Liver, Heart and Tongue

[Sarah K.]

I bit the bullet this year and got them to include the liver, heart and tongue in our side of beef. I'm not a huge fan of liver, although DH likes it well enough, and we've never eaten heart or tongue and I confess to being a bit squicked out at the thought. What are your favorite ways to prepare them?

Thanks,
Sarah

[PNP Katahdins]

I love fried liver with bacon and onions, but Paul won't eat it. So our organ meats from having an animal butchered are prepared by putting them in the dogs' and cats' dishes. Sorry but I guess that doesn't help you much. Good luck.

Peg

[Horseyrider]

I saute them in a little bacon fat and let them cool. Then I feed them to the dogs or cats, whichever gets there first.

Heart's okay, but I could never tolerate liver except in braunschweiger. It's a texture thang....

[TK04]

Beef Tongue - Wash really well. Boil in water or broth with onion and a bit of salt until done. Cool it and peel the skin off. My kids think it tastes just like roast so sometimes I add it to the crock pot with another cut after it's cooked and skinned. Also great sliced on sandwiches. It can be a little rich, though.

[uncle Will in In.]

Liver and onions are better than some steaks. Most people over cook liver. Brown it on one side in a hot skillet for 4 minutes. Turn it and brown the other side 3 minutes. Cover with fried onions and serve. It is just plum delicious.
Slice the heart crossways in slices about a half inch thick. Pound the slices with a steak hammer. Fry just as you would steak. It will taste like steak.
Do the same with the tongue. Slice crossways/
The visual appearance of the organ meat makes it unsavory in many peoples eyes. Slice it tenderize it, bread it and fry it. You'll be surprised at the good taste and texture.

[Dutchie]

Not a fan of heart and give this to the dogs. Love liver and LOVE tongue. I cook it in the crockpot til tender, peel the skin off and serve it with a sour cream sauce.

[mekasmom]

Originally Posted by Sarah K.

I bit the bullet this year and got them to include the liver, heart and tongue in our side of beef. I'm not a huge fan of liver, although DH likes it well enough, and we've never eaten heart or tongue and I confess to being a bit squicked out at the thought. What are your favorite ways to prepare them?

Thanks,
Sarah

Tongue is AWESOME! Just wrap and bake with some onions and salt. Then slice and eat with mayo. It's good.
I won't eat liver, simply because most Alternative people think it isn't good for you. Livers filter all the nasties out of blood, so why would you want to eat it?
Heart has a metallic taste IMO, so I really don't like it that much, but it's edible. Grandma always sliced it, battered it and fried. It's ok, but has a stronger flavor, simply due to the blood content.

[tinknal]

Tongue is the best cut on the cow. Back when the buffalo hunters were wiping out the herds all thay kept were the hides and the tongues. The tongues were packed in salt and shipped back east and sold as a delicacy.

I cook it with pickling spice and salt, cool, peel the skin off, and slice it up for sandwich meat. Stuff the heart with onion, garlic, and your favorite spices, cook, and use that for sandwich meet also.

[Ann-NWIowa]

I used to have the heart ground into the ground beef. We like liver so no problem there. Tongue I passed on that. I'm sure its good, just couldn't get my mind around it!

[jwal10]

Liver sliced thin, dry, cooked quick and hot, onions and mushrooms sauted seperate. Only heart we eat is from rabbit and chickens....James

[pookshollow]

I make stew from the heart. Fried liver and onions. Haven't had tongue in years, although I like it very much. Last time we bought 1/4 cow, someone beat us to the tongue. I'd have to ask my mother how she used to cook it.

Also very, very fond of steak and kidney pie. And oxtail soup.

[Farmerwilly2]

I like them all, but I'll stack smoked tongue up against a good ribeye or porterhouse. It's great corned also. Always liked heart pickled, like tongue that way also.

[PyroDon]

hearts make great sandwitches bakes and stuffed .
tongues are great diced and slow cooked for tacos

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by Ann-NWIowa

Tongue I passed on that. I'm sure its good, just couldn't get my mind around it!

......... but, hey, those Deviled eggs look good...,........

[salmonslayer]

Originally Posted by Farmerwilly2

I like them all, but I'll stack smoked tongue up against a good ribeye or porterhouse. It's great corned also. Always liked heart pickled, like tongue that way also.

You nailed it Willy...I love tongue corned and I dont know of much that isnt good if pickled. I am a big fan of oxtail also and if we can get it tripe.

[pheasantplucker]

Not fond of liver, but I remember as a kid, my grandpa made me a sandwich one day. He asked me how I liked it. "Fine" I said. He told me it was beef tongue. Pretty good stuff. I give the livers of deer I kill to my dogs. they love it. I love the heart. Slice it thin and sautee it in a pan with onions and butter. Good stuff. The only kind of liver I do like is goose liver.

[unregistered65598]

Can I just say EWWWWWW!!!!

[arcticow]

I like beef liver... fresher is better. Cold tongue sandwiches are the best! And even my daughters enjoyed braised heart as little girls. Can't understand why folks leave out the good parts.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by Merks

Can I just say EWWWWWW!!!!

Nope, you lose your homesteading card if you do!

[bugstabber]

I just made a beef heart this week, it was so big I had to cut it in half and cook them separately in my pressure pan. The pressure cooker book said to soak it in salt water for a half hour before cooking. The pan is 3 or 4 quarts, so it called for 1 1/2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar. It said to cook for one hour after the jiggle starts. I usually prefer tongue, but it turned out really good.

My MIL used to cook a bunch of hearts and tongue in her pressure canner and then grind & make sandwich spread with salad dressing, pickle, etc. It tastes like roast beef.