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OFFAL · Specialty cut · Compare

Heart vs Liver

Two cuts people weigh against each other at the counter — here is what actually separates them.

Side by side

HeartLiver
Tenderness 44 40
Fat 34 26
Umami 78 72
Price 40 34
Heart
David Monniaux · CC BY-SA 3.0

Heart

Beef heart · corazón · ハツ

A muscle that never rests, fine-grained and firm, with almost none of the off-notes that put people off other organs. Low in fat and frank in chew, it eats closer to a dense steak than to classic offal — which is why it is often the gateway cut for hesitant eaters.

High heat, briefUp to medium

Choose pieces trimmed of blood clots and white tendon, with a surface that is not slimy.

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Liver
FotoosVanRobin from Netherlands · CC BY-SA 2.0

Liver

Beef liver · hígado · レバー

Among the densest sources of iron and vitamin A in the food supply — and among the strongest-flavoured. Freshness decides everything: the best pieces need only salt and sesame oil raw. Because vitamin A stacks up quickly, this is a cut to eat occasionally rather than often.

70°CCooked through

Bright cherry colour with a slight sheen and spring. Avoid dark, dull or waterlogged pieces.

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Which one to buy

  • Better forHeart : Liver
  • GrillingHeart90 : 78
  • SkewersHeart82 : —
  • Stir-fryLiver66 : 74
  • Raw beef dishesLiver— : 60

Other comparisons

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Temperatures are guidance for whole-muscle cuts. Ground meat and poultry need 71°C / 160°F throughout.