How long does deer meat last in the freezer?
How long does deer meat last if frozen? 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 can you keep venison 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. On the other hand, ground venison will keep from going bad for three months before starting to deteriorate.
What causes Freezer Burn on deer meat?
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 do you pack deer meat for the winter?
According to the USDA, deer steaks and roasts can stay fresh for 9 months if frozen at 0 degrees but for ground deer meat you can keep for about 3 months before it starts going bad. This will protect the quality of your deer meat, as well as keep it safe from harmful bacteria that thrive at room temperature but can be killed by freezing
Can you eat 2 year old frozen deer meat?
Properly stored, frozen venison will maintain best quality for about 9 months in the freezer, although it will usually remain safe to eat after that. ... Frozen venison that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely, as long as it has been stored properly and the package is not damaged.
Does deer meat go bad in the freezer?
Venison should be stored frozen until preparation for cooking. Properly wrapped or packaged venison can be stored in a freezer for 9-12 months. To avoid quality deterioration, never refreeze thawed venison. Always thaw venison properly in a refrigerator or in a microwave.
Can you eat 3 year old frozen deer meat?
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. ... Typically, venison is marinated before cooking to tenderize the meat and add balance to the strong, gamy flavor that characterizes it.22-May-1991
How can you tell if frozen deer meat is bad?
Most packages come frozen and must remain so until you prepare it. Signs of frozen liquid in the packaging means it's been frozen, defrosted and then frozen again. The color of venison is a deeper red than beef. Check for coloring that has started to go gray, which is a sign that the meat is going bad.19-Jul-2020
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.
Packaging Recommendations for Frozen Venison to Stay Good in the Freezer
Before you put the meat inside the freezer, there is a risk of bacteria. The progressions of bacteria stay down at 30 to 35 degrees and stop all action when the meat starts freezing.
Vacuum Sealing Process
To keep the meat fresh this one is the most potential process of all. Venison in plastic bags will stay good for 4 to 6 months; in freezer paper, it will last 8 to 12 months, but if you use a vacuum sealer bag the meat will last more than a year.
How do I know if the Frozen Venison is not Spoiled?
After long-term preservation when you take the sealed packet out of the freezer make sure it’s not ruined. You should always check your frozen meat for spoilage and foodborne illness. Remember to defrost your venison in the freezer for 12 hours for the best defrosting result.
Conclusion
I hope you had a good understanding of how long you can preserve your venison in the deep freezer or chest freezer. If you follow our recommendations you will be able to enjoy your meat beyond the hunting season.
