Can You Freeze Venison Heart? A Guide to Freezing and Cooking This Often Overlooked Cut

Venison heart is an underappreciated cut of meat that many hunters unfortunately discard or leave behind in the field. However, when properly prepared, the heart can be one of the most delicious and tender parts of the deer. If you want to make the most of your harvest, consider freezing the heart to enjoy later.

Should You Freeze Venison Heart?

Freezing venison heart is absolutely an option if you can’t eat it right away. In fact, freezing helps tenderize the meat, allowing you to enjoy a tasty meal later.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Clean the heart thoroughly before freezing. Remove all blood and rinse well. Blood left inside can give the meat an off-flavor.
Freeze the heart as soon as possible after harvesting the deer For best quality, freeze within 2 days.
Package the heart in an airtight container or plastic freezer bag. Squeeze out excess air.
Label package with contents and date. Store at 0°F or below.
Use frozen heart within 9-12 months for optimal freshness and flavor The sooner it’s eaten, the better

With proper cleaning and storage techniques, frozen venison heart retains excellent flavor and texture for enjoying later.

How to Clean and Prepare Venison Heart for Freezing

Proper cleaning and trimming is the key to delicious venