How long will deer meat last in the freezer?
If like me, you hunt every season, you’ll need to know ‘how long will deer meat last in the freezer?’ According to the US Drug Administration (USDA), venison steaks and roasts will stay fresh nine months on average if frozen at 0° for best quality.
How long can you keep venison in the freezer?
Store ground venison in a freezer at 0°F or colder for 3 months for best quality. Venison roasts and steaks can be stored 6 to 9 months at this temperature.
How long does vacuum sealed ground beef last in the fridge?
Most vacuum sealed foods will last in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks, which is much longer than the typical 1-3 days food will last when stored conventionally in a refrigerator. Beside above, how long does vacuum sealed ground beef last in the freezer?
How do you pack deer meat for the winter?
To keep cold air from coming in contact with your deer meat, use vacuum sealers that remove air from the packages. The best vacuum packaging bags remove all the air and offer an integral air-tight seal.
Can you eat deer meat that has been frozen for 2 years?
A-Hypothetically speaking, yes, the meat would be safe to eat if the conditions you describe are accurate. If the meat was in good condition when it was frozen, and has been frozen solid without interruption at 0 degrees or below, it will be perfectly safe.
How long does vacuum sealed deer sausage last in the freezer?
Store the package in the freezer for up to six months. If you have a vacuum sealer at home, you can also use that and then simply toss the packaging in the freezer as is.
How long can you keep deer meat in freezer?
Store ground venison in a freezer at 0°F or colder for 3 months for best quality. Venison roasts and steaks can be stored 6 to 9 months at this temperature. Meat quality and flavor will deteriorate in the freezer over time.
Can sausage go bad in the freezer?
How long do raw sausages last in the freezer? Properly stored, they will maintain best quality for about 1 to 2 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only - sausages that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
How long is wild game meat good in the freezer?
Limit fresh game to eight months frozen storage and seasoned or cured game to four months frozen storage. In most states hunting laws require that all wild game be used before the next hunting season. Check regulations for amount of game you can keep and length of time that you can keep it.
How can you tell if deer meat is spoiled?
The first way you can tell if deer meat has gone bad is by the look of it. Your deer meat should be a nice, deep red. If your venison is brown, then you have a problem. Spoiled meat will also have a metallic shine to it, but that can be a difficult deciphering tool because deer meat always has a certain shine to it.
Is year old frozen meat still good?
Frozen meat should be tossed after a year at most According to the handy cold storage chart located at FoodSafety.gov, ground meats have the shortest freezer shelf life, at three to four months. Fresh cuts of beef, veal, lamb, and pork — including steaks, chops, and roasts — will last for between four and 12 months.
Is 2 year old frozen hamburger still good?
Ground beef is safe indefinitely if kept frozen, but it is best if used within 4 months. Refrigerate or freeze ground beef as soon as possible after purchase. This preserves freshness and slows the growth of bacteria.
Can you eat freezer burned venison?
Is Freezer Burned Meat Safe to Eat? Luckily, freezer burn isn't dangerous. It just lowers the quality and flavor of the meat. For mild cases, simply trim away the off-colored portion from the exterior of the cut, then cook as normal.
How can you tell if frozen sausage is bad?
First, if your pork sausage has gone bad, you can tell by the sausage's smell, look, and texture. If it has a putrid odor, a slimy coat, or a uniform color, then you shouldn't eat it.
What does bad sausage look like?
The best way to tell if ground breakfast sausage is spoiled is to pay attention to the sausage's color, smell, texture, and expiration date. Rotten ground breakfast sausage displays a grayish-brown color, rancid odor, and slimy texture. Use “best before” dates as an additional guideline.
Why does meat turn GREY in freezer?
All that ground beef underneath the top layer has no access to oxygen, so it turns an unappealing color of gray. This will also happen to any beef you store in the freezer.
Before the Freezer
Before you butcher and freeze your deer, you need to take care of it properly. If your deer meat has ever tasted “gamey”, it is likely because of poor preparation before cooking. After you shoot a deer, it should be recovered within 45 minutes. You then need to gut it and quarter it shortly thereafter.
How to Properly Store Deer Meat in the Freezer
Once you have your aged meat butchered the way you like it, it is time to freeze. The first thing you are going to need is freezer bags. Preferably, they would be vacuum sealed. If they are not, then you need to make sure you get as much air out of the bag as possible.
