Crockpot Shanks

Schmo

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Apr 29, 2023
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Most of y’all have probably already known this for a long time. Found a very good use for deer shanks. In the past, they always went to the grinder for burger. They make an excellent roast in the crockpot. Put a shank in, add some beef broth and water, and toss in some potato chunks. Season roast liberally with Montreal steak seasoning. Cook on high for approximately 6 hours. It will basically fall off the bone and taste like a beef roast. Absolutely delicious. Also trying mid-roasts and blade roasts. I expect they’ll taste about the same.
 

rclouse79

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Dec 10, 2019
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I get pissed when I hear people leave them in the field. I started sawing off the ends so i can fit them in the crock post as well. The crock pot is a heck of a lot easier and more efficient than the big tin pans in the oven. What I do is cook them all day with a can of beef broth and seasoning. Then I take a pair of liner gloves and put plastic gloves over the top. After cooking all day the meat is ready to pull apart. The liners let me handle the meat when it is still hot. I separate out all the junk with my hands. Then get a cast iron pan piping hot with some oil and throw in just enough meat to cover the surface for 3 minutes. That puts a nice crisp on the meat. Best tacos you will ever eat. I usually mix in some taco seasoning after I pull it out of the crock pot before i crisp it up.
 
Joined
Dec 4, 2018
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2,508
If you have an instapot (spelling?) you can get those shanks super tender in like an hour. I like to saw them into a few chunks to get more of the marrow out while it cooks.
 
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
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San Antonio
Crock pot or pressure cooker, best part of the deer. I'll deboned Elk shanks and pressure cook them too.

Just like you said, shank, packet of ranch powder, packet of au jus powder, box of chicken broth, couple squirts of Worcestershire sauce and pressure cook 1.5 hours. Pop it open and toss in carrots, onions, taters, and some butter and cook another 30 mins, pop open and add 1.5 cups dry rice and cook another 15. Comes out amazing. Little bit of sea salt goes a long way as well, I do that depending on my mood.
 
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
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S. UTAH
I tried this for the first time last year with Pronghorn. No bone so sliced and browned then into the crock pot. Turned out great. This will be my go to for shanks going forward.
 

The Guide

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Aug 20, 2023
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899
Location
Montana
I no longer grind or trim shanks. Any cuts with lots of silver skin don't get trimmed either. All of these cuts get pressure canned. Cut them into 1 to 2 inch cubes, toss with granulated garlic and onion powder, and put those chunks into pint or quart canning jars. Pressure can (at your altitudes pressure requirements) for 90 minutes and put on the shelf until you need a quick meal.

Our favorite meal using the canned venison is a form of shepherd's pie. Make some mashed potatoes (or do microwaved baked potato's if you are in a time crunch), open the can of venison and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds to liquify the fats and gelatin in the broth, use the broth and water to make gravy, add the meat to the gravy once gravy is finished to cool the gravy and warm the meat, make some peas and carrots, make a bed of potato (mashed or baked), top with gravy and meat, add peas and carrots, and enjoy.

You can use the canned venison in anything you would use burger. Tacos, chili, stroganoff, spaghetti sause, or any other thing that uses burger or shredded meat.

Jay
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Messages
2,441
Location
San Antonio
I no longer grind or trim shanks. Any cuts with lots of silver skin don't get trimmed either. Allnof these cuts get pressure canned. Cut them into 1 to 2 inch cubes, toss with granulated garlic and onion powder, and put those chunks into pint or quart canning jars. Pressure can (at your altitudes pressure requirements) for 90 minutes and put on the shelf until you need a quick meal.

Our favorite meal using the canned venison is a form of shepherd's pie. Make some mashed potatoes (or do microwaved baked potato's if you are in a time crunch), open the can of venison and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds to liquify the fats and gelatin in the broth, use the broth and water to make gravy, add the meat to the gravy once gravy is finished to cool the gravy and warm the meat, make some peas and carrots, make a bed of potato (mashed or baked), top with gravy and meat, add peas and carrots, and enjoy.

You can use the canned venison in anything you would use burger. Tacos, chili, stroganoff, spaghetti sause, or any other thing that uses burger or shredded meat.

Jay
We use ours a lot for Carne Guisada tacos, plain Hamburger Helper type stuff, and Enchiladas.
 
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