freezing deer meat

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Robinsons Rebel
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freezing deer meat

Post by Robinsons Rebel »

Just curious about people that process their own deer meat. What do you use when you freeze it? Do you use freezer paper , vacuum seal bags or ziplock bags? Lately I've been leaving the hind quarters intact and wrapping with freezer paper which seems to be doing good.
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by xcaliber »

Freezer paper for anything we're eating in the next few months, the rest is vacuum sealed. Freezer bags are OK, but for short term in my opinion.
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Carnivorous
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by Carnivorous »

Wrap with good quality plastic rap and remove all the air. Meat will keep for up to 2 years and no messing with a bag sealer! :)
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by DuckHunt »

For anything intended for human consumption, I use a vacuum sealer. But I put away almost as much "doe pops" for my dogs for treats. The head, hide and ribs are the only parts that don't end up in the freezer. For the dog treats, I use zip lock bags. They never complain about any freezer burn but I do
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Timbrhuntr
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by Timbrhuntr »

I always did the wrap in double saran wrap and then wrap in freezer paper usually doesn't last longer than a year anyway but no freezer burn. This year I bought a vacuum sealer to try out ! I have to say so far I like it way quicker to bag the meat than with the double wrap method.
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ThunderXB
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by ThunderXB »

I don't really like freezer paper, if I knew I'd be using within 45-60 days, it would be OK but not my first pick, too many freezer burn experiences and paper taste.

My OCD method is to wrap tightly and generously in plastic wrap and then vacuum seal that bag.

Sometimes vacuum seal bags lose their seal, with the plastic wrap you have additional safeguard.

I try hard to eat up my venison within a year, it tastes better and makes room for new incoming stuff.

IF I didn't have a vacuum sealer, I'd double wrap in plastic wrap and wrap that tightly with freezer paper.
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by Wyoming1 »

Double plastic wrap then freezer paper cheap easy and works well.
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by Boo »

If you use freezer paper, use the stuff that has plastic attached to one side. Normally I use vacuum bags but from experience, if you wrap it right with the good paper, 2 yrs later theres very little freezer burn.
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by gerald strine »

For the first twenty years of butchering we always used the plastic wrap and paper and it was pretty good but slow .
But for the last twenty years I just use Zip lock freezer bags , but the trick is I only put in enough meet that will fill one iron skillet with out over crowding and before closing the bag i work, squeeze,manipulate the meet into the bottom corners of the bags from the out side then roll the bags on them self and then do the seal.
This eliminates air pockets and the meet is good for at least a year and freezer burn is not really a issue.
Also Zip lock haze a vacuum bag that works well but cost twice the price of the freezer bags that comes with a tool that you place over a valve seal and hand pump to suck all the air out it is nifty and it works well but I get fine results with the regular freezer bags working the meet to get out the air pockets then rolling the bag on its self then sealing .
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by robertyb »

I straight bag my ground venison 1 lb (single man) to a quart freezer bag and squeeze it into all the corners making sure I get almost all the air out before making the last 1.8" zip to seal tight. I can get 2 years easy with no freezer burn doing so. I wrap my larger cuts in Saran wrap and then bag them up as tight as possible in 1 gallon freezer bags and do the same getting all air out with the same results.
I am sure a vacuum sealer would help a tad but to me it is not worth the cost.
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bigbowman
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by bigbowman »

I use the vacuum seal & vacuum bags on all of my meat. Works awesome on my own processed venison! I never worry about it getting freezer burnt because our venison doesn’t last that long! We eat a lot and the kids and grandkids usually grocery shop from the freezer when they come to visit! Lol
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by Smong2000 »

I cut my own deer into the main muscle groups without bones, fat, or connective tissue, then double wrap in plastic with each plastic layer in perpendicular direction to the other, then use gallon freezer bags to put several of the wrapped chunks in and squeeze all the air out. I go a little OCD and label with the identity of the muscles, date, sex, and anything else that seems important. When ready to prepare, I can take one or many of the wrapped chunks out, partially thaw, and cut as needed. Sometimes it is the whole chunk or 2 in a slow cooker if labelled 'old buck' or cut into steaks, kabobs, stew, or ground for meatloaf and chili. I have 'lost' meat in the freezer for 2 years and it comes out fine.
I think it is always better to leave the meat in the largest pieces possible to prevent drying and oxidation in storage.
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by AJ01 »

bigbowman wrote:
Sat Dec 14, 2019 9:00 am
I use the vacuum seal & vacuum bags on all of my meat. Works awesome on my own processed venison! I never worry about it getting freezer burnt because our venison doesn’t last that long! We eat a lot and the kids and grandkids usually grocery shop from the freezer when they come to visit! Lol
And I thought I was the only one who had a ravenous horde of underlings raiding my freezer!! :lol:

Vacuum seal is the only way. Like bigbowman said, "it don't last long at my place"!!! :thumbup:

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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by rayman »

Nearly all of mine that is not cooked while fresh goes into sausage or hamburger. The bulk sausage and hamburger are put into packing bags with a packing kit. A friend that worked in a butcher shop got me started doing it like that and it was life changing. Links go into vacuum sealer.
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Re: freezing deer meat

Post by grouse »

When using freezer Ziploc type bags I fill the sink or a large bowl with water then dip the packed bags into the water as close to the top of the bag as possible before sealing. The water forces the air out of the bags. You can also close the bag from both sides around a drinking straw and suck the air out as you quickly seal the bag. It also helps prevent freezer burn when you rinse the meat just before bagging to create a light glaze on the meat. Turn the packages over about an hour after you put them into the freezer to re-distribute the moisture. The light glaze helps to prevent freezer burn.
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