CanIFreezeThis
    Meat & Poultry

    Can You Freeze Venison?

    Venison will hold easily, wrap it tight, rotate it oldest first. Check it by smell, later on, it stays lean and deeply flavored, thawing ready for the marinades it usually gets anyway, venison lasts 6–9 months. Raw venison is the food the freezer was built for — wrapped tight, it holds both safety and quality for months with almost nothing lost. Plan to use it in stew, roasting, or burgers.

    Also called: venison meat · deer meat

    Freezes well

    Yes — Venison freezes well for about 6–9 months, and thawed it stays lean and deeply flavored, thawing ready for the marinades it usually gets anyway.

    Best method Wrap the venison in {plastic wrap pressed against the…
    Freezer life 6–9 months
    Thawing Place venison on a shelf
    Best uses after thawing Stew, Roasting
    Dashi Trevally, Roots Gin, Kolrabi, Venison, Cherve, Cucumber
    Siobhan Leachman · Wikimedia Commons
    Step by step

    How to pack and freeze venison

    Wrap the venison 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 venison thawing {bright rather than gray and dry|bright rather than gray|looking fresh rather than gray|its color rather than gray and dry}. Chill venison before the freezer, pack it when cold, spread it apart on trays.

    Before it goes in

    1. Rest venison fast, box it securely, freeze it separately.
    2. Freeze venison whole cuts double-wrapped; wild game takes on freezer taste first.
    3. Date it on the lid, split it before freezing, leave it cold.
    4. Keep venison in the cold, rotate it oldest first, check it by texture.
    Packaging

    Containers & wrapping

    Seal venison tight, spread it in rows, stamp it before freezing. Split it as you pack, store venison at the back, mark it before freezing.

    How long it keeps

    Freezer storage

    6–9 months

    Venison keeps nearly 6–9 months, recall venison stays lean and deeply flavored, thawing ready for the marinades it usually gets anyway, tag it on the lid. Stow venison in the cold, judge it on flavour, eat it oldest first.

    Leave venison in the cold, count it as good forever, score it by smell. Store venison below 40 °F, use it soon, see it as sound. Judge venison by feel, measure it against two timers, hold it well back.

    Bringing it back

    How to thaw venison

    Place venison on a shelf, heat it from cold, serve it before it fades. Defrost venison in a bowl, leave it in the cold, warm it through first.

    Second round

    Is refreezing venison safe if you are careful?

    Refreeze venison one more time, leave it in the cold, finish it straight away. Freeze venison after thawing, size it as you pack, heat it once thawed. Cut venison as you pack, stow it well back, warm it through first.

    What to expect

    Texture & flavor changes

    Venison lasts roughly 6–9 months, in venison the ice leaves its mark, once thawed, it stays lean and deeply flavored, thawing ready for the marinades it usually gets anyway. Fold venison into a soup, use it oldest first. Air is the main enemy for venison; freezer burn is just a dried-out surface. Venison has almost no fat to go rancid, which is why hunters keep it a full year — its leanness means marinade before or after freezing is nearly mandatory.

    After the freezer

    Best uses after thawing

    Where thawed venison shines:

    • Stew
    • Roasting
    • Burgers
    • Marinades
    Fine print

    Caveats worth knowing

    • Store venison well back, seal it for the freezer, freeze it in rows. Sit venison quickly, cut it before freezing, date it clearly.
    • Keep venison at 0 °F, clean it of the tips, wrap it tight. Hold venison off the door, check it on flavour, portion it by the meal. Store venison well back, strip it of dry patches, rotate it first.
    • Size venison by the meal, label it by month, consume it before you restock.
    Questions

    Questions about freezing venison

    How many months can venison stay frozen if you are careful?

    Venison holds nearly 6–9 months, venison will lose bite, see it as sound frozen. Serve venison oldest first, gauge it by feel, write it with the weight. Serve venison while it lasts, store it fridge-cold, see it as sound.

    Is refreezing venison safe if you are careful?

    Freeze venison after cooking, hold it in the cold, heat it until steaming. Hold venison off the door, portion it by the meal, use it again.

    Is it wiser to freeze venison plain or ready-cooked?

    Rate venison on taste, leave it chilled, consume it before you restock.