so i went to find the breaker had blown that my deep freeze had been plugged into. last time i checked it was about a week and a half ago so it culd havehappend anytime between then. everything was defrosted but somewhat still a bit cold to the touch. is the meat still safe? (its all venison or should i play it safe and just toss it?
freezer shut down
- Thread starter Qhergt
- Start date
Pull out some thicker meat from the bottom and cut into it. If it's icy inside than your freezer went south less than 3 days ago. I would toss anything that's "warm" on the outside. If it's still cool (fridge-cool) than it's likely safe. Cut a thin piece off the outside and pan fry it in salted butter. If it doesn't taste bad it's probably OK.
Still, I would maybe make some stews and freeze the stews.
Still, I would maybe make some stews and freeze the stews.
This is good advice. From larger roasts, cut an inch off the outside and you can still make jerkey or cured sausage... A large roast like an inside round will take a long time to completely go bad.
You could also can some of it. Canning meat will kill any parasites/e.coli and boiling long enough (internal temparature >80C) will remove any risk of botulism.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Sucks to lose contents of your freezer, Ive had that done twice, once because of a fuse and the last time by a contractor.....
A few years back I had some people doing work in my basement...when one of them was working in the freezer room he unplugged the freezer and forgot to plug it back in. I ended up tossing the meat which was mostly venison.
He asked me what it was worth ? How do I put a price on wild meat ?
Anyways he offered an upgrade on some flooring and I took it....worked ok in the end.
A few years back I had some people doing work in my basement...when one of them was working in the freezer room he unplugged the freezer and forgot to plug it back in. I ended up tossing the meat which was mostly venison.
He asked me what it was worth ? How do I put a price on wild meat ?
Anyways he offered an upgrade on some flooring and I took it....worked ok in the end.
just having some fun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
if it is still cold (thawed ) cook it
Have a big party
BBQ or smoker or oven make sausage
cook it and you can re freeze it and eat it no problem
what you can not do is refreeze thawed meet with out cooking it
but if you smell it and it smells bad
(like hambuger after a couple of days too many toss it)
Have a big party
BBQ or smoker or oven make sausage
cook it and you can re freeze it and eat it no problem
what you can not do is refreeze thawed meet with out cooking it
but if you smell it and it smells bad
(like hambuger after a couple of days too many toss it)
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
Dog food
No matter how long you boil water(212 degrees F at sea level) it will not acheive the safe sterilization that pressure canning of meat does(~240-250F). You typically need to do 1 quart containers of meat for 90 minutes at 10 PSI, or higher if at a higher elevation than 2000ft. I typically can a fair amount of my game meat so I can avoid the broken freezer scenario altogether.
coyote bait.... leech bait(for fishing bait).... zombie bait... 
dog food...
I had a very large freezer full of a friend's beaver pelts... skinned, but not fleshed yet.
A little over 200 fall beaver pelts.
Luckily I caught it within 24 hours, and everything was still frozen. Called my friend, and he came got them right away.
It could have been a disaster. The stink would have been horrid and the loss of the pelts would have been quite costly.
Always check your freezer, or get an alarm. Better safe than sorry.
Sorry to hear about your loss of lots of good meat though. That sucks.
dog food...I had a very large freezer full of a friend's beaver pelts... skinned, but not fleshed yet.
A little over 200 fall beaver pelts.
Luckily I caught it within 24 hours, and everything was still frozen. Called my friend, and he came got them right away.
It could have been a disaster. The stink would have been horrid and the loss of the pelts would have been quite costly.
Always check your freezer, or get an alarm. Better safe than sorry.
Sorry to hear about your loss of lots of good meat though. That sucks.
yup put some chunks of meat in a 5gl bucket fill with water and put it out side to freeze....Stops yotes from carrying the meat away into the bush this way they stay out in the open longer and you can shoot them.
There is a German delicacy where you take a beef roast and leave it on your counter until it turns green. Then you cut off the outside of the roast (whatever is green) and roast the inside. Tasted pretty good.
