Elk meat is one of the healthiest and most flavorful meats available, and it can be a great addition to any meal.
As a dedicated carnivore lifestyle adherent, I like the fact that elk is very lean meat, so it is low in calories and fat but high in protein.
But elk meat is not found at your local grocery store, so how do you go about getting it if you are not a hunter?
I did the research, and below you will find some of the best locations to order elk online.
Quick Summary
- Elk is a good source of healthy, high-protein, lean meat
- Elk is raised sustainably and has a low environmental impact
- There are many suppliers of high-quality elk products available online
The Reasons Why You Should Purchase Elk Meat
Elk meat is an exceptionally lean protein, with very little fat. In fact, elk is one of the leanest natural meats available, with less fat than beef, pork, and even chicken.
This makes elk meat an excellent choice for those who are health conscious or watching their weight, as it is a low-calorie, high-protein food. It is also low in cholesterol.
In addition, elk is a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, and zinc [1].
Furthermore, this animal is a sustainable and ethical protein choice, as elk are not raised on factory farms and are generally free to roam and graze naturally. They get to eat a healthy, natural diet and live stress-free lives.
Since they are not farm-raised, elk are antibiotic and hormone-free and have a lower environmental impact than other types of protein.
They eat natural grasses, flowers, and twigs. Interestingly, they also will consume bones and eggs [2].
Even though elk are not usually certified as USDA organic, you can generally assume that elk meet the same high standards as organic beef or chicken because of how elk are raised.
Unlike beef, elk is not mass-produced. Small, local, family-owned farms are the norm in the elk industry, which means that you can feel good about supporting these hard-working businesses when you purchase their products.
Finally, elk is as tender as beef, with a far milder and more delicate flavor than venison. It is a versatile meat that you can cook in any recipe that calls for beef, pork, or lamb.
11 Places to Buy Elk Meat
Now that we've gone over some of the reasons why you should purchase elk meat, let's talk about where to find it.
1. Fossil Farms
The elk from Fossil Farms are free-range, wild-fed, and humanely raised. Their elk meat is all-natural and hormone-free.
The suppliers of these animals pasture-raised them on 60,000 acres in central Canada and New Zealand.
Fossil Farms offers a variety of elk products, including ground meat, steaks, chops, osso buco, summer sausages, and elk burgers.
You can order online and have the meat shipped directly to your door.
2. SayersBrook Bison Ranch
This Missouri-based company offers a wide variety of elk products, including chili, tenderloin, ribeye steak, chuck, elk Denver leg, and filet mignon.
The elk at SayersBrook are grass-fed and free-range. They are never given added hormones or steroids.
In addition to being able to purchase elk meat online, you can also get other game meats like boar, bison, moose, and ostrich.
3. Blackwing Meats
Blackwing's elk are raised on 100,000 acres of open land in North America. The elk roam freely and eat a natural diet of grasses, bark, and foliage.
These elk are raised without added hormones and antibiotics and never given any GMO feed.
Blackwing meat delivery provides all the basic cuts of elk but also gives you less common options such as elk kabobs, brisket, tongue, heart, tendons, and an elk Philly cheese steak.
The company will freeze any of these products and ship them directly to your door via UPS.
4. Northfork Canadian Bison Ranch
Northfork is a Canadian company based out of Quebec. They have a wide variety of elk products, including roasts, steaks, and elk burgers.
All of the elk at Northfork eat only natural forage or supplements from 100% plant-based sources. They are never given animal byproducts. The company does not use any hormones or antibiotics in their animals.
You can order online, and they will send the meat to homes and offices throughout North America.
5. ElkUSA
Based in southwest Colorado, ElkUSA offers ranch-grown elk for customers throughout the contiguous 48 states via air delivery.
They also ship via less expensive ground transport to SD, WY, UT, CO, NE, IA, KS, OK, NM, and portions of MT, ID, MO, TX, and NV.
The company has just about any part of the elk that you could want - from filet mignon to soup bones. You can also purchase various elk-based products like jerky, sticks, kabobs, and patties.
6. Exotic Meat Market
Of all the items that the Exotic Meat Market offers, elk is actually one of the most mainstream - they offer moose, beaver, bison, and more.
They import pure-bred Wapiti elk from New Zealand. Their suppliers are independent, small farms that feed their herds on natural leaves and grass.
The animals are not given any antibiotics, growth hormones, or steroids.
The company offers a wide range of cuts, including steaks, chops, roasts, ground meat, elk burgers, and even some less common choices like French-racked ribs, elk pepperoni, and nine types of elk sausage.
Also Read: Best Exotic Meats
7. IGourmet
IGourmet has a more limited supply of elk products than many of the other companies on the list.
What is more, they do not source their elk directly from a ranch. Instead, IGourmet gets its elk meat from Blackwing Meats.
And the only cut they individually offer is ground elk to prepare venison burgers with. However, you can also get elk sirloin as part of a variety pack with buffalo meat and Piedmontese beef steaks.
8. Pearson Ranch
Pearson Ranch is a family-owned ranch that has been in business since 1959. They are located in New Mexico and are focused on the meat snack business.
Their elk is hosted naturally on the ranch's pastures and never given any steroids, growth hormones, or antibiotics.
The company offers a wide selection of smoked elk products like sticks, summer sausages, and jerky. You can order these products online and have them shipped directly to you.
9. Cabela's
Cabela's is a well-known retailer that specializes in outdoor gear and equipment. But they also sell a variety of food products - including elk meat.
You can purchase elk medallions, elk sausage, and summer sausage.
They also have an elk sampler platter that will give you elk roast, elk stew meat, liver, filet mignon, sirloin, bratwurst, as well as elk snack meats.
