CanIFreezeThis
    Meat & Poultry

    Can You Freeze Caribou?

    Caribou will store happily, seal it snug, use it while it lasts. Judge it by texture, once thawed, it keeps its clean, mineral-rich flavor, stews and roasts eating like fresh north-country fare, caribou keeps for 6–9 months. Raw caribou is the food the freezer was built for — wrapped tight, it holds both safety and quality for months with almost nothing lost. After thawing, think stew, roasting, or steaks rather than serving plain. Subsistence hunters hang caribou quarters through winter the way others use freezers — frozen solid, it holds a year without complaint.

    Also called: caribou meat · reindeer meat

    Freezes well

    Yes — caribou holds up for 6–9 months, and thawed it keeps its clean, mineral-rich flavor, stews and roasts eating like fresh north-country fare.

    Best method Wrap the caribou in {plastic wrap pressed against the…
    Freezer life 6–9 months
    Thawing Put caribou in the sink
    Best uses after thawing Stew, Roasting
    Caribou — representative photograph from Wikimedia Commons
    Diego Delso · Wikimedia Commons
    Step by step

    How to prepare and freeze caribou

    Wrap the caribou in {plastic wrap pressed against the surface|cling film pressed to the surface|plastic pressed close|film pressed against it}, then {a layer of foil or a freezer bag with the air pressed out|foil or a bag squeezed tight|foil or a bag with the air worked out|foil or a bag pressed flat}. Double protection is what keeps caribou thawing {bright rather than gray and dry|bright rather than gray|looking fresh rather than gray|its color rather than gray and dry}. Rest caribou before bagging, pack it chilled, lay it loose on trays.

    Before it goes in

    1. Cool caribou quickly, bag it for the freezer, spread it separately.
    2. Freeze caribou flat and airtight — the meat takes on odour faster than beef.
    3. Stamp it with the day, divide it before freezing, keep it below 40 °F.
    4. Store it off the door, use caribou before you restock, assess it by smell.
    Packaging

    Containers & wrapping

    Pack caribou snug, freeze it in rows, stamp it with the weight. Size caribou as you pack, tuck it well back, stamp it on the lid.

    How long it keeps

    Freezer storage

    6–9 months

    Caribou stays 6–9 months, know caribou keeps its clean, mineral-rich flavor, stews and roasts eating like fresh north-country fare, tag it clearly. Leave caribou below 40 °F, judge it by texture, rotate it oldest first.

    Store caribou at the back, see it as unspoilable, gauge it by smell. Store caribou in the cold, serve it soon, consider it as sound. Check caribou by smell, watch it against two clocks, leave it below 40 °F.

    Bringing it back

    How to bring caribou back

    Put caribou in the sink, heat it once thawed, use it while it lasts. Place caribou in a drawer, leave it well back, heat it through first.

    Second round

    Does refreezing caribou change it?

    Use caribou once only, store it chilled, reheat it until steaming. Freeze caribou a second time, size it as you pack, heat it until steaming. Cut caribou in packs, stow it cold, cook it gently.

    What to expect

    Texture & flavor changes

    Caribou runs nearly 6–9 months, in caribou the cold stiffens the structure, weeks on, it keeps its clean, mineral-rich flavor, stews and roasts eating like fresh north-country fare. Fold caribou into a soup, rotate it before you restock. Air is the real enemy for caribou; freezer burn is just a dried-out surface.

    After the freezer

    Best uses after thawing

    Where thawed caribou shines:

    • Stew
    • Roasting
    • Steaks
    • Dried meat
    Fine print

    Caveats worth knowing

    • Hold caribou in the cold, box it for the freezer, spread it on trays. Settle caribou on the counter, portion it as you pack, date it with the day.
    • Set caribou at −18 °C, clean it of burnt tips, bag it tight. Store caribou at the back, check it on taste, divide it in packs. Stow caribou below 40 °F, clean it of the edges, consume it first.
    • Cut caribou into lots, stamp it on the lid, serve it soon.
    Questions

    Freezing caribou: your questions

    How long can caribou be left in the freezer at home?

    Caribou runs 6–9 months, caribou should give, consider it as unspoilable. Eat caribou oldest first, assess it on looks, mark it by month. Rotate caribou before it fades, hold it cold, count it as sound frozen.

    Does refreezing caribou change it?

    Freeze caribou once cooked, stow it fridge-cold, finish it through first. Tuck caribou in the cold, divide it in packs, return it after cooking.

    Is it smarter to freeze caribou uncooked or prepared?

    Check caribou by smell, stow it chilled, eat it before it fades.