Updated on November 11th, 2022
If you’ve ever eaten a piece of beef, chicken, or lamb, you’ve probably wondered: “What does bone marrow taste like?” You’ll be delighted to learn that the marrow is very delicious. When cooked, bone marrow has a subtle and nutty taste, and it’s light and pliable, with a butter-like texture. While the benefits of eating bone marrow are not yet well-established, the flavor is certainly a unique draw. Here’s a closer look at what marrow looks like.
In raw form, bone marrow has a nutty flavor. Its texture is slightly spongy, and its flavor is rich and earthy. Its creamy texture lends itself to a nutty finish, so you should eat it with salt. It also makes for an excellent appetizer, especially if you’re trying to avoid the strong taste of beef. Nevertheless, if you’re unfamiliar with bone marrow, try it out in a traditional Chinese dish.
What is Bone Marrow?
Humans eat bone marrow in large quantities. It’s made up of a yellow marrow stored in long bones. In addition to the yellow marrow, there is a red marrow that contains far more nutrients. It comes in bone-in cuts of meat that you can buy in supermarkets. Furthermore, the marrow is the soft, flexible tissue found in the middle of the bones.
When cooked, the outer part of the bone remains tough, while the marrow inside softens and turns into a consistency similar to soft butter or pudding. The humerus or femur is the most common bone from which bone marrow is obtained in grocery stores or restaurants, as these bones are large enough to contain an adequate amount of marrow. Furthermore, bone marrow from animals such as lambs, caribou, cows, and elk is commonly used in various dishes.
A portion of bone marrow is often referred to as “bone” and is part of the animal. The marrow is off-white and challenging, but it’s usually softer and spongier when cooked. A portion of bone marrow has a nutty flavor and is often served with toast. It has a rich, nutty flavor and a lighter texture when the marrow is cooked.
What does Bone Marrow Taste Like?
Bone marrow has a rich, slightly sweet flavor and a silky texture, and it’s often served with toast or as a soup base. It has a very soft texture that is slightly fatty but not chewy or gelatinous like fat can be. Bone marrow has a flavor somewhere between fat and blood, with a hint of an organ or offal meat, but not as strong as kidney or liver. It should have a fatty, creamy, and silky texture. This flavor varies depending on the animal species and where the bones are located within the animal.
Bone marrow has a very creamy, nutty, subtle taste, a tinge of sweetness, and is extremely rich because it is high in protein and fat. Whether eaten plain with salt or added to an umami-based stew, its flavor is incredible. Overall, it’s a high-quality fuel infused with delectable minerals and vitamins.
Although bone marrow is not commonly served in restaurants in the United States, it is becoming a popular superfood. Its creamy, nutty flavor is mild, contrasting nicely with the saltiness of the bone. It can be spread over toast or spooned, and its texture is somewhat firmer than that of other organ meats.
How does Bone Marrow Appear?
Bone marrow, when raw, appears to be a part of the bone and is off-white, yellow, or red in color, depending on the type of meat. When cooked, however, the color changes from off-white to slightly brown, and the texture softens to the point of being almost butter-like, with a sweet, nutty flavor and a lighter texture.
The texture is supple and softer than gelatin, melting in your mouth and leaving you wanting more. You can eat it in various ways, and because it’s so soft, you can just eat it straight from the bone with a spoon.
Because of its high-fat content, bone marrow has a slightly different odor than bones. However, it emits an unpleasant odor similar to spoiled meat when it spoils.
Bone Marrow has Numerous Health Benefits
Although there are no studies that directly evaluate the effects of eating bone marrow, there is plenty of research on the health benefits of its constituents.
In particular, Collagen, glycine, glucosamine, and conjugated linoleic acid have all been extensively researched for their potential health benefits.
Supports Joint Health
Bone marrow contains several compounds that are thought to improve joint health. For instance, glucosamine, a compound found in cartilage, is frequently used as a natural remedy for osteoarthritis because of its ability to reduce inflammation and relieve joint pain. Collagen can help maintain joint function by assisting in producing joint cartilage.
Supplementing with 10 grams of collagen per day reduced activity-related joint pain in 147 athletes in a 6-month study.
Inflammation is Reduced
While short-term inflammation is an integral part of your body’s defense system, chronic inflammation is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Multiple test-tube studies have shown that glycine, a protein found in bone marrow, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce inflammation in your body.
Another compound found in bone marrow, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), has been shown to reduce several markers of inflammation in the blood.
According to a two-week study, taking 5.6 grams of CLA per day reduced levels of specific inflammatory proteins such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and C-reactive protein in 23 men.
Adiponectin, a type of protein hormone that has been shown to play a vital role in regulating inflammation and immune function, is also found in the bone marrow.
Promotes the Health of the Skin
Collagen is a type of protein found all over your body and is essential for skin health.
Supplementing with 2.5–5 grams of collagen helped improve skin elasticity and hydration in one 8-week study of 69 women.
Similarly, an 8-week collagen treatment in mice increased collagen content and antioxidant activity in the skin, potentially helping to protect against skin damage and aging.
When Buying Bone Marrow, What Should you Look for?
- You should buy a higher quality product, preferably organic and free-range, as you should with all meats.
- Look for bones that have been thoroughly cleaned by the butcher and are a lovely pale pinkish color. Blood splatters on the surface are acceptable and expected.
- It’s difficult to tell how much marrow is inside the bones until you cut them open because the marrow is deposited in the center of the bones.
- As a result, it’s always a good idea to buy a few extra pounds and have your butcher cut them vertically or horizontally, depending on how you plan to cook and serve them.
- Like other perishable meats, Bone marrow freezes well when kept at the proper temperature (0°F or less). Cooked bone marrow can also be frozen for up to 3 months if kept in an airtight container. When ready to use it, thaw it overnight in the fridge, warm it up, and use it as desired.
What are the Uses of Bone Marrow?
- Bone marrow can be prepared in various ways, including roasting it and serving it as an appetizer, side dish, or main course. Bone marrow dumplings and soup, as well as the most prevalent bone broth, are all options.
- Bone broth is made by simmering bones in seasoned water with your choice of vegetables for 24 to 48 hours.
- The mixture is allowed to simmer to extract all of the beneficial nutrients and compounds from the bone and bone marrow.
- The bone marrow dissolves into the liquid, giving it a unique flavor and texture. Minerals and proteins from the bone dissolve in the broth, giving it a healthy boost.
- When the broth is ready, strain it and season it with other ingredients before serving it hot.
- It is a popular paleo dish because it contains ingredients only found in the stone age, such as grass-fed meat, fish, fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes.
- The taste of bone marrow can be described as beef. Its rich fat and protein content make it an ideal food for your diet, and its fatty flavor is rich and earthy.
- When cooked, bone marrow can be spread onto toasted bread, and however, you can also eat it in a salad, which will cut down on the marrow’s richness. To prepare the marrow, soak the bone in salty water overnight, which will remove blood from the bone and result in healthy marrow.
Conclusion
Bone marrow is best eaten raw, and it contains many nutrients, including vitamin A, which is not found in muscle meat. The marrow is more expensive than other organ meats, but it is a good source of protein and other essential nutrients. In addition to being more nutritious, bone marrow is also easier to digest than other organ meat, and it is even easier to prepare at home than most other types of meat.
Besides meat, bone marrow is edible, and can be made from any animal bone. The most common type of bone marrow used in cooking is beef. Since beef is the easiest to obtain, shank, knuckle, neck, and oxtail bones are the most common sources of bone marrow. It is also recommended to soak a marrow-bearing animal for several hours before cooking it.