Deer meat?

AmberElaine84

My husband informed me that he is going to get us a 1/2 deer from a friend of his who hunts. I was wondering how to cook deer meat and what to make with it. I've had deer salami and deer jerkey, but I've never really cooked with it. Any suggestions? TIA:flowerforyou:

AmberElaine84

My husband informed me that he is going to get us a 1/2 deer from a friend of his who hunts. I was wondering how to cook deer meat and what to make with it. I've had deer salami and deer jerkey, but I've never really cooked with it. Any suggestions? TIA:flowerforyou:

fit4fun

yum yum....if he gets it processed, you can have deer sausage (yummy in spaghetti sauce), ground (mix half/half with ground beef to make an amazing chili), You can grill the sausage up and serve on buns or cut up with pretzel spears, also, if you take the tenderloin, and batter it in egg and flour, and fry in olive oil, OMG, delish! I know these aren't the healthiest options, just telling you how my fam does it. Also, you can just stick a deer roast in the oven with veggies, just like you would a beef roast.

But be careful. Deer is very lean, which can turn into dry and tough. So be careful not to overcook it. I would also google some recipes. Good luck!

LokiFae

We use ground venison in anything that calls for hamburger. It's very lean (to the point where if you fry it for tacos or hamburger helper you don't even really have to drain it) and about as organic as you can get. We also have venison steaks and roasts once in a while. You can use it pretty much exactly the same as you would use beef. And I always feel better giving it to my son since it's so natural and lean. Have fun experimenting!

Poison5119

Man, I'm jealous. I love deer meat! I know killing Bambi doesn't appeal to a lot of people, but OMG, it is tasty. I roast it for 30 minutes. And my cats just me to death...!

Anna_Banana

When you have it processed you need to have beef tallo (I think that's right) added in. That helps keep it from getting dried out. We always have ours processed like a beef. I cook the roasts like I cook a beef roast (some deer have a gamey taste so don't, but I add an onion soup mix to help cover it). The deer burger I use like I would hamburger (except we don't eat them as hamburgers because they are drier and may have a gamey taste), I love to use it in casseroles or spaghetti. With the steaks I tenderize them with one of those little hammer things and then make chicken fried steak with them or bake them in mushroom soup, or cut them in strips and make fajitas or stir fry with them. The steaks really can't compair to a beef steak.

If you want any recipes or have any questions you could pm me.

ErinRNinMaine

Here's a site that has some great-looking recipes. I just love deer meat-it can be a little gamey tasting, so some people have to get used to the flavor. But as others have said, it's very lean and good for you. Keeping my fingers crossed that my hubby gets his deer this season.

http://www.hidetanning.net/VenisonDeerMeatRecipes.html

Carrie6o6

My dad is a hunter and I am getting 2 deer. I just cook it like normal meat... but I guess I am used to the taste growing up with it. Elk is strong. I wont eat ground venison because it tastes too wild. Steaks are not bad I find though.

elliott062907

As for me, I eat deer all the time. I have found that it is a better quality then hamburger nad sometimes you will need to marinate over night depending on the cut. Back Strap, steaks....

It is less fatty, doewsn't shrink up when cooked.....

I think there are several web sites you can go to for deer recipes as well.


Good Luck...

clewliss

My DH and I put up a deer last night and we have found that part of the secret to getting rid of the gamey taste is to let it "bleed" out. Also, let it sit in a sink of salty ice water for a few hours before putting up. You can take bite-size pieces and deep fry them, dip them in ranch and they are good like that, too. I usually batter up pieces for the family, but with mine I just stick them in the oil without the batter and they are fine! Lots of things you can do with deer meat and it's good & healthy!

jamerz3294

Proper preoccessing is what it's all about Alfie! When caredd for correctly, venison is fantastic! the back straps are tender and juicy, the steaks are awesome, and the ground stuff is great for sausage, burgers, and meat loafs.
the real trick in coooking Venison is to NOT over cook! Serve rare to (at most) medium rare, and it will be nice and tender and quite falorful.

msarro

One of the first things a *lot* of people will tell you is that you have to do something to get rid of the 'game' flavor. This is pretty much impossible. The 'game' flavor comes from deer living on plants found in the wild, and not on corn/grain like domesticated meat animals. Its part of the meat itself and you can't get rid of it. I grew up eating it, and honestly its awesome.

