Washing game meat

[Ucsdryder]

I butcher quite a few animals. The only time I rinse is if there’s guts on the meat. I also ice age and often the meat is swimming in the water. So I’m not worried about a little water.

 

[SmokeNFeathers]

It depends.

I only "wash" big game if there's unintentional gut bacteria on something. I've hosed out a carcass (or two..) before after having a knife slip during the gutting process, but generally, no other rinsing or washing. It dies, gets skinned and hung up (whole or in pieces) and then when I cut it, it's clean and in the package just from trimming. Once it's out of the package, it just gets patted dry, or prepped for whatever it's getting turned into.

I've seen places that take carcasses in like beef and they get the blowtorch treatment before going in the locker... I've never done that with a deer, but I don't see how it hurts anything.

Birds, on the other hand, almost all get brined. So, if that counts as "washed" to get rid of excess bloodshot or feathers, then yes. And a pretty plucked bird always gets the blowtorch before being cleaned up in the sink. Birds see much more water in the cleaning/prep process than any big game critter at my house.