What Does Bear Taste Like?

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Bear meat is eaten any many different ways all around the globe.

However, if you are unaware of what bear tastes like, we can give you a helping hand.

In this article, we will thoroughly discuss what bear tastes like.

We will also go through other aspects of bear meat, such as how is it cooked? Is it healthy? Etc.

What Is A Bear?

The bear is a carnivorous mammal and part of the Ursidae family.

The bear is classified as a doglike carnivore or caniform.

While there are eight extant bear species, they spread worldwide, appearing in different types of habitats throughout the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

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What Does Bear Taste Like?

Eating bear meat might seem weird, but it is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world.

However, what does a bear taste like? The taste of bear meat is a lot like venison.

The meat has a sweet flavour, but the taste depends on the age of the bear.

For example, younger bears have a milder flavor.

The season also impacts the flavor and taste of bear meat.

Coastal Brown Bear

These bears typically eat fish, especially during the fall season.

The meat of the bear has a tangy and strong fishy flavor.

However, if you hunt and eat this bear in the spring months, the meat will taste better.

The reason is that in the spring, these bears are hibernating, and they will usually eat beach grass buds and plants from the coastline.

Grizzly Bear

Some Grizzly bears usually taste like Black bears.

However, Grizzly bears consume more dead animal flesh, meat, fish and carrions than black bears.

This would be apparent in the taste, making Grizzly bear meat less attractive.

Most Grizzly bears live in guarded or confined places, so they are rarely hunted for their meat.

Black Bear

Black bears are omnivorous and usually eat succulent plants, meat, wild berries, grass, larvae and even insects.

The fact these bears are omnivorous reflects in the taste of the meat.

If you want to try bear meat for the first time, go for Black bear meat.

However, picking the right bear hunting season also matters.

Usually, the meat of the black bear carries the taste of the last thing the animal consumed.

How Is Bear Made?

It is important to prepare bear meat properly before cooking it.

Wild game, such as bears, contain roundworms Trichinella, which can cause Trichinosis, a type of parasitic infection, that can enter the intestines and cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

This infection is typically caused by consuming undercooked or raw bear meat.

Once you have killed a bear, you must handle the meat with care to optimize the taste of its meat.

Once the animal is dead, let the meat cool down, especially in the winter season, as the days are warmer.

Once you remove the hide, there will be a thick layer of fats, and you will need to remove the layers.

This process will cool down the meat quickly and prevent it from going bad.

Unlike pork or beef fat, wild game fat can harm the meat’s taste, so you should remove it from the flesh as soon as possible.

Once you bring the bear home, you need to start processing the meat.

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Any fat layers you missed should be dealt with immediately.

Also, you will need to eliminate the hard connective tissues.

How Do You Cook Bear?

Properly clean the bear’s flesh before cooking.

Always cook the meat on high heat at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for external cooking.

It is necessary to maintain an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit for internal cooking.

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There are many ways to cook a bear; however, the preferred method is slow-cooked bear roast.

Let the roast cook until it’s tender, and you can easily pull the flesh apart.

You can also turn bear meat into a loaf, a shepherd’s pie, tortellini soup or stuff the meat with peppers.

What Do You Eat Bear With?

The recipes that go well with bear meat are endless; below, we have discussed a few recipes that you can try:

Hearty Bear Stew

While this stew is typically made with beef, in this case, you can replace beef with bear meat.

Cook the meat at 375 degrees Fahrenheit and then add it to the stew.

Shepherd’s Pie

Once again, you can take the beef out and make this pie with bear meat.

You can also mix many types of vegetables with bear meat.

Savory Pot Roast In A Crockpot

Slow cooking tough meat cuts give you a tender and juicy roast.

Add some veggies to the roast, and you have a complete meal.

Spicy Chili Soup

Replace the beef with the bear meat, and you can have the classic spicy chili soup with delicious wild game meat.

You can serve this soup with French bread or a sauce.

BBQ Pulled Burger

You can also make bear burger patties from ground bear meat.

You won’t be able to resist this delicious burger and will instantly devour it.

Cheesy Cheddar Casserole

Combine the strong flavor of bear meat with cheddar cheese.

Let the meat be engulfed with savory flavors, creaminess and cheesiness.

Is Bear Good For You?

Here are some health benefits that bear meat offers:

Bear Meat Is Rich In Iron

Bear has approximately 10.73 ml of iron. Iron is a crucial and beneficial Hemoglobin component, a substance found in red blood cells.

Hemoglobin transports take the oxygen from the lungs and transport it to all the body parts.

If you have an iron deficiency, you will lack oxygen and red blood cells, leading to iron-deficiency anemia.

Bear meat is good at fulfilling all your iron needs.

Bear Meat Is Low In Cholesterol

Similar to lean chicken, bear meat has a low cholesterol content.

The bear meat usually contains only 100 g/98 mg of cholesterol.

Buffalo and Elk have a higher cholesterol content of 100 g/62 mg and 100 g/67 mg, respectively.

Bear Meat Is Rich In Protein

Bear meat has a total protein content of 20.1 %, which is higher than the 17.7 % protein content of beef.

A high protein content means enhanced maintenance of cells, hormones, enzymes and increased growth.

These components are vital parts of different body parts such as cartilage, skin, muscle fibers, blood and bones.

Bear Meat Is Leaner Than Farm Meat

Bear meat is leaner than many farmed types of meat such as chicken, mutton, beef etc.

It is lean because bears walk freely and are not confined in a place.

If you add lean meats, such as bear meat, to your diet, you can easily maintain your calorie intake and increase your protein consumption.

Bear Meat Has No Medical Substances Or Antibiotics Injected

Bears have no medical substances, antibiotics or hormones in their meat.

Synthetic hormones found in beef or chicken can alter our natural hormone growth and lead to dangerous diseases such as colon, breast and prostate cancers.

Conclusion

You have probably realized how delicious bear meat is and what you can do with it.

However, always clean the meat before consumption, and cook it on high heat.

Hopefully, now that you know what bear meat tastes like, you will make it a part of your diet.

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Recommended Reading:

What Does Bear Taste Like?

What Is A Bear?