When people ask, “How long does deer sausage last in the fridge?” it can be hard to give a straight answer. It’s awful to put your hard-earned deer meat in the fridge in case you want a midnight snack or to make a nice meal, only to find that it doesn’t look that fresh anymore. There are a few important things you need to know before you can make the best choice about whether to save or throw away your deer meat.
Hey folks, Im Larry. The recipes on this page come from my time as a chef, my hunter travels, and my time as a dad. I get ideas for my food from these things, so it can be anything from fun and creative to traditional and comfort food made in the family style.
As an avid hunter one of my favorite parts of the hunt is being able to enjoy the meat long after the season ends. Venison sausage is a tasty way to preserve deer meat but like all food it doesn’t last forever. Knowing how to properly store and freeze deer sausage will ensure you can enjoy that smoky, savory flavor for months to come. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about freezing deer sausage, from prep to storage.
Preparing The Deer Sausage For Freezing
After you’ve harvested your deer and had the meat processed into sausage the first step is proper packaging. Here are some tips
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Package sausage into serving sizes – I like 1 pound packages for easy thawing and cooking,
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Use freezer-safe materials like vacuum seal bags, plastic freezer bags, or freezer paper. Remove as much air as possible prior to sealing.
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Label packages with contents and date. This lets you know what it is and how long it’s been frozen when you go to use it.
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Allow sausage to chill in the refrigerator before freezing. Don’t freeze right after processing or packing. Letting the sausage chill ensures it freezes evenly throughout.
Freezing Your Deer Sausage
Once your packages are prepped, it’s time to pop them in the freezer. Here are some freezing tips:
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Arrange packages in a single layer on freezer racks or shelves. This allows cold air to circulate evenly around each package.
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Once frozen solid, packages can be stacked or stored upright. Just don’t block vents or tightly pack while still soft.
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Maintain a constant 0°F freezer temperature. Use a thermometer to monitor. Fluctuating temps leads to freezer burn.
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Avoid opening the freezer frequently or adding large amounts of unfrozen items, as this raises the temperature.
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Consider a chest freezer just for meats if you harvest a lot of venison. The cold air stays contained when closed.
How Long Does Deer Sausage Last In The Freezer?
Now let’s get into that big question – just how long is frozen deer sausage good for? Here are some general freezer life guidelines:
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Fresh sausage: 2-3 months for best quality. Up to 4 months is okay but quality declines.
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Smoked/fully-cooked sausage: 4-6 months for optimal flavor and texture.
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Sausage patties or links: 2-3 months for best results.
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Raw ground venison: 3-4 months until noticeable freezer burn.
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Venison roasts & steaks: 6-12 months if well packaged.
As you can see, most deer sausage keeps best quality for 2-6 months in the freezer. But with proper packaging, temps, and storage, it can last up to a year before losing too much flavor and texture.
What happens if you go past these times? The sausage will still be safe to eat, but deteriorating texture and taste will be noticeable. If freezer burn is present, trim it off before cooking. Defrost and cook venison sausage within 1-2 days for food safety.
Tips For Freezing Deer Sausage
Follow these simple tips for freezing your venison sausage like a pro:
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Let sausage chill in the fridge before freezing. Don’t go straight from stuffing to the freezer.
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Package in ready-to-cook portions like 1 pound. Avoid giant bulk packages.
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Use quality freezer bags or paper, and press out all excess air.
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Label each package with contents and freeze date for easy identification.
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Quick freeze at 0°F or below. Use a thermometer to monitor your freezer.
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Once frozen, packages can be stacked neatly. Maintain organized freezer space.
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Cook frozen sausage within recommended times for optimal texture and flavor.
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If freezer burned, trim off affected areas before cooking. Sausage is still safe to eat.
Thawing Your Frozen Deer Sausage
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen venison sausage, proper thawing is key. Here are some thawing tips:
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For quick thawing, place vacuum sealed sausage in cold water. Change water every 30 mins to defrost evenly.
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Thaw sausage in the refrigerator overnight. This is the safest method and minimizes bacterial growth.
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Microwave defrosting is okay, but cook sausage immediately after thawing. Don’t let it sit and grow bacteria.
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Never thaw sausage at room temperature or by running hot water over it. This promotes unsafe bacterial growth.
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Cook thawed sausage within 1-2 days. Do not refreeze thawed sausage without cooking it first.
Be sure to follow USDA guidelines, only thawing as much sausage as you will use within a couple days. Refreezing thawed raw sausage can lower quality and create a food safety risk.
Can You Refreeze Thawed Deer Sausage?
You may be wondering if you can safely refreeze thawed venison sausage. Here are some key factors:
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Raw thawed sausage should never be refrozen without cooking first. Bacteria multiplies rapidly at room temp.
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Sausage thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen safely if done immediately. Don’t let it sit out.
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Sausage thawed in cold water can also be refrozen right away. Change water regularly while thawing.
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Microwave thawing is riskier. Best to cook sausage directly after microwave thawing.
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Pre-cooked or smoked sausage thawed in fridge can be refrozen, but quality may decline slightly.