10. Hunter's Reserve
Hunter's Reserve is a family-run and woman-owned business specializing in wild game meat snacks. They humanely source their elk and do not use fillers in their products.
They offer a variety of elk snacks, including summer sausage, trail sticks, and even a jalapeno elk jerky. The company also offers a four-pack of elk medallions that can be slow-cooked or grilled.
Orders are shipped from Minnesota to any location in the lower 48 states.
11. Broken Arrow Ranch
Broken Arrow was founded in 1983 and has been shipping meat to individuals since 2007. Based northwest of San Antonio, they harvest game from 40 ranches across Texas.
Broken Arrow's elk products include ground elk, burgers, patties, filet steak, boneless loin, elk stew meat, and chili meat.
They ship anywhere in the United States. Your order comes in a reusable insulated container and is kept frozen by dry ice or gel packs.
Bonus: A Delicious Recipe With Elk
Now that you have been shown some of the best places to purchase elk online, here is a recipe to get you started:
Elk Pot Roast With Bacon
This recipe takes two hours to prepare and three hours for cooking. It yields about 6-8 servings of elk.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound bacon
- 2 onions chopped
- Flour
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 lb elk chuck roast
- 1 tablespoon pickling spice (or Montreal steak spice)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 tbs. brown sugar
- 1 lb stewed tomatoes
Directions:
- Fry all the bacon in a pan until it is crisp. Remove and crumble into a small bowl.
- Using the bacon grease, saute the onions in the pan until transparent.
- Place the elk roast in pan and sprinkle it with salt, pepper, and flour. Brown roast on all sides.
- Combine all remaining ingredients except the crumbled bacon in a bowl, then pour them over the roast.
- Cover the roast and cook slowly on the stovetop until tender (approximately 3 hours). Add water to the pan if the liquid at the bottom evaporates or gets low.
- Remove roast once tender. Mix the bacon, drippings, and flour to create a gravy.
6 Things To Look For In Elk Meat Providers
When looking for a provider of elk meat, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
1. Sourcing
The animals should be free-range and grass-fed, and the company should not use any steroids, hormones, or antibiotics in their animals.
Natural elk that have been pasture-raised and wild-fed are usually healthier and provide a higher quality of game meat.
2. Processing
You want to ensure that the company takes care in processing their elk meat. The company should use humane practices when processing the animals, and it should handle the meat properly and carefully to avoid any contamination.
3. Selection
The company ought to be able to provide a variety of cuts of elk. You should be able to find all of the basic cuts of steak, ground elk, and elk roasts. Personally, I prefer companies that offer some less common options.
That way I’m sure that they pay close attention to catering to the tastes of different customers and have an eye for different cooking sentiments.
4. Shipping
The company should be able to package the meat in a way that keeps it well-preserved and ship it to your home. The shipping should be done via a reliable service, and the meat should arrive at your location, still frozen, within a short time after your order.
Not many companies offer free shipping, but it is worth keeping an eye out for.
5. Price
The price of elk meat can vary depending on the provider. Since elk are not mass-produced like many cattle are, you can expect to pay a little more than you would for beef at the grocery shop. However, you should be able to find a company that offers affordable prices.
Ideally, the company will offer free shipping to help offset the cost.
6. Customer Service
The company should have excellent customer service in case you have any questions or concerns about your order. You should be able to reach the customer relations department via phone or email, and they should be able to answer any questions you have.
"Elk meat is not only tasty, but is lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories than "traditional" red meats. For this reason, the demand for elk meat is increasing among health-conscious consumers."
- North American Elk Breeders Association
Related Articles:
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Purchase Elk Meat?
To purchase elk meat, you can expect a cost that ranges from $2.00 per pound for ground elk to $18.90 per pound for tenderloin. The price of elk meat can vary depending on the provider. Since elk are not mass-produced like many cattle are, you can expect to pay a little more than you would for beef at the grocery store.
Is Elk the Healthiest Red Meat?
Elk is the healthiest red meat. Very lean and clean, elk is lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol than most other red meats like beef, pork, or lamb. In fact, elk has less cholesterol than even chicken or turkey as well.
What Does Elk Meat Taste Like?
Elk meat tastes similar to beef but can be a little more gamelike. Less gamey than other farmed venison, it can have a sweet, nutty, and rich flavor that comes out when grilled.
What Do You Call Elk Meat?
Elk meat is called venison. It is game meat like bison, but from antlered ungulates that are members of the family Cervidae. This group includes white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, red deer, reindeer (caribou), and fallow deer.
Can You Eat Elk Meat Rare?
You can eat elk meat rare to medium-rare, and this is often recommended. Elk is lean meat and, as such, can be dry if you cook it too much.
How Should Elk Be Cooked?
Elk meat should be cooked with a short, high-temperature sear to lock in the juices. Keeping it to an internal temperature of 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit and letting it rest for at least 5 minutes after cooking will give you a steak that is juicy and not dry.
Are Elk Steaks Tough?
No, elk steaks are not tough. Even though elk steaks are high in protein and do not have a lot of natural fat, they will be juicy and tender so long as you don't overcook them. You can also marinate them before cooking.
How Long Does Elk Meat Last?
Elk meat will last in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for six months. It's important to note that you should not refreeze elk meat that has been thawed.
Buying Elk Meat
Elk meat is a delicious and healthy alternative to beef. It is high in protein and low in fat, making it an excellent choice for those on a healthy diet.
If you want to experiment with other game meat and try out new recipes, check out our review of best meat delivery services for wild game and see which company suits your tastes and preferences.
References:
- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/175302/nutrients
- https://a-z-animals.com/blog/what-do-elk-eat/
