For people who are experts, seeing the difference between beef and buffalo meat is certainly not difficult. But it is difficult for people who are new to this industry. Beef and buffalo meat are two of the sources of meat for consumption. Both types of red meat which are widely consumed in various servings. You certainly already know steak as one of the famous menus that use red meat.
While in Indonesia, we have a variety of special dishes that use red meat. Call it rendang, empal gentong, rawon, satay, and so on. In addition to using beef, sometimes buffalo meat is also chosen as the basic ingredient. At first glance, these two types of red meat look the same. However, there are actually some differences that can be identified. In the following we will share information about the difference between the two.
How to See the Difference between Beef and Buffalo Meat?
If you look closely, you will be able to distinguish between beef and buffalo red meat based on their respective characteristics. So, what are the characteristics that distinguish the two? Here’s the answer.
- Color
The first characteristic that you can observe to distinguish the two is seen from the color. Although basically both of them are classified as red meat and have a red color, the red color is quite different. If you look closely, beef has a red color that tends to be paler. It is different from buffalo whose meat has a dark red color and even tends to be dark. The red color is more vivid.
- Fiber
The next distinguishing feature can be seen from the fiber characteristics between the two. The difference in the fiber looks quite significant. So you can easily tell the difference when you see it directly. Beef fibers tend to be smooth and thin. It is very different from buffalo meat which has thicker and denser fibers so that when viewed it resembles small vermicelli. The difference in fiber can also be observed by touching it. Try to feel the difference between beef and buffalo by touching it directly. You will definitely be able to feel the difference when you hold the beef which has a smoother surface. While the surface of the buffalo feels rough because the fibers are slightly raised.
- Texture
The third difference can be seen from the texture. Take a look when red meat is still raw. You will feel the difference in the texture of the two where the beef is more tender. While buffalo tend to be hard. This is due to the dense and thick fiber structure that makes the meat harder. While the beef structure is smoother, the meat is also tender.
With these differences in texture, you must understand that the processing cannot be the same. Buffalo meat will take longer time to cook than beef to achieve the desired soft texture. Therefore, make sure you don’t mix it up if you want to use the two sources of animal protein as a cooking ingredient. Separate the two during the cooking process because the ripening time is also not the same.
- Fat Color
The difference between beef and buffalo can also be observed from the fat. When processing it, you must have encountered fat stuck to some parts. Or sometimes there are also fat fibers in certain parts. If you look closely, it turns out that the color of the fat between the two is also not the same. Fat in cows looks more cloudy with a yellowish color. While buffalo fat color tends to be bright milky white.
- Calorie Content
The calorie content in the two types of red meat is also different. Buffalo meat has lower calories, which is 79 kcal in 100 grams. While beef calories 201 kcal in 100 grams.
The difference between beef and buffalo is basically often brought up by the people around us. Not without reason, the two meats that have been considered the same in terms of taste actually have differences.
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