Did I just lose all of my deer meat?

[Kbhillhunter]

I went to get something from my chest freezer this weekend and was horrified to learn that it had been shut off, probably for about five days. It was the first time it had been opened but almost everything was defrosted.

I had a large frozen turkey sitting in the middle of the chest, and had stored all my venison around it (not having had a chance to organize it yet). Some of the packages closest to the turkey were still cold to the touch, those further were less so. Steaks are all vac sealed, ground is in plastic bag tubes.

Before turning it back on I threw a thermometer in to see what the temp had gotten to and it was just above 40*. I just cooked and ate one of the packs of steak that was cold to the touch. It had no offensive smells, colors, or textures. But not everything was this cold.

I feel like I know the answer to this question but I'm just sick about the thought of having to toss my entire stock of venison.

 

[bsnedeker]

Your nose is the best tool you have to tell you whether something is good or bad. You are probably fine if stuff only got up into the 40's but just smell everything when you open it...if it smells good it's good.

 

[ORHunter]

I would say it's probably all fine. It's an old wives tale that you can't defrost meat and freeze it again.

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[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I’d pull everything out and see what is salvageable. For everything questionable I’d see about giving it to someone that runs hounds.

Going forward buy alarms to let you know when power is lost. Or get into the habit of doing daily checks.

 

[Brooks]

I had a whole semi truck load of prime US beef once and the reefer unit went down. The meat company said get it fixed ASAP and if the temp inside the trailer doesn’t get warmer than 40 keep going. The meat left the plant at 28 degrees and never was frozen.

 

[Kbhillhunter]

The temp at the top well well above 40 but closer to the turkey it was hovering at 40. I already threw out anything that wasnt completely vac sealed at the bottom that was covered in the run off.

 

[Laramie]

Did you mix fat with your burger? If so, that is all ruined imo. Steaks closest to the turkey are likely ok but use your nose and best judgement. Food poisoning isn't something you want to take a chance on.

 

[Kbhillhunter]

Did you mix fat with your burger? If so, that is all ruined imo. Steaks closest to the turkey are likely ok but use your nose and best judgement. Food poisoning isn't something you want to take a chance on.

Most of the ground is straight venison. Anything with pork or beef fat I tossed.

 

[bsnedeker]

Most of the ground is straight venison. Anything with pork or beef fat I tossed.

Why?

 

[Kbhillhunter]

Why?

Because I was flustered and pissed off and it seemed like the right the to do at the time, to be completely honest.

 

[grfox92]

If that freezer was at 40* and the meat was cool to the touch, then the meat is fine.

Just unpackage, rinse and smell the meat. If it's bad, it will smell like rotten meat. If it doesn't smell like rotten meat, it's not bad.

I would go through all of it asap and repack it and get it back in the freezer asap. I'd be willing to bet none of it is rotten.

I spent 4 years in management for a major grocery chain, you would be shocked to learn how long meat can stay out of refrigeration without any issues.

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[*zap*]

Get your canner going.

 

[Drenalin]

I spent 4 years in management for a major grocery chain, you would be shocked to learn how long meat can stay out of refrigeration without any issues.

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How long?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Once had a 5 cubic foot freezer full of meat, domestic and wild game, lose power during the summer. The freezer was in the garage.

Was out of town for a week and a half. Went in the garage and the smell was horrific; much worse than a week after archery elk. Had to throw everything out. Then all the bad meat got to stew in the AZ sun and the vacuum sealing popped on all of it. Got to sit in the trash can for 6 full days. The whole neighborhood smelled like death. Am surprised no cops showed up looking for a dead body.

 

[Red Letters]

I feel for you, I had the same thing happened but my entire freezer full of meat was green by the time I found it.
On a related note, I have thrown away steaks that turned grey/brown from sitting in the fridge too long. After I looked into this I realized I had been throwing out good meat, that same off colored meat will turn red again once you put heat to it. As others have mentioned smell is a better indicator whether meat is spoiled or not.

 

[Vrybusy]

Just had this happen to me last month. Lost a 1/2 of angus beef, two deer, 1/2 pig, turkey, etc... the freezer was packed! Pricey for sure., but my mistake as I must not have shut the door completely. I was only able to save a couple pieces that were in the middle and still nearly frozen. Like others said...follow your nose, but when in doubt, I would discard it - not worth the risk.

 

[DerkPerk]

Like mentioned above, temp monitoring alarms are a must! I have them on my 3 freezers set to alarm at 32*.

https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Read-R...ocphy=9052610&hvtargid=pla-306980181305&psc=1


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[Rich M]

I just wet aged some beef steaks - vac sealed in a refrigerator for 10 days. Thinking your vac sealed meat is just fine.

I lost a freezer full of stuff - we were on vaca and came home to a funky smell... There was no saving that stuff.

 

[ChrisAU]

Happened to me when I moved into a temporary rental. I unplugged my freezer, put it on a trailer and hauled ass 30 minutes to the rental and plugged it in. Good to go. Made sure it powered up, closed it, cut the lights off and closed the door. Well, the switch to the lights cut all the power in the garage. It was during a hectic time and it was a week or so before I went to get something out, in the middle of the summer. Ran a ratchet strap around the freezer and tossed the entire thing. It was awful. Deer, ducks, doves. Gone.

Edit: I now have a freezer monitor that sits on the counter in the kitchen that alarms when it gets below a certain temp. Works great, shows live temp on the screen. A few different ones on Amazon.

 

[Marble]

Because I was flustered and pissed off and it seemed like the right the to do at the time, to be completely honest.

Don't worry about it. It happens.

I've had the power go out and my freezer fail to where everything was thawed. Like said above, your nose is your best friend here. If it gets smelley it's done.

But like said above, meat kept in the lower 40s for a day or two can be just fine. Just because the inside temp is 40, doesn't mean the meat is.

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