The Grass Fed Beef Taste Test

The primary two questions that I’m typically requested by individuals who hear about my household’s experiences elevating grass fed beef and about my e-book Grass Fed Cattle is:

Does grass fed beef truly style any totally different than grain fed beef?
Which tastes higher?

The quick reply is that, sure, there’s a important distinction in taste between grass fed and grain fed beef. The explanation, as I will focus on intimately under, comes right down to the superior taste of the meat fats in grass completed animals.

And which is best – grass fed or grain fed? Whereas this finally is a matter of non-public desire, I positively favor beef that is been grass completed. However relatively than take my phrase for it since I am clearly biased, take the grass fed taste-test challenge for your self and weigh in with what your style buds favor!

What offers grass fed beef its superior taste?

Weight-reduction plan issues. Beef taste displays what cattle eat.

However the important thing distinction in taste just isn’t brought on by the meat, however relatively by the meat fats hidden deep throughout the beef fibers.

As most cooks will let you know, the first supply of taste in all meat comes from the fats. It does not take a lot fats so as to add taste, however with none fats, there may be NO taste.

And cattle eating regimen has a huge effect on what micro-nutrients are discovered within the fats. A eating regimen wealthy in recent inexperienced pasture crops is solely going to have a special nutrient profile in comparison with a eating regimen wealthy in grain, hay and silage. That modifications what micro-nutrients will likely be discovered within the beef fats, which in flip modifications how the meat fats tastes.

The Beta-Carotene Instance

For instance of how cattle eating regimen impacts the micro-nutrients contained inside beef fats, let us take a look at a single easy instance: beta carotene. It is the proper instance as a result of, in contrast to nearly all of micro-nutrients inside beef which can’t be seen with the bare eye, you’ll be able to truly SEE how beta-carotene impacts beef fats!

Cattle completed on barley have very white fats. Cattle completed on corn have yellowish fats. And cattle completed on grass pastures with none grains have fats that’s even richer yellow.

That coloration comes from beta-carotene (an vital anti-oxidant and the precursor to vitamin-A), which is basically absent in barley, present in small quantities in corn, and is current in a lot larger concentrations in a grass pasture eating regimen. It is the identical plant pigment that makes carrots orange. Inexperienced grass could not look orange, but it surely’s loaded with beta-carotene.

Beta-carotene is solely one among many micro-nutrients which can be extra considerable in beef raised on a grass eating regimen (you have additionally in all probability already heard that grass fed beef is far larger in omega-3 fatty acids). When the impact of all these micro-nutrients are added collectively, it is no surprise that beef raised on a pasture-diet goes to style totally different than beef fattened on a grain-based feed ration.

Yummy Fats

After I eat grass fed beef, I like consuming the fats as a result of I like the flavour. However, after I eat grain-fed beef, I are inclined to trim off as a lot of the fats as doable as a result of I do not like the flavour of grain-fed fats – I discover it bland.

This distinction in fats taste additionally explains why grass-fed beef smells extra wealthy and fragrant when it’s grilled, boiled or pan-fried. So it is the flavour of the fats that leads me to favor the style of grass fed beef.

However do not take my phrase for it, attempt it for your self!

Take the Grass Fed Style Take a look at Problem:

Which taste do you favor: grass fed or grain fed?

This is the taste-test problem:

1. Purchase 2 steaks – the identical precise lower, one grass-fed and one grain-fed. Be sure to know which is which whenever you prepare dinner them.

2. Stick them on the barbecue with just a bit salt and pepper and nothing else (on this take a look at you wish to maintain it easy so you’ll be able to acknowledge the flavors of the meat, not obscure them beneath a marinade or sauce).

3. Sear on each side, then flip the warmth to the bottom setting and slow-cook them each to medium uncommon.

The grass-fed steak will prepare dinner barely quicker so watch out to not overcook it. You possibly can study extra about grass-fed cooking instructions by following the hyperlink.

4. When they’re each prepared, lower a number of items of every. Can your style buds inform the distinction?

Take a look at your loved ones and buddies – give them a blind style take a look at; a chunk of every with out telling them which is which till after they’ve weighed in with their opinion!

After which be sure you come again right here and use the feedback field under to weigh in on which taste you most popular!