Bone marrow is the soft, fatty tissue inside bones. It's found mainly in the hip, breast bone, skull, ribs, and spine. There are two types: red marrow, which produces blood cells, and yellow marrow, which stores fat. Bone marrow is used in a variety of ways, from culinary applications to medical treatments.
In cooking, beef bone marrow is prized for its rich, meaty flavor and high fat content, often described as "nature's butter". It can be roasted and spread on toast, used to enrich stocks and sauces, added to meat dishes for extra flavor, or served as a standalone dish. Marrow bones can be purchased from butcher shops or supermarkets. The price for beef bone marrow is around $17.00 for a package of four pieces. Prices may vary.
Medically, bone marrow is a source of stem cells used in bone marrow transplants to treat blood cancers, immune disorders, and genetic diseases. Bone marrow aspirate, containing hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, is used in cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine. Bone marrow donation involves extracting liquid marrow from the hip bone. The National Marrow Donor Program maintains a registry of potential donors.
