I've even had meat thaw somewhat, and I refroze it. Never could tell any problems with it. Bushclass Instructor. Bushclass I. Mammoth has been Consumed lol thaw er out and make some elk Jerky dam I miss Elk jerky Kristopher Scout. I just ate a 3 year old package of venison that had got lost at the bottom of my chest freezer.
Threw it in the crock pot with some onions, mushrooms and beef broth. Ate it on good rolls with hot horseradish. It was delicious. I vacuum pack all of my meat when I process it, so I rarely have any freezer burn issues but it usually doesnt stay in the freezer for more than a year.
I don't know how this package got overlooked for so long. TWill Guide. Cook a small piece and honestly trust your nose and tastebuds. If you enjoyed it then all is fine, if it tastes off in any way adios Bambo. Empty Quiver Tracker. Joined Sep 14, Messages 84 Likes Remove any freezer burned spots and carry on. If in doubt invite the neighbors over for a mountain man night. Unfortunately all of my elk meat is now freezer aged.
A self defrosting freezer will accelerate the demise of your meat avoid them at all costs for long term storage. Vacuum sealing helps, as does packaging in ziplock bags instead of freezer paper. I gave up on freezer paper, its not very good for packaging meat in. And yes, modern freezers are much harder on meat than the older type, but using better packaging material helps also. Thanks for all input everybody. Thinner cuts lose their flavor faster, so try to use chops by the six-month mark.
By its nature, ground meat traps a lot of air within the individual fibers, so its susceptible to going sour quickly. Eat it first. Game birds, both upland and waterfowl, also deteriorate a bit faster, so plan on eating them within four to six months.
Any meat that slides past these best-if-used-by dates aren't necessarily inedible. If looks good and still smells okay, try a small bite. Freezer burned meat isn't dangerous to eat, but it is disgusting. The burned portion will have a dull taste and dry, leathery texture - kind of like mushy, bland beef jerky.
However, in all but the most extreme cases you can still save a cut that has been burned. Simply take a sharp knife and shave off any areas that are discolored and discard them. Then you can proceed with cooking as planned and your friends and family will be none the wiser. There are days between one opening day and the next, and enjoying the fruits or meats, as it were of our fun means caring for an animal from the time of the shot until it reaches the fork. With the right steps and a deep freezer, hunters can celebrate the eve of opening day with an elk steak from last season that still tastes fresh from the field.
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To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow. Get Digital Access. Subscribe To The Magazine. More Articles From Recipes. Freezer burn can be a problem, but it doesn't mean your meat is wasted. By David Draper. Learn More. Sign Me Up. However, wild game can be kept frozen for longer durations without compromising its quality. So, how long can elk meat last when kept in the freezer? And for how long will it stay good? We've looked into these questions and summed up the answers in this post.
Frozen, uncooked elk meat can retain top quality and flavor for up to 12 months at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. When the elk meat is ground, it can stay in the freezer for only 3 to 4 months. Cooked elk meat is good frozen for 2 to 3 months. Any further than these timeframes will start to affect the meat quality. In freezing elk meat, you should also know how to handle it properly. While elk meat can last long in the freezer, these conditions vary on whether the meat is raw or cooked.
Keep reading to learn how to thaw elk meat and how to determine if it's still good to consume. The USDA recommends keeping raw meat in the freezer for 4 to 12 months at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for best quality. Freezing meat slows down the movement of microbes that cause food spoilage. And so, you can still consume elk meat even when stored for a lengthy period but keeping it at a maximum of 12 months is better for safety purposes. The shelf life of elk meat changes when it is ground or cooked.
At most, in these states, the meat is safe for 3 to 4 months in the freezer. Flavor and texture changes may occur with a longer freezing time. Properly packaging elk meat before storing it in the freezer preserves its best condition. Follow these steps below:. Meat is usually consumable as long as it stays at a consistent temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder without interferences. Below are a few tips to help keep elk meat under these conditions:. The simplest way to defrost elk meat is by placing it in the refrigerator.
Doing so will allow you to refreeze any portions that will not be used or consumed.
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