Now that deer hunting has come to a close, it’s time to connect your hard work with your taste buds and decide how to cook the lean meat. So from chewy jerky to warm hearty stew, let’s take a look at few great ways to turn your wild game into tasty foods that’ll warm you right up after a crisp day of hunting.
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Deer Jerky
One of the most popular uses of deer meat is jerky. Don’t forget, wild game should always be treated by freezing it for at least 30 days, then thawed in the fridge before slicing and marinating it. Once the meat is ready, use soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper, or other sauces and seasonings of your choice to marinate your jerky. After marinating, dry in a dehydrator or oven preheated at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Tip – Dry until the jerky cracks when bent. NOT breaks. This should be checked at the 3-hour mark of drying Boom! Now it’s time to enjoy! (And don’t forget to store it for later.) -
Grilled Venison Steaks
Trick of the trade – always marinate the deer meat before putting it on the grill, and be very careful using salt because it can dry the meat out. Grilling the steaks is the easy part. Marinate or simply apply cooking oil to both sides of the meat. Don’t forget to remove the connector tissue (the part that looks silver) before grilling as this can leave a bitter taste. Place on the grill. Cook it to your desired level and serve! -
Venison Stew
Using deer meat adds a tasty twist to your traditional hot stew. Grind up the deer meat and brown it in the bottom of a stew pot. Throw in a little bit of flour, some water, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other veggies you of your choosing. Once you have all your ingredients in the pot, cover and simmer on low heat in the stew pot for at least an hour. It’s that easy, and that delicious!
No matter your hunting method, your prized buck will taste incredible and these techniques will be the perfect way to have your hard work pay off in a savory way.