MeatEater's How to Clean a Heart 101

At MeatEater, we get more questions about venison hearts than almost any other wild game cookery. And truthfully, the heart is perhaps the tastiest piece of an animal and not at all difficult to clean or cook. In this video, Steven Rinella and Danielle Prewett from Wild & Whole walk through step-by-step how to clean a heart.
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[justtinkering]

2 well spoken, intelligent people, speaking very candidly about eating an animal. I appreciate what Mr. Rinella is doing for the greater good of hunters and other meat eaters. Thank you for this.

[Cyle_C]

You're supposed to eat it still beating after a kill to absorb it's power

[DJPhree]

"To clean the heart we must first remove the heart. The most efficient method is to date my ex."

[jakehall]

I'm proud of how well you all did with the anatomy. I hunt and also teach a human anatomy course and you have no idea how similar to a human heart both in size and the structures are to a whitetail heart. Those tendons are called chordea tendineae. The keep the valves between the atria and ventricles from prolapsing

[dominator]

I usually only use hearts as alchemy ingredients

[BackwoodspaOutdoors]

I never thought about it cleaning one that way. As someone who does save the heart but realizing that not everyone does I really like her way of presenting it, I think it would make it more appealing for more hunters or non hunters to try. Very impressed with her approach of wild game presentation

[skibum]

I usually just trim it and cube it up, throw it in a pan with salt, pepper, onions, and peppers and it's damn good!

[nirpatel]

I ate Daedra heart once, it wasn't worth it

[RShort]

One of the finest cuts in the animal. A real delicacy!

[HAIL-WAR.C]

Soooo good my dude, keep being you....true natured and natural. Good cooking show cuz its whats actually happening in fine dining restaurants

[lonewizzard]

This is an awesome tutorial. Thank you so much. I've always just cross sectioned heart and fried it up but this your method is so much more efficient and I'm sure results in a much tastier cut. Now on to getting my elk heart prepared and read to sear.

[GIOUTDOORS]

Sliced deer heart, sauteed onions over Italian polenta 😍

[johnnelson]

Hey Steven. We haven't formally met, but I've listened to all your you know whos podcasts and you've taught me loads. Thanks a ton.
Spearfishing, elk tracking, mountain lion tracking, trapping, and now heart cleaning. Thanks man!

[teersanbar]

Thank you for this. As someone who’s been apprehensive about preparing a heart, I feel much better about it.

[timmyhoffarth]

Of everything I’ve watched of meat eater. The cooking and food prep is what I enjoy

[MountainMan]

Last year at hunt camp I prepared deer heart for all the people there. None had ever tried it despite knowing that I always keep them. They have all gone as far as keeping the hearts for me.
I'm pretty sure after last year that I won't be getting as many anymore. They all were surprised that they really enjoyed deer heart. Give it try, folks. It's delicious!

Thanks, Steven!

[mevsol]

I like the casual Wi-style music in the background, as if to put everyones mind at ease while she cleans a deer heart.

[ronaldpetersen]

Best YT clip I’ve seen on heart and how to properly clean and butcher it, well done!
I use the same technique, different terminology. I follow the seams or sheet the meat same as a hind quarter or shoulder.

[hugostiglitz]

It’s like a meaty super healthy bell-pepper...

[NM-ixhc]

the heart is probably my favorite piece of meat and i wouldnt have tried it to be honest had i not seen your video on cooking the heart over a fire in caul fat. I love it now and am so happy i tried it. thanks for posting this. just another new and tasty way to cook it. love your cooking videos