass-Fed Organic Beef and Responsibly Ranch Raised Bison) are held to the highest standards of quality.

To help you make the best choices for your dinner table and family, using the charts on this page as a guide, let’s take a look at some of the key points for each of these three meats. Note: If you’d like to see a comparison of bison meat to other conventional meats, visit this page.

Nutrition

Each of these three meats (particularly Elk & Bison) are considered to be among the leanest meats widely available. The charts below compare Ground Burger for our Elk (91% lean), Grass-Fed Organic Beef (85% lean) and Bison (90% lean).

Now, obviously ground burger is one of the fattier cuts of meat you will get, no matter the animal. But it’s also one of the most widely used, so it’s important to compare these numbers against conventional meats.


But let’s take a look at how each of these three cuts stand in a leaner cut: steak. The second chart below includes comparisons of 4 oz. servings of our Elk Ranch Steak (which is cut from the round, near the sirloin), Grass-Fed Organic Beef Top Sirloin Steak and Bison Top Sirloin Steak.

As you can see from these two charts, all three meats perform very well on the nutrition scale. Elk and Bison, which are two famously lean proteins, may outshine the Grass-Fed Organic Beef, by containing less fat, calories and sodium.

 

Nutriton Comparison Chart: Elk, Organic Beef, Bison

GLPM Nutrional Comparison Chart: Steak - Elk, Organic Beef, Bison

 

Taste

Taste, of course, is another important consideration in any food comparison, especially when you’re looking to make permanent healthy changes or updates to your diet.

Grass-Fed Organic Beef

This is probably the taste you’re already most familiar with, as Beef is the number one red meat in the United States. However, grass-fed beef will have a slightly different taste than conventionally raised beef. You may notice a taste that could be described as “beefier” “cleaner”, perhaps only slightly “gamey”. Many people love the meatier flavor that grass-fed beef produces.

Premium Elk Meat

Elk may be considered close in taste to venison, however, it will not be as gamey as deer meat. Many people mention that they believe elk is even similar in taste to beef, but again, you’ll want to count on a much meatier, wild taste. For a good frame of reference, you may want to put Elk on a scale part way between deer meat and beef.

Bison

Bison is similar in taste to beef (some people even insist they cannot tell a difference). However, most people agree that it is slightly richer or sweeter taste than conventionally raised beef. While you’ll notice beef to have more of a grainy texture, bison does not, boasting a “cleaner” taste and texture.

Standards

The standards to which our animals are raised are of the utmost importance to us. The animals we raise and the partners we work with uphold strong ethical values for these animals and hold farming practices of very high standards.

Grass-Fed Organic Beef

Grass-Fed Organic Beef from Good Life Premium Meats is 100% grass-fed. Additionally, it meets all USDA organic certification requirements. These beef cattle are raised without the use of growth hormones, antibiotics and GMOs.

Premium Elk Meat

Good Life Premium Meats Elk are free range, raised without growth hormones and antibiotics.

Bison

NebraskaBison.com bison meat is raised naturally, without growth hormones, steroids and antibiotics. Our bison are free range, pasture grazed with plenty of room to roam our Nebraska and Missouri ranches.

Cooking

All three meats, Grass-Fed Organic Beef, Premium Elk Meat and Naturally Raised Bison are all much leaner than conventionally produced meats. This means that extra care should be taken during cooking. Generally, low and slow is a good recommendation – cooking these meats too long or too fast will result in tough, chewy meats that don’t do the quality justice. However, when cooked properly, each of our premium meats should produce juicy, tasty meals!

Try these 4 delicious sauces & aoili's that pair great with Bison Burgers!

Avocado Lime Aoili

•1 Large Avocado

•1/4 cup Cilantro

•1 Clove Garlic

•2 tsp Lime Juice

•1 tsp Salt & Pepper (to taste)

•1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt

Directions: Combine all ingredients and spread on burger.

Peach Heat Chutney

• 2lbs Fresh Peaches

•1 medium red onion

• 1 green or red apple

• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

•1 tsp grated fresh ginger

•1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 7 cardamom pods, ground

•1/4 tsp ground turmeric

•1/4 tsp aniseed

•1 tsp coriander seeds

•1 tsp black pepper

•1 small dried whole red chile

•1 cup brown sugar

•1 cup light brown sugar

Directions: Combine all ingredients in large sauce pan. Cook over low heat until peaches are soft and sauce is boiling. Remove from heat and let cool.

Coffee Dry Rub

•1 1/2 Tbsp ground coffee

•1/2 Tbsp salt

•1/2 Tbsp paprika

•1/2 Tbsp brown sugar

•1/2 Tbsp Pepper

•1/2 Tbsp Onion Powder

•1/2 Tbsp garlic powder

•1/4 Tbsp ground coriander

Directions: Combine all ingredients and rub onto all sides of burger.

Buffalo Hot Sauce

•2/3 cup hot pepper sauce (Franks RedHot)

•1/2 cup unsalted butter

•1 1/2 tbsp white vinegar

•1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

•1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

•1/8 tsp garlic powder

• salt to taste

Directions: Combine all ingredients and drizzle onto burger.