Anyhoo, you can use it in pretty much any way you'd use beef. I *highly* recommend making chili with ground venison. You can also make burgers, steaks, roasts... whatever. I'm guessing its getting processed so most likely the butcher will give you a variety of cuts so you can take your pick. It's also healthier for you!

laurabelle25

I, my family, and my fiance are HUGE hunters, we actually live off our deer meat for most of, if not the entire part of the year. Last year my fiance got 135lbs of meat from his deer, and we STILL have a ton left!

But like everyone else, I use the ground venison in anything like a casserole, tacos, spagetti, lasanga, chili, soups, etc. and cook it just like you cook the hamburger. (and i'm w/ everyone else in that the ground venison is a little to strong just on it's own, so i never eat it as a hamburger or anything.) We do get ours processed somewhere, and i know i've heard of people putting in a little bacon fat (which you can get at any grocery store and most processing places already have it) and that adds a little flavor, plus grease for it to cook on. otherwise ours gets really dry.

As for steaks....OMG...they're great, so tender. Just make sure you always marinate them in something, that cuts the gamey taste down to nadda. We do a italian dressing/worshershire mixture, then season the steaks w/ McCormick steak seasoning. Or we've bought marinade at the store, like Chipolte and Lime, or Cajun (we like it spicy) and it's awesome.

Also, allrecipes.com has some good recipes for venison. and you can also look up any ground burger recipe and just switch out for venison.

Enjoy!
-Laura

AmberElaine84

Thanks guys! :flowerforyou: We will take it to get processed somewhere... I am so excited to try cooking it in all these different ways!

I used to be SO against eating "Bambi", but my husband tricked me once a few years back by giving me some deer salami and telling me it was just regular 'ol beef, and it was delicious! And if we can get good, lean meat for cheap I say why not!

pettmybunny

My husband isn't a hunter, so we don't have it these days, but when I was in college, my boyfriend used to saute it with potatoes and onions and beer. It was delish!

LifeChanges42

My hubby, his dad and his brother process at my brother-in-laws. The best part of course is the tenderloin. My husband just cooked some the other night. My son is allergic to eggs, so my husband dipped the thinly sliced (1/4" thick) pieces in water, then put them in a mixture of flour and spices. He cooked it on our electric griddle instead of using a frying pan and OMG!!!!!!!!! It was the best venison I had ever had. When it was gone I told him he had to get at least one deer this hunting season, but I would prefer for him to get two.

Eve23

Very yummy:bigsmile:
OUr favorites for deer are done mostly in the crock post since I don't love cooking. First a nice jar of salsa and a roast, or backstrap steaks. It becomes very tender and tasty.

Second one is some tomatoes, onions and peppers salt and pepper with the same cuts of meat. You canadd like a swiss steak seasoning if you like but its not necesarry at all. Then just add over the top of rice.

We love the burger. It makes very yummy burriotos or anything else.

Enjoy:bigsmile:

GettingThin08

Deer meat is a hard thing to cook...You have to be careful...

You are very lucky...We been dieing for some deer lol...

Anyways it all depends on how it comes...

You can make...
*Deer Burgers
*Deer Nuggets
*Deer Stew
*Grilled Deer
*Deer Ribs
*Many more

Like I said it all depends on how it comes...How its processed....

Ezzie

Will second or third the emphasis on two things...

One..processing. Watch out for the scent glands on the legs, if you get ANY of the scent, or surrounding hair on the meat it will taint anything it touches...or gets ground with. IMHO that is what makes for the 'gamey' taste.

Also...unless you process your own (we do) only take it to someone you trust, all too often your burger meat gets thrown in with whomever's and comes out yucky. You will probably also be amazed that half a deer comes back in a bag (or box) not much bigger than what you'd carry for lunch!!!:laugh:

Don't let anyone talk you into hanging it for a week (or whatever). We've been processing ASAP and have never had a tough deer.

Haven't ever had deer that taste gamey (if cared for properly) from Michigan....so the diet here seems to be fine.

Two....Overcooking is probably the worst thing you can do. If you don't like meat med rare(pink in the center) stick to stews, burger, and the like.

One of my favorites is tenderloin or steaks. Cook bacon and onion in pan first, don't need much, maybe two slices chopped, a small onion. Remove from pan, quickly sear meat 1-3 min on a side, throw the onion and bacon back in. Turn OFF heat, cover, leave on the burner for 10 min. Check and if the meat is starting to 'weep' (release its juices) cut into a piece...should be nice and pink inside. If you have the patience, remove the meat make a quick gravy with the pan drippings serve over meat....yummy!!!!:bigsmile: