How Should Venison Be Eaten?

The hindquarter cut is incredibly versatile and can be cut into steaks, tenderized, and cooked just like the loin; cut into cubes for low and slow method; use it in sauces; cut into strips across the grain and used in salads, fajitas, burritos, or on sandwiches.

Does deer meat have to be well done?

Venison is very low in fat and is best served medium-rare. This equates to an internal temperature of 57°C/135°F if you’re using a meat thermometer.

Is it OK to eat venison medium-rare?

Steaks. Venison can be cut into steaks just like beef, although the flavor is different. These can be grilled or fired to medium rare or rare. Over cooking any wild game makes it hard and chewy.

How is venison supposed to be cooked?

Tender cuts of venison should be prepared using quick cooking methods to a rare or medium-rare level of doneness (internal temperature of 120° to 135° F). If it is prepared past medium-rare too much moisture will be cooked out causing the meat to become dry and tough.

Can you eat venison pink?

Venison has a naturally deep red color that is much darker than beef, so you cannot rely on the color of the meat to judge its doneness. Venison will look incredibly rare when it is actually medium and if it looks a pink “medium” color, it is actually well done.

Can you get parasites from venison?

“Wild game meat, including venison, bear meat, and wild fowl may contain a variety of bacteria and parasites that can cause illness in humans if the meat is not properly cooked,” cautioned State Health Officer Karen McKeown. “Even healthy-looking animals can carry germs that can make you sick.”

Does venison get more tender the longer it cooks?

If you have access to a crock pot, use any recipe for beef pot roast and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. However, instead of cooking for two to four hours, venison may require substantially longer cooking time for the meat to become tender.

Can you get sick from undercooked venison?

Trichinellosis, also called trichinosis, is a disease that people can get by eating raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with the microscopic parasite, Trichinella. Persons with trichinellosis may initially experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting.

How long does venison take to cook?

Cooking times and settings are much the same as for any other meat. 1½– 2 hours in a medium oven is about right. All meats taste better if browned first. Marinating is not necessary with our tender venison but if you do then it will add extra flavour.

What should I serve with venison?

The best side dishes to serve with venison are steak fries, creamed spinach, cauliflower casserole, and baked beans. You can also include risotto, mac and cheese, dinner rolls, and asparagus. For healthier options, try serving cucumber salad, orzo salad, broccoli slaw, and roasted carrots.

Can you eat venison raw?

But here’s what you need to know to eat raw venison (deer, antelope, moose, elk, etc) as safely as possible: Shoot straight. Seriously. If’ you’ve gut-shot the animal, think twice about making it into tartare or carpaccio.

What does venison taste like?

When people describe venison taste and texture, they often use words like rich or earthy; this is a festive-tasting meat, often imbued with hints of the acorns, sage and herbs that the deer enjoyed during its life. It’s also considered to be less juicy and succulent than beef, but also smoother and firmer.

Can you eat venison steak rare?

The number one mistake people make when preparing venison is that they overcook it, rendering the meat rubbery and gamey. Tender cuts of venison should be served rare or medium rare unless you are braising it or mixing it with pork to add more fat.

Why is my venison tough?

“Freshly butchered venison — especially when it is in rigor mortis — will be super tough,” Cihelka said. When rigor mortis sets in, the animal stiffens. Hanging the animal prevents the muscles along the spine from shortening. This is why backstraps and tenderloin are tender.

How do I make venison taste like beef?

Although it does not have as much of an effect on the flavor, you can also soak and season steaks of venison to taste like beef by soaking the steaks in buttermilk for two days covered in the refrigerator. Dissolve the same amount of seasonings in 1/2 cup of water and then add the oil.

Is venison steak healthy?

It also contains a good amount of protein, with around 22.5 grams per serving. Despite its cholesterol content, venison contains less total fat and saturated fat than beef, pork, and lamb. This may make it a better option if you’re eating a heart-healthy diet or limiting your intake of saturated fat.

Do all deer have worms?

All deer carry parasites like these, and some of them are even vital, like the micro-organisms that live in a deer’s gut and help it digest food.

How can you tell if a deer has worms?

Arterial Worm
The 3- to 5-inch-long worms eventually cut down blood flow to the deer’s facial muscles, leaving it unable to chew and process food. That food forms a compaction in the side of the deer’s mouth, resulting in a large bulge on the jaw and leading to another common name for the parasite, lump or lumpy jaw.

How can you tell if deer meat is diseased?

Blood clots in muscle tissue, black blood, or greenish discharge from organs are also signs of disease. Tan or yellow lumps on the inside surface of the rib cage or in lung tissue may indicate tuberculosis, which has been found in deer in Michigan; humans can contract the disease by handling or eating the meat.

What is best to soak deer meat in before cooking?

Soaking: The most common soaking liquids are buttermilk, saltwater, white milk, vinegar, lemon juice and lime juice. While some hunters swear by certain soaking methods to take the “gamey” flavor away or bleed the meat after processing, others don’t find it all that helpful.

What do you soak deer meat in to tenderize?

Soak the venison in white vinegar for one hour after you have finished soaking it in the saltwater. This will help tenderize the deer meat and remove any leftover “gamey” flavor.