How to Cook Ostrich Meat

If you are new to ostrich meat, you might be wondering how to cook it.  Pretty much exactly how you cook any other red meat.  Ostrich is super lean (95-97% fat-free, depending on the cut), and can be substituted into any recipe that calls for any red meat, like beef. 

Just make sure you don’t overcook it.  Due to its lower fat content, ostrich cooks more quickly, on average, 1/3 less time than beef. Cooking ostrich at a low temp and for a longer time is the key to achieving perfectly cooked, never overcooked, ostrich meat.

When we can find the time, our family loves to use a sous vide to consistently cook the meat through and then put on that delicious, crusty, seared exterior that we expect from well-seasoned, fantastic-tasting red meat.

Marinades also work well ostrich cuts to add flavor and preserve moisture when cooking. Here are couple of our favorite, simple marinades.

Herb & Balsamic Marinade

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup olive or avocado oil
3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

Easy Paleo Marinade

1/4 cup coconut aminos
1/4 apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive or avocado oil
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

Fajita Marinade

1 cup olive oil
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp kosher salt
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tbsp minced garlic

You can also keep things easy and let the delicious ostrich flavor shine with a quick steak preparation.

Simple Ostrich Steaks

Rub steaks with oil and spices then sear for a few minutes on high heat in an oven-safe skillet until both sides are nicely browned. Then bake at 350F for 4-8 minutes, depending on thickness, to an internal temperature of 135-140F for medium rare.

Ostrich Burger Cooking Tips

Ground ostrich mixes well with fattier meats and is delicious on it's own. We suggest adding dry spices (like our Classic Burger Seasoning) rather than liquids to keep burgers better intact.

Baste with oil before cooking to prevent sticking to grilling surfaces.

You'll notice our ostrich doesn't shrink down like beef when cooked.  It's purity and low fat content means "extra" cooked meat!

Looking for burger topping inspiration?  Check out our favorite burger recipes here.

For even more ostrich cooking tips, check out our full recipe section and check back often because we are always adding more!

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