Because the deer never uses these muscles to walk. They’re purely for stability and quick, sharp movements. This means zero connective tissue and zero gristle. You get pure, buttery protein.
It’s like the deer’s secret abs of steel, hidden under a fur coat. No wonder hunters whisper its name with reverence. It’s the “please don’t mess this up” cut of meat.
The Quirky Science of the Strap
Here’s a weird fact: a deer has two backstraps, but they’re not connected. They run parallel, like a pair of delicious railway tracks. Each one can weigh between one and three pounds, depending on the buck.
Ever seen a deer jump a fence? Those backstraps are the reason they can clear eight feet from a standstill. Pure power. And then we eat that power with garlic and butter.
Another fun bit: the backstrap is technically called the Longissimus dorsi. That’s Latin for “the long thing on the back.” Try saying that at a fancy dinner party. Watch people’s eyes glaze over until you say “tastes like heaven.”