Some states also have laws concerning the amount of wild game that can be stored in a home. How long does everyone keep the meat on ice or in a cooler before they begin processing it?? Warnings. Keep in mind that simply recovering a deer won’t stop spoilage. If you keep the meat covered with water you must change the water every 2 days. However, you can prepare venison, or deer meat, in such a way that the gamey flavor is removed by soaking it in water before cooking. It's especially handy in the event of a disaster. I keep my last elk in a cooler on ice for almost 7 days and no harm done. How to Soak Venison in Water. The key to it is make sure the meat is well drained. Young deer typically need to age for less time than older deer. Venison does not contain fat, as deer store their fat underneath their skins, making venison a very lean cut of meat. Getting your meat into a cooler and on ice as soon as possible is the first step to the best outcome for your dinner table. Using a different knife than the one I gutted the deer with, I boned, cleaned and iced down the rest of the meat in a cooler, and after a few days of aging on ice, I processed the hindquarters for the freezer. You don’t want it to get over 40°F. The age of the animal also determines ageing time. Replies (0) Options Top. I aged two deer this way last week, killed them Saturday morning and wrapped and froze them on Wednesday. Add ice each morning and evening as needed. Keep water drained off. My line of thinking is that I didn't really want the meat sitting in the same junk that I … In a walk in cooler or ice chest. There is a temperature sweet spot where it is warm enough to keep the meat from freezing, but still cold enough to inhibit bacteria growth. will keep on ice for 5 days easily....I know people who soak deer meat in ice water for that long in order to draw blood out and reduce the gaminess.... Just a horrible practice. If there is ice, and it is replenished, it will last at least a week. To prevent the meat from resting in a pool of water, I open the drain on the cooler and prop the opposite side a few inches into the air. How long will raw deer meat last in a cooler with ice? Avoid the meat from spoiling or absorbing other smells from food by using an unused refrigerator. You can go as long as 5 days. This is the next best thing to having a walk in cooler. I pull the drain plug and tilt the cooler so it drains fully. Two years ago, we lost that option, so I use a rotomolded cooler. If you go much colder than 34 you will freeze the meat and wreck the tenderness. As long as the meat is kept below 40 degrees, you can age them much longer than you might think. The exact amount of time you have before the meat starts to spoil is … Keep in mind that there are legal requirements for the storage of deer meat. Do you keep a stock of survival food for you and your family in case of an emergency? Regular ice (from water) is not recommended; it can create a lot of water that can leak from your package and does not keep very cold very long. The more rapidly the organs, blood and hide are removed, the faster the meat will cool, and the better the meat will be. Quarter the deer and remove backstraps and inside loins, layer the meat over the ice in the cooler and then cover the meat with additional ice. … Pour the saltwater mixture over the venison. There’s nothing wrong with a little splash of flavor enhancement, but try lighter flavors that complement the flavor of deer meat, and keep the marinade time short. As long as the ice is melting, it will (slowly) drain over the meat and out of the cooler. I understand that most home processors will not keep their meat in a cooler that long. Sep 21, 2015 #2 Banjo Old Mossy Horns. … Place cuts of venison onto the ice. Place ice in the bottom of a large plastic cooler, or in several coolers, and place a shallow rack on top of the ice. Fill a large bowl or bucket halfway full with ice. I like to put the shoulders on the bottom, so I can save them for last. I have to do the aging myself. I have found that leaving it packed in ice will draw most of the blood out of the meat … My usual maximum is three or four hours. Constant drainage will keep the meat fairly dry. One Year: There are two methods to keep meat edible for the long stretch. Generally speaking, I’m coming home with hind legs and loins in my backpack. How long do you soak deer meat in salt water? I lay some ice in the cooler, some meat, some ice, another layer of meat. How to Pack Ice Cream With Dry Ice for Traveling. Victoria Bailey, Leaf Group . Many states have laws requiring harvesters of deer meat to consume all of the meat within one year, and in all cases before the next hunting season. Hot weather deer hunting means being ready to cool down the meat as fast as possible to keep it from spoiling.