Just How Big is a Bison Heart? Exploring the Impressive Size and Nutrition of This Prized Organ

The bison heart is truly a magnificent organ, both in sheer physical size and nutritional density. Historically prized by Native Americans and early frontiersman as an excellent source of protein the bison heart delivers ample lean meat along with vital nutrients. But just how big is this vital muscle? Let’s take a closer look at the exceptional proportions and health benefits of the bison heart.

Average Weight and Dimensions

On average, the heart of a mature bison bull weighs between 5-8 pounds. Some exceptionally large hearts in big bulls can tip the scales at 8-10 pounds or more. To put that into perspective, the average adult human heart is about 1 pound in weight.

A bison heart is about 12 to 18 inches long, 8 to 12 inches wide, and 6 to 8 inches thick. Two inches wide is the aorta that comes out of the top of the heart. 5-3. 5 inches. Overall, it’s a very sizeable organ.

Just like our own hearts the bison heart is made up of four chambers and serves the crucial function of pumping blood throughout the body. But the bison heart has adapted to meet the high cardiovascular demands of these enormous athletic animals.

Nutritional Benefits

With its substantial size comes an impressive nutritional payload. A 3 ounce serving of bison heart provides around 163 calories, with the majority coming from high-quality lean protein.

In fact, bison heart is one of the most protein-dense cuts available, containing around 26 grams of protein per 3 ounce serving. That’s the same amount of protein found in a comparable serving of sirloin steak.

Bison heart also has a lot of important vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc, selenium, niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Iron supports healthy blood and energy levels, while zinc boosts immune function. B vitamins aid metabolism and nerve cell communication.

When it comes to fat and cholesterol, bison heart is lower than many other red meats. A 3 ounce serving contains around 4 grams of total fat, with 1.5 grams as saturated fat, and 78 milligrams of cholesterol.

The Heart in Native American Culture

Among Native American tribes including the Lakota, Cheyenne and Blackfeet, the bison heart held special cultural significance. After a successful hunt, the heart would be presented to the chief or elders as a show of respect.

It was thought that eating the heart of a bull would give warriors courage and strength before a battle. Women who were pregnant ate dried bison heart to make their unborn children healthy and strong.

Beyond its cultural importance, bison heart was treasured for its sheer life-sustaining nutrition. It was often eaten immediately after the kill or dried into “wasna”, a protein-packed pemmican that helped tribes endure the harsh prairie winters.

Popularity Persists Among Modern Hunters

Today, the heart remains a favorite cut among hunters harvesting wild game like deer, elk and antelope. The bison heart especially is sought after due its large size and rich flavor.

After field-dressing their quarry, many hunters will pack out the heart first since it starts to degrade quickly. Once home, the heart is often prepared soon after the hunt. Quick-cook methods like grilling, pan-frying or braising keep the meat tender.

In recipes, bison heart can be substituted in place of other animal hearts like beef or lamb. Thinly sliced heart fried up with onions makes a tasty taco filling. Heart skewers over the grill or campfire make an excellent trailside snack.

For the ultimate in tradition, try bison heart stew or chili using the techniques of indigenous cultures. Slow cooking brings out the full depth of flavor.

Purchasing Bison Heart from Ranches

While hunters can harvest wild bison heart when legally permitted, regulations tightly control wild bison populations. A more accessible option is to purchase heart from a bison ranch.

Many ranches process their own animals and offer cuts like heart, liver, tongue and marrow bones for sale. Quality ranchers follow humane harvesting practices and handle the meat carefully to ensure safety.

When buying directly from ranches, expect to pay around $3-6 per pound for bison heart. It’s significantly cheaper than more common cuts like ground or steak. Heart is sold fresh or frozen in 1-2 pound packages.

Look for heart that is bright red with minimal fat or connective tissue. Store fresh heart for 2-3 days max and frozen heart 6-12 months. Thaw frozen heart in the refrigerator before cooking.

Cooking and Preparing Bison Heart

While nutritious and flavorful, bison heart does require special preparation due to its dense, muscular nature. Here are some tips:

• Slice heart across the grain into thin 1/4 inch cuts for faster cooking.

• Marinate overnight in an acidic marinade to help tenderize.

• Choose high-heat and moist cooking methods like grilling, sautéing, broiling or braising.

• Cook quickly over very high heat just until medium rare, around 140°F internal temperature.

• Slow cook using a crockpot or braise in broth if preparing stews or chili.

• Chill leftovers and slice thinly for sandwiches or salads the next day.

A Specialty Cut Worth Seeking Out

In conclusion, the hearty bison heart is one of the most impressive organs found in nature. Weighing up to 10 pounds or more, this mild-flavored muscle is among the most nutritious cuts available.

Seeking out bison heart is worth the effort for the exceptional protein content, richness of vitamins and minerals, and culinary versatility. Use traditional Native American techniques or give gourmet recipes a try. This special meat is sure to provide a memorable and delicious experience.

Frequency of Entities:

bison heart: 21 times
heart: 16 times
protein: 5 times
meat: 4 times
vitamin: 3 times
iron: 2 times
zinc: 2 times
nutrient: 2 times