The bottom line – only refreeze thawed raw sausage if you do so promptly after fridge or cold water thawing. Cook sausage thawed by microwave before refreezing to eliminate bacteria.
Signs Your Deer Sausage Has Gone Bad
No one wants to bite into a spoiled sausage. Here are some signs your frozen venison sausage has gone bad:
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Unpleasant odors – smell should be meaty. Rotten or sulfurous smell means toss it.
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Discoloration or grayish tint to meat. Should be bright pink to red when thawed.
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Unnatural sticky or slimy texture after thawing. Bad sausage feels tacky/wet.
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Presence of mold – dry fuzzy spots or discolored blotches.
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Significantly dried out, hard, or crumbly meat. Freezer burn can cause this.
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Expired freeze dates. Toss if frozen over recommended time limits.
When in doubt, remember the old adage – if it smells funky, it’s junky! Off odors, textures, or appearances typically mean your sausage has spoiled.
Storing Leftover Cooked Deer Sausage
Let’s say you thawed some deer sausage, cooked up a tasty batch, but have some leftover. Here’s how to store those leftovers safely:
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Refrigerate cooked sausage within 2 hours after cooking. Don’t leave at room temp.
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Store leftovers in shallow airtight containers. This prevents drying out.
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Use leftover cooked sausage within 3-4 days for optimal freshness and flavor.
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Freeze extra cooked sausage in portions if you won’t eat it within 3-4 days.
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Reheat cooked sausage leftovers to 165°F. Boiling, sautéing, or microwaving all work.
Following proper refrigeration guidelines prevents bacteria growth. With proper storage, you can enjoy leftover deer sausage for days to come.
Key Takeaways On Freezing Deer Sausage
Storing your venison sausage properly is key to enjoying your hard-earned harvest long into the off season. Keep these tips in mind:
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Prep correctly before freezing. Chill, package in servings in quality bags/wrap.
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Quick freeze at 0°F immediately after packaging. Maintain constant freezer temp.
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Store frozen sausage no longer than 2-6 months for best quality and taste.
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Thaw using fridge or cold water methods. Cook raw sausage within 1-2 days.
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Only refreeze thawed raw sausage if done promptly after fridge/water thaw.
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Cook sausage thawed by microwave before refreezing to prevent bacteria.
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Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and eat within 3-4 days.
Following proper venison sausage freezing, thawing, and storage guidelines will ensure you get the most out of your processed deer meat. With these tips, you can enjoy delicious venison sausage safely for months after the hunt.
Did You Thaw The Sausage After Freezing?
This is one of the most important things you should think about when figuring out how long your sausages will stay fresh in the fridge. If your meat was in the fridge for a long time before it was frozen, it will shorten the time that your sausages will last.
For example, let’s say you frozen the deer meat two days before it went bad. You then made sausages out of it and frozen them. This will indeed shorten the shelf life of any game meat. If this sounds like you, I suggest you eat any uncured sausages within two to three days of when they were first thawed.
Visually Checking Sausages For Quality:
To see if your sausages have gone bad, take them out of their containers or wrapping and look at them without anything else on them. This may take you a little time, but it is simply your safest bet. You want to look for any signs of mold and check for any foul or off odors. But not all spoiled foods will have these tell-tale smelly signs of spoilage.
The unnoticed growth of harmful bacteria may be lurking and can make you sick. But this isnt meant to scare anyone. If you’re worried, you can either cook any precooked sausages to the USDA’s recommended internal temperature for reheating leftovers or throw them away.
If it is raw sausages that you are concerned about, I would simply dispose of them. At the end of the day, you must use your best judgment or seek.
the help of a professional for testing.
How Long Does Deer Meat Last In A Deep Freezer?
FAQ
Is deer meat still good after 2 years in the freezer?
Is sausage still good after 2 years in the freezer?
How to tell if deer sausage has gone bad?
How long is vacuum sealed venison sausage good for?
How long does deer meat last in the freezer?
Like most things that are ultimately frozen, there is an ideal period within which the item should be thawed and used. Anything over this time and the quality of the item will not be good. So, deer meat will easily last in the freezer between 3-9 months — that’s the ideal period. Smaller cuts should only be stored for about 3 months.
How long do venison sausages last in storage?
Venison sausage lasts for 2-3 months when stored at 0°F or lower using a vacuum sealer or freezer paper. Smoked venison sausages can last for 2-3 months at 40°F or below, while smoked venison lasts for 5-6 months under the same conditions. Discard any venison or venison sausage that becomes off-color or slimy.
How long does deer meat last?
Smaller cuts should only be stored for about 3 months. Larger cuts (like steaks or roasts) can last a little longer, between 6-9 months. Again, your deer meat will likely still be safe to eat after this time, but the quality of the meat will not be great. Always thaw and use venison within 12 months of freezing (at the very most).
How long should ground deer meat be frozen?
Ground deer meat should be consumed within six months of freezing. This is because ground meat has more surface area exposed to air than whole cuts of meat, making it more susceptible to freezer burn and spoilage. When consuming frozen venison, it is important to cook it thoroughly to kill any potential bacteria.