As a dog owner, taking care of the dog’s balanced diet should be among your top priorities.
Foods rich in essential vitamins, lean proteins, and minerals, like beef hearts, are easy to make and just as easy to digest, which explains why many critics and vets highly recommend them.
So how to cook beef heart for dogs? Let me introduce some common and easy-to-make recipes in this article. Scroll to learn more!
What Are The Benefits of Beef Hearts for Dogs?
Nutrient Rich
Since beef hearts are muscle meats, they contain numerous essential nutrients, such as:
- Amino acids
- Phosphorus
- Copper
- Iodine
- Magnesium
- Iron
- B-complex vitamins (especially B12)
Their rich proteins also promote muscle growth, ensuring the dog’s overall health. Some variants even include taurine, a type of amino acid known to benefit canine’s reproductive capabilities and eyesight.
Low Fat Levels
You will not find much fatty acid in beef hearts, making them a much healthier treatment option than many other meat cuts (e.g., turkey cold cuts).
They will work best for dogs with fat-related diseases or those that have to control their daily fat intake.
Sustainable and Economical
Beef hearts include almost 100% of the animal’s meat in their recipes, leaving very little waste.
In short, you can get much more meat than other foods without spending too much – a great choice for tight-budget dog parents.
Taste Preferences
Nutrition and financial benefits aside, many dogs simply adore the distinctive flavors of beef hearts.
Their appetites and enjoyment during each meal will escalate, improving both their physical and mental health!
How to Cook Beef Heart for Dogs? 4 Beef Heart Recipe for Dogs
Depending on your schedule and the dog’s preferences, you can serve the beef heart raw, grill it, mix it with fresh pumpkins, or use a slow cooker during beef processing.
Below are the detailed instructions for cooking beef heart for dogs:
Raw and Boneless Beef Heart
Is raw beef heart safe for dogs? Yes, and it is also the easiest-to-make option on my list.
Ingredients
- Lean ground beef – 5 pounds
- Beef heart – 2 pounds
- Beef liver – 1 pound
- Shelless eggs (pasture-raised) – 8
- Kale – 8 ounces
- Broccoli – 8 ounces
- Dandelion greens – 8 ounces
- Blueberries – 12 ounces (alternatives: cranberries, blackberries, raspberries)
- Raw bone meal – 5 tablespoons
- Wheat germ oil – 2 tablespoons
- Himalayan salt – 2 tablespoons
- Kelp – ¼ tablespoons
Instructions
Step 1. Grind the liver and cuts of beef hearts. Don’t have a grinder? Then, chop them into smaller cubs.
Step 2. Puree the oil, kelp, salt, bone meal, berries, dandelion greens, broccoli, kale, and eggs into your food processor.
Step 3. Mix the veggies/berries, heart, liver, and ground beef together. Place this mixture into a smaller container before putting it into the freezer.
Step 4. Freeze it in portions (1 to 3 days).
Extra Note:
- Do not replace or vary the ingredients above too much; otherwise, you might risk unbalancing the food’s nutrition.
- You should feed your canine friend about 3% of its estimated body weight; this rule also applies to some other foods like chicken or chicken heart.
Beef Heart Mixed With Fresh Pumpkin
Ingredients
- Veal heart or beef heart – 2 to 3 pounds
- Rice – 700 to 100 gram
- Carrot – 1
- Zucchini – ½
- Vegetable oil – 1 tablespoon
- Fresh pumpkin, greens (parsley or dill)
Instructions
Step 1. Put the heart in your saucepan and cook for 20 minutes.
Step 2. While waiting, cut the vegetables and greens into 0.7×0.7mm cubes. You can also grind them using coarse graters.
Step 3. Once the raw meat has been cooked, take it off the pan and onto another plate.
Leave ⅓ of the beef broth in your pan (and pour the rest into another container), then spread the rice onto the broth and cook it. If your canine companion usually struggles to digest meat broths, you can add some water first before pouring the rice.
Step 4. After the rice has been cooked, cut the beef into cubes (0.7×0.7mm). Then, place the chopped hearts into your pan, mix it well, and let it cool to room temperature.
Sprinkle some herbs and vegetables on top to finish the dish.
Slow Cooking Version
Ingredients
- Beef heart – 3-4 pounds
- Sea salt – 1 teaspoon
- Water – 1 cup
- Onions – 2 (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1. After peeling the onions, quarter and place them into your slow cooker.
- Step 2. Cut the heart into half (if it hasn’t been cut) and remove all hard bits, if any. Place the heart atop the onions and sprinkle some sea salt. Pour some water around it.
- Step 3. Close the cooker’s lid and cook the beef meat for 8 to 10 hours on low.
- Step 4. Slice it thinly against salt and grain. You can also add carrots or celery if your dog likes stronger tastes.
Grilled Beef Heart
Ingredients
- Beef heart – 2.2 pounds
- Balsamic vinegar – ½ cup
- Pepper
- Salt
- Cooking fat
- Coconut oil, lard, or ghee
Instructions
Step 1. Put the heart under cold water, rinse it, and pat it until dried.
Step 2. Cut open the beef heart chunk with a sharp knife (skip this if the butcher has already done that for you). Remove any blood vessels, arteries, visible strings, and excess fat.
Step 3. Cover the heart with balsamic vinegar and let it marinate overnight.
Step 4. Pat the heart dry again before sprinkling its sides with pepper and salt.
Step 5. Put the heart in a cast iron skillet (if it does not fit, cut it in half). Set the heavy skillet over high temperatures, melt some cooking fat there, and grill the heart until there is a lovely golden crust. Each side should take about 5-10 minutes.
Step 6. Move the meat off the skillet and tent it loosely using aluminum foil. Let the meat rest for about 15-20 minutes, then slice it against the grains. Time for your furry friend to feast!
How Much Beef Heart Can I Feed My Dog?
Can I feed my dog beef heart every day? Yes, but remember, serving beef heart meat that accounts for 2 to 3% of the dog’s total body weight will be the most ideal scenario.
Plus, do not introduce your dog to beef steak too fast since it is very nutrient-rich; increase its amounts gradually/slowly over time to prevent unwanted over-reactions in your dogs.
Conclusion
My guide has introduced four recipes for how to cook beef heart for dogs.
Feel free to add extra flavors and seasonings in the beef heart dog food recipe if you want (guaranteed that the core ingredients are unchanged), and remember to only serve beef hearts to dogs at 2-3% of their total weight daily.
