moose/deer cooked medium rare?

I

idunno1987

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
56   0   0
Ok I have done enough searching on google no make my eyes bleed :D

is it safe to eat deer/moose cooked medium rare

Ive seen so many variances in opinions as to parasites and what not

id just like to know if its safe to eat my venison like I eat my steak :)
 
I'm not a health expert, so take this with a grain of salt (no pun intended)...

If the deer/moose is dressed, cut and packaged under near-sterile conditions, never allowed to re-warm after being chilled, is frozen properly with no container/package damage, is kept a minimum of freezer time (6-8 months?), is thawed safely, never cross contaminated with other raw products, and cooked immediately upon reaching refrigerator temperature... you should be able to eat it rare.

In other words, it is not the meat that could have parasites and e-coli, but the meat's interaction with something along the way contaminating it that will cause problems.... but then again, all meat is like that.

However, most wild animals suffer from kidney worms, liver flukes and other parasites that live in the abdomen: cook that stuff well!
 
Some folks like venison medium rare. Bacteria on whole cuts, like steaks or roasts, usually are just on the surfaces so these cuts can be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F. All ground venison needs to be cooked to at least 160 degrees F. When you grind meat, you spread any bacteria present throughout the entire batch. Venison soups, stews, casseroles and leftovers need to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.


But on the other hand, our neighbours up north eat cariboo, moose, bear and seals all raw!!
My cat has been eating raw deer meat for 3 years, 20 chunks a day for 3 years. She is still going strong.
 
Last edited:
The reason so many people turn their noses up at wild game is because it's cooked until it resembles shoe leather...

I don't like shoe leather.

8425_152661025515_526315515_3984961_4433301_n.jpg
 
tigrr said:
But on the other hand, our neighbours up north eat cariboo, moose, bear and seals all raw!!
My cat has been eating raw deer meat for 3 years, 20 chunks a day for 3 years. She is still going strong.
Click to expand...

And how do you know that folks who have been eating this raw meat have not acquired parasites?
Knew a chap who picked up a tapeworm from raw food. He wasn't aware of it until he had a bit too much beer, had some digestive distress, and expelled a good sized chunk of the critter. Too much detail? It did respond to anti parasite medication. Lung parasites have also turned up.
I've eaten raw caribou, char, seal. As far as I know without a acquiring a pet.
But it doesn't mean that there can't be problems.
 
As others have said,if you are happy witht the way the meat has been handled and everything is clean you are good to eat it rare. I butcher my own deer so I'm confident that it is safe to eat cooked any way. That being said use common sense if it smells off then don't eat it.
 
idunno1987 said:
what kind of parasites can you get from undercooked deer? or is any sort of infection in humans rare?
Click to expand...

Worms, fluke, trichinosis, some bacteria types. Theres a lot of stuff. I use a meat thermometer and cook to internal temp of 162F to be on the safe side. Certain cuts of meat are probably worse than others. Each type of game seems to have its own set of parasites and they can vary from region to region. Some health sites list types, such as the CDC, however some of them are abit vague.

Mainly I got the fear of Tularemia from rabbits :p
 
USP said:
Worms, fluke, trichinosis, some bacteria types. Theres a lot of stuff. I use a meat thermometer and cook to internal temp of 162F to be on the safe side. Certain cuts of meat are probably worse than others. Each type of game seems to have its own set of parasites and they can vary from region to region. Some health sites list types, such as the CDC, however some of them are abit vague.

Mainly I got the fear of Tularemia from rabbits :p
Click to expand...

Good point. I just finished some rare deer steaks, tommorow I will pick up a meat thermometer.
 
homer_ said:
Good point. I just finished some rare deer steaks, tommorow I will pick up a meat thermometer.
Click to expand...

From what I gather, the disease risk is somewhat low. However if you do manage to get a parsite, worms or worse the treatments are harsh and you can end up being sick for awhile.

If somebody wants to eat thier game alittle pink, its a free country and I can see how they would like that, I however errr abit on the cautious side, but that is just me.
 
cooking wild game

I cook my deer/moose roasts like a pot roast.....in liquid to keep it from being too dry......and it ends up well done.
But, my godson and I have spent evenings by the campfire roasting bits of venison over the flames with sticks and dipping the meat in a bit of BBQ sauce...wonderful......
 
Im thinking that most of us freeze their game after processing.

I also think all problem parasites are killed when frozen to death, and thawed in the fridge and not on the counter top, so not to activate any new bacteria.

Sure hope Im right cause Ive been eating deer steak on the rare side for thirty years, and if Im wrong I must be a super living parasite host.:D
 
I like my meat rare and I go for sushi once a week. The food tastes so much better this way and you don't destroy the flavor and nutrients in the meat associated with over-cooking. If you're really worried, worm pills are cheap, but I've never needed them.
 
7mmlefty said:
I also think all problem parasites are killed when frozen to death, and thawed in the fridge and not on the counter top, so not to activate any new bacteria.
Click to expand...
Freezing does NOT guarantee anything ! trichinosis ,does not die being frozen , that said , trichinosis is a bear, pig and certain other critter disease , not Cervids (deer, moose etc... ) According to a very knowledgeable source (conservation) deer , moose , elk, etc... do not carry human infectable dieases , parasites etc.... , BEAR does ! never eat bear or pork raw ,! Trichinosis is pretty much a guarantee (in MB at least ) rabbit has 1 tapeworm species that can go to human , fowl carries salmonella and spoils rather quickly , fish has mega tapeworms that infect humans as well as salmonella etc.... be careful what you eat med rare or rare , but deer and moose and the like are ok
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom