Game meat , bison, top sirloin, separable lean only, 1" steak, cooked, broiled
Whole food · Lamb, Veal, and Game Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a lean, premium cut of bison, broiled to a rich, deep mahogany crust with a tender, juicy interior. Its flavor is distinctly beefy yet cleaner and slightly sweeter, with a subtle minerality that sets it apart from conventional beef. Nutritionally, it's a powerhouse, delivering an exceptional 28 grams of high-quality protein with minimal fat for just 171 calories per 100g.
Calorie split: 69% protein · 0% carbs · 31% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its robust, clean beef flavor that's less fatty and gamey than other wild meats, making it an approachable yet exciting alternative. It's prized for its versatility—it takes beautifully to simple grilling with just salt and pepper, letting the quality of the meat shine.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its extreme leanness means it can dry out quickly if overcooked, leading to a tough, chewy texture. To counteract this, use a meat thermometer to pull it at 130-135°F for medium-rare, and consider a brief, high-heat sear followed by a lower-temperature finish. It's also a red meat, so those monitoring saturated fat intake should practice portion control.
Key benefits
- Exceptionally high in complete protein for muscle maintenance and satiety.
- Very low in calories and fat compared to beef sirloin.
- Rich in iron, zinc, and B vitamins, especially B12.
- Naturally free of carbohydrates and sugars.
- Typically raised without hormones or antibiotics.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
A 3-ounce serving of bison provides more iron than the same serving of chicken, and its fat profile contains more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid studied for its potential health benefits.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 65.1 g |
| Energy | 171 kcal |
| Energy | 714 kj |
| Protein | 28.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 5.7 g |
| Ash | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 5.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 3.5 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 27.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 253 mg |
| Potassium, K | 387 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 53.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 5.1 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.21 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 41.2 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.23 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.45 mg |
| Niacin | 5.6 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.56 mg |
| Folate, total | 18.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 18.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 18.0 ug |
| Vitamin B-12 | 2.8 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.20 mg |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.4 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.10 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.0 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.09 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.2 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 2.2 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.11 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 2.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.02 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.27 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.20 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.03 g |
| Cholesterol | 86.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.21 g |
| Threonine | 1.3 g |
| Isoleucine | 1.4 g |
| Leucine | 2.4 g |
| Lysine | 2.6 g |
| Methionine | 0.76 g |
| Cystine | 0.33 g |
| Phenylalanine | 1.2 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.95 g |
| Valine | 1.5 g |
| Arginine | 1.9 g |
| Histidine | 1.0 g |
| Alanine | 1.9 g |
| Aspartic acid | 2.7 g |
| Glutamic acid | 4.6 g |
| Glycine | 1.8 g |
| Proline | 1.4 g |
| Serine | 1.2 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.35 g |
FAQ
How does bison taste different from beef?
Bison has a richer, slightly sweeter, and more 'mineral' flavor than beef. It's often described as cleaner-tasting with a hint of earthiness, and it's noticeably leaner, which can make it less greasy.
How should I cook a bison top sirloin steak?
Due to its low fat, bison cooks faster than beef. The best methods are high-heat, quick cooking like grilling, broiling, or pan-searing. Cook to medium-rare (130-135°F internal temp) and let it rest for 5-10 minutes to retain juices.
Is bison meat healthier than beef?
Generally, yes. Bison is typically lower in calories, total fat, and saturated fat while being higher in protein, iron, and B vitamins. It's often raised on pasture without added hormones or antibiotics, which some consumers prefer.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 1.71 kcal/g · 66% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.14 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.