Canning Deer

[Single_shot]

The wife and I have been canning deer meat for many,many moons.It makes the best stew/soup meat going. I found out long ago,that some of the pieces that you would normally grind or give to the dog,can up perfectly. That knarley part,the small muscle by the knee joint that the dog don't even wanna chew.....perfect for the canner.   We even take a jar and make stroganoff now and then with sour cream. Or drain the meat good and make pulled venison barBQ.

[Fletch]

I have been making canned venison for years. Learned from my Grandmother how. It is definetly super. I get a bit more picky with it and usually use steak and such and trim but that is just me.

One of my favorites is taking a can and warming up with a can of mushroom gray and a can of mushrooms and serving over egg noodles. And yes it does make great soups and stews.

[steve863]

What advantages does canning have over simply thawing out a piece from the freezer and making anything you want out of it?  If you have a good freezer and vacuum pack your meat it can last for a good long time, so I wonder what advantages canning can have?

[Single_shot]

What advantages does canning have over simply thawing out a piece from the freezer and making anything you want out of it?  If you have a good freezer and vacuum pack your meat it can last for a good long time, so I wonder what advantages canning can have?

I have the vac pac stuff too....but there's no way that vac pac meat in a freezer lasts 3 years without burn. Canned meat on a shelf in the basement will. And canned meat literally melts in your mouth. Try it 1 time and you'll never look back. Honestly.

[Single_shot]

I have been making canned venison for years. Learned from my Grandmother how. It is definetly super. I get a bit more picky with it and usually use steak and such and trim but that is just me.

One of my favorites is taking a can and warming up with a can of mushroom gray and a can of mushrooms and serving over egg noodles. And yes it does make great soups and stews.

You got that right.....we have it over noodles as well,we even throw in some green beans,yellow beans,peas,corn anything. It's all good. Over homemade bread toast is a big one for us as well.

[Doewhacker]

3 Years? I would have to kill 15 deer in one year to have enough to last me three years! The 2 or 3 I get are gone by the next fall, lol

I can see what you are saying about the really tough cuts getting better with canning but I grind that stuff. I though my mom was the only other person that canned stuff still. haha

[Culvercreek hunt club]

What advantages does canning have over simply thawing out a piece from the freezer and making anything you want out of it?  If you have a good freezer and vacuum pack your meat it can last for a good long time, so I wonder what advantages canning can have?

Biggest advantage is no juice required....the electric kind...LOL. It makes it great for taking to camp....camping...canoe...ect. if the juice goes out at home...no spoilage....and it does make even sub par cuts very tender. I have eaten it but never done it.....This coming fall it is on my list do try

[steve863]

What advantages does canning have over simply thawing out a piece from the freezer and making anything you want out of it?  If you have a good freezer and vacuum pack your meat it can last for a good long time, so I wonder what advantages canning can have?

I have the vac pac stuff too....but there's no way that vac pac meat in a freezer lasts 3 years without burn. Canned meat on a shelf in the basement will. And canned meat literally melts in your mouth. Try it 1 time and you'll never look back. Honestly.

I somehow think I would still trust meat with a little freezer burn sooner than I would canned meat that has been sitting around for three years.  I can see canning jams, tomato sauce, pickles, but meat somehow seems like more trouble than it's worth.  Like Doe said, the tougher parts can be made into ground meat.

[nyantler]

If you ever get a chance to taste canned venison.. you'll know what the advantage is.. its delicious and fork tender right out of the jar...

[hunter49]

I agree with NyAntler, also it makes great soups & stews. I made beef barley soup with canned deer instead of beef, it was great!

[NYDeer]

I've done pickles and other veggies, no venison, yet.

Another advantage is, one look at a home canned jar's lid & you'll know if if it's still good or not immediately.

Can't do that with frozen, just estimate.

[nyantler]

I must admit that what you see when you look into a jar of canned venison is less than appetizing, yet it is absolutely delicious

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I must admit that what you see when you look into a jar of canned venison is less than appetizing, yet it is absolutely delicious

Ditto things like raw clams

[Pygmy]

Especially the BEARDED ones... ...

Sorry..Just couldn't resist... ... ... ...

[Fletch]

Once you try it you will see the advantage. And yes it makes any cut tender. Also you can store without refridgeration for a long time. I personally would not go more than 12 to 18 months but who ever has it last that long?!!

[firehunter48]

3 Years? I would have to kill 15 deer in one year to have enough to last me three years! The 2 or 3 I get are gone by the next fall, lol

I would have to agree with you whacker, my father shot a nice 7 point with a bow that I acquired 2/3 of the meat from. I then when on to shoot my buck (8pt minus 1/2 the rack) and my doe on opening day. Needless to say i had A LOT of meat. As of right now, I would say we only have a total of 50#'s of meat left out of almost 3 whole deer.

Now as far as the canning goes, My father went on a caribou hunt many years ago and came home wit a ton of meat from the 2 bulls he shot. we canned probably 75% of that meat and it was good for at least 2+ yrs after........just my $.02

[firehunter48]

i obviously screwed up the quote section so my apologies............only the first paragraph was a quote from doewhacker

[Single_shot]

As with anything,we all get sick of eating it now and then,so yeah,3 years is'nt unreasonable to reach with canned meat. When times het tough,the tough can! lol...that's our motto here in the Thompson household. Raised 3 children with the wife and was'nt always easy.....so canning was a savior to us.