Since the dehydrated chicken hearts were such a success, I decided to (spend most of the grocery budget) purchase two beef hearts to dehydrate for the pack. I had to visit a couple of stores before I found one that would order them for us. Interesting thing about that - the butcher asked if it was for a dog. He said that there have been a few people asking for organ meat for their dogs. As the conversation went on, he mentioned that as a kid, his Mother would cook beef heart for dinner. I sympathized, we were served that too!
The two hearts cost just under $35 but yielded a vast quantity of meat for dehydrating. I decided to slice and freeze it so that I wouldn't be constantly dehydrating for days on end. I was surprised that it didn't smell all that much. As with the chicken hearts though, the kitchen was a popular place for the pack to hang out with their noses in the air!
No pictures of the hearts or slicing, not very nice to look at. However, I did take a picture of the dried and finished product.
Some of the slices were a bit thick and resulted in more of a chewy, jerky type treat with others being more dried and crunchy. I am storing the treats in a jar, in the fridge to keep them fresh, not that they will last long!
Here are various pack members and their thoughts on the dehydrated beef hearts.
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| waiting patiently..... |
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| "I see the treats!" |
Forest likes to sit on the (securely closed and latched) kibble storage tote for his treats.
Callie was so excited, she almost stood on her head!
Azule, how good are these new treats?
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| "These treats are super yummy!" |
So, if you have a dehydrator, we would highly recommend dehydrating beef hearts for treats, it is acd6pack approved!
We haven't done beef heart in a while. I think you've inspired me to dehydrate some for my duo. $35 for two beef hearts seems kind of steep. I got a huge chunk of it for $1.50 a while back. But then again, I don't have 7 hungry mouths to feed, so $1.50 worth was more than enough. Glad to see you're making good use of the dehydrator for the gang. Mine has been collecting dust because I've been so busy with school. Also, I've never even thought of eating beef heart, but your childhood has my deepest condolences.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit surprised at the price too but it was almost 15 pounds of meat. It will last us a long time for treats. I am so glad that I bought a dehydrator and thanks again for getting us started.
DeleteWe think our beef hearts are sold for dog food, because they are really cheap....as are sheep hearts. We don't have a dehydrator....but we love jerky of ANY kind, so we know the pack loved them!
ReplyDeleteXXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
They are a happy pack when that jar comes out of the fridge. Or any jar that sounds remotely similar.
DeleteSo so interesting. We don't have a dehydrator but I have read a lot about folks who blog who make their own treats like this. They all look like they enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI am really glad that I bought a dehydrator so that we can have more natural treats and know what is in them. It's good for human stuff too!
DeleteI just want to express how deeply grateful I am you did not show pictures of the heart before it was dehydrated. ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL! It was basically slices of meat. As someone who doesn't consume anything from animals, I can assure you, it really wasn't that awful.
DeleteLove the expression on Callie's face, and also love the photo of her doing a headstand! So cute! It's obvious your pups appreciate all the wonderful things you do for them. :-)
ReplyDeleteSusan and Wrigs
It's all about keeping them happy and healthy!
DeleteI've been told you can also roast the heart with a little garlic and then cut that up for treats too.
ReplyDeleteWe have dehydrated turkey hearts that my guys love. I bet it was standing room only in that kitchen!!
I'm not sure that I could actually cook it. Flashbacks to childhood!
DeleteRiley does the same thing Callie does--standing on her head! Then she'll just flop over on her side (like doing a half flip) like she's dead...it's so funny!
ReplyDeleteRiley says she wished I had that kind of grocery budget and the heart (no pun intended) to cut up and dehydrate beef heart! :)
Elyse and Riley
Callie will flop over and then looks like she has no idea what is going on. I think it's a crazy ACD thing!
ReplyDeletePlease tell Riley that the hearts destroyed the human grocery budget but since it's all about them, the dogs are happy. Very clever pun, intended or not.
Late, I know, but I love the photo of Callie on her head! I can't do anything that cool.
ReplyDeleteCocoa
You can probably do lots of cool things that dogs can't!
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