What Is the Ideal Shelf Life of Frozen Deer Meat?
As we have seen from the USDA and UGA, the recommended maximum time to keep venison frozen is 12 months. For the best quality, you will want to consume it within 3 months of freezing. These are the national recommendations, but many of us have eaten venison that was much older than a year.
How Can You Tell if Frozen Deer Meat Is Bad?
There are a number of things that can happen to meat while it is in the freezer that will make it go bad. The following is a list of these items that you can look at to know if your deer meat has gone bad.
What Happens if You Eat Spoiled Venison?
Eating spoiled meat of any kind is a bad idea. If you are iffy on whether your meat is good, you should just throw it away. Cooking spoiled meat does not make it better. The damage has already been done.
Conclusion
Assuming you prepare venison correctly, and put it in vacuum-sealed freezer bags, you can store it for over 12 months. For the best quality, you should cook it before it gets older than 3 months. If you do not have a way to vacuum seal the bags, it is not the end of the world, just try to get as much air out of the bag as possible.
Sister Post – Why Does Deer Meat Taste Gamey?
A sister post is just another post on Omega Outdoors that I think you will enjoy after reading this one. To get a better idea of how to prepare your meat before butchering and freezing, check out my other article titled Why Does Deer Meat Taste Gamey.
Shelf Life of Wild Deer Meat Stored in a Freezer
The National Center for Home Food Preservation suggests: “Store ground venison in a freezer at 0°F or colder for 3 months for best quality. Venison roasts and steaks can be stored 6 to 9 months at this temperature. Meat quality and flavor will deteriorate in the freezer over time.”
Tips for Making Your Meat Last Longer in the Freezer
By far, the most important thing you can do to help frozen deer meat last longer in the freezer is to keep air away from the meat. Meat that has been properly vacuum-sealed will last significantly longer in a freezer.
Does Venison Summer Sausage Need to be Refrigerated?
Unopened, venison summer sausage doesn’t need refrigeration most of the time.
How Long Does Deer Summer Sausage Last in the Fridge?
After opening your deer summer sausage and storing it in the fridge, it’s best to finish it up within three weeks.
Can I Freeze Venison Summer Sausage?
Absolutely. You can freeze venison summer sausage just like you would any other type of food.
Can You Refreeze Deer Summer Sausage?
Yes, you can refreeze summer sausage. However, you should be very careful during the thawing process.
Thawing Deer Summer Sausage
There are two proper ways to thaw deer summer sausage – in the fridge or in the microwave.
In Summary
Knowing how to store deer summer sausage is essential for everyone’s health. Many food-borne bacteria emerge due to improper food storage.
How long can you keep deer meat in the fridge?
As advised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you can keep deer meat in the fridge for two to three days after thawing. They generally recommend storing the venison frozen until cooking time. This is because any meat that was frozen and then thawed deteriorates more quickly.
How long can you keep smoked venison sausage in the freezer?
If you have smoked venison sausages, you can freeze those for longer. It’s recommended to keep them in the freezer for no longer than five to six months. However, this is under the condition you store them properly.
Why does sausage smell bad?
This is because the meat will lose some moisture in the thawing process. However, if you notice the sausages smelling odd and that the meat has a slimy texture, your sausages might have gone bad. There’s one crucial thing to remember when thawing the meat in the fridge.
How to keep venison sausage from freezer burn?
Alternatively, you can use freezer paper by folding the edges around the sausage, taping them, and storing them in the freezer. Packaging your venison sausage properly will help maintain the original meat quality for the longest time possible.
What temperature should venison sausage be stored at?
The ideal temperature for storing venison sausages in the freezer should be 0°F or lower. Don’t be surprised if your frozen venison sausage actually tastes better after some freezer time! But be careful not to over freeze it, as leaving the meat in the freezer for too long can lower meat quality and flavor.
What does it mean when venison sausage goes bad?
However, if you notice your sausage turning an off-color or developing a slimy texture, it most likely means that it’s gone bad. At this point, you’re better off throwing the sausage away. It’s also important to know how to store venison sausage properly. To ensure the best quality, wrap the links in plastic wrap.
Is venison sausage good for family?
Venison sausage can make for a delightful family dinner, and I’m sure everyone in your family would love it. That’s another reason why you want to make sure you’re serving your loved ones a healthy, fresh piece of meat.
