Freezing meat

[hookjunior]

Those of you process your own deer what is your prefered method of packing. Do you use freezer bags, butcher paper, or do you vacuum seal it? I have access to a vacuum sealer but the bags seem kind of spendy just wondering if I would be better of buying a big roll of butcher paper instead.

[Hd Wtr Hillbilly]

I have used both ways...cant really tell a difference. I use the foodsaver for my cuts of steak. All of my roasts and everything else gets done in freezer paper (cheaper and faster).

[reinhard1]

i use the vacume pac for home use items and if i need to marrinade meats or freeze meals for camping trips. for deer i use freezer paper. you can buy a 18 in roll at sam's or a meat supplier for around $30 and it will last a long time. wrapped properly your venison will be fine for a year + .i also wrap my fresh venison sausage and smoked in freezer wrap also. good luck.

[sticknstring]

Vacuum seal the whole works. Buy off-brand bags at Wally world.

[Jameson]

Reynolds Freezer Paper bought at Cub. We go through a lot. It looks like I should look into the big rolls of butcher paper.

[ozzie]

i have alway wrapped the meat in saran wrap and then put into freezer paper and it seems to be good for the year I might have it....

[Lipriper84]

Ditto Ozzie,

The Saran wrap really makes sure that not much air will get to the meat. Never seen any Freezer burn and it last 1 year easy.

Found some in the bottom of the freezer that was 3 years old and fed it to my neighbors one year. I didn't tell them how old it was and they just kept saying how tender and fresh it tasted hahaha.

[reinhard1]

you are spending way too much money on freezer wrap at cub. since i am a retired meat cutter i was alway used to using large rolls of freezer paper so i just continued on. i have had mine now for 3 years. i have the stand that a 18 in. roll fits in. i dont know what they cost right now, i think mine was $15 and a 18in roll goes for around $30. then you get yourself a tape dispenser and a majic marker to label and date your stuff and your in buisness. good luck.

[mnbuckhunter]

I like to vacuum seal. I find it a little easier I guess but that's just me. The bags do make you choke every time you have to buy them though.

[buddha]

I vac sealed till my sealer broke and then I have been using saran wrap and wrapping it airtight and then freezer paper. That has worked very well. I love the vac sealer and I will get another but I am happy with the way I have been doing it now. Had a venison roast tonight with saran and freezer paper and it was awesome.

[Vickie]

reinhard1 --

Where did you get the stand and the large roll of freezer wrap?? I think that is a great idea. We use freezer wrap on our venison.

Thank you -- Vickie

[InTheSchool]

LEM sells paper, stands, etc. (even stamps). I process wild game and get left over meat from hunters all the time. IMO freezer paper keeps meat the best the longest. Most other methods have freezer burn in a year. Double wrap and your meat will keep at least two years.

[Spearing Machine]

Freezer paper for everything here too. Fleet Farm usually always has good deals on large rolls right around hunting season as well.

[96trigger]

2 gallon ziploc freezer bags. We put 10 lbs of venison in each bag, lay them flat, squeeze out as much air as possible, they take up very little room in the freezer, and are very stackable. When it comes time to process, we know exactly how much meat is in each bag, so we know how many bags to get out and thaw. We have kept them in the bags for a couple of years and they have been just fine. If you haven't tried it, it is really a slick way of doing it, especially if you process your own.