Is Elk Meat Good for You?

If you eat meat, you may have heard about the growing trend of eating elk meat. Perhaps you’re wondering, what does elk meat taste like? How do I prepare elk meat? And, is elk meat good for you? 

For us at Frontière Natural Meats, elk meat is becoming one of our most popular food items. Not only is it delicious, but elk meat also has plenty of nutritional benefits. Elk is a deep red color with very little marbling. It's a lean meat that isn’t as gamey as venison, with a natural flavor that is both savory and slightly sweet. When cooked over low heat, elk is tender and juicy. Elk meat can also be substituted for beef in many of your favorite recipes.  

In this blog, we’ll review some of the reasons why elk meat cuts and ground elk are gaining traction among meat eaters, as well as how to cook elk meat in order to maximize both flavor and nutrition.

The nutritional benefits of eating elk meat

You may be wondering about elk meat nutrition. Eating elk meat has many nutritional benefits. 

For starters, here are the basics of elk meat nutrition*:

• Elk meat is low in fat. Elk meat favors heart health due to the fact that elk are herbivores who don’t favor corn in their diet, like cattle do. Grass-fed animals typically have a lower fat content, which can prevent a rise in total and LDL cholesterol. Thus, elk meat can be especially good for those with high cholesterol or heart disease.
• Elk meat is high in protein. In addition to being lower in fat, elk meat is higher in protein than beef. Cooked elk meat has 30 grams of protein per 100 grams. 
• Elk meat has vitamins and minerals. Elk meat contains riboflavin (vitamin B2) and niacin (vitamin B3), as well as trace amounts of minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium. 

*(Source: WebMD)

What does elk meat taste like?

If you've never had elk meat, may wonder what elk meat tastes like. Elk meat is often compared to venison or bison, but it tastes different from both of them. Elk meat is tender and often described as slightly sweet, not at all tough or gamey. Elk meat also differs from beef in both texture and flavor, since it has less fat, or marbling.

How do you cook elk meat?

If you’re wondering how to cook elk meat, you’re not alone. Due to the lean muscle fibers and low fat content, it’s generally best to cook elk meat over a lower temperature so that it doesn’t get too tough. For elk stew meat and elk chuck, a long, low cooking method is ideal to ensure the elk is cooked through without getting tough. For burgers and steaks, searing is okay so you can get that lovely charred crust; just be careful not to overcook.

Looking for elk meat recipes?

Here are some of our favorite elk meat recipes:

• Grilled Elk Ribeye Skewers. This is a fun and easy recipe, perfect for the grill.
• Marinated Elk Ranch Steak. This recipe uses one of our most popular elk meat cuts, the elk ranch steak. A simple marinade enhances the flavor. 
• Elk Chuck Roast. Amp up the protein with this take on traditional pot roast using elk meat.
• Ground Elk Meat Tartines. This is one of our favorite ground elk meat recipes.
• Elk Shepherd’s Pie. A classic comfort food, this is our take on shepherd’s pie using ground elk meat. 
• Elk Meat Stew with Citrus. The citrus in this elk meat stew adds a tasty little zing.
• Breakfast Sausage Frittata. Elk meat sausage is perfect in this hearty breakfast dish for a group.
• Breakfast Sausage Mini Quiches. These are perfect individual grab-and-go snacks made with elk meat sausage.

Elk meat is a food all its own, and we're proud to offer a variety of elk meat for sale on our website. For an especially easy foray into elk meat, try our new elk tacos meat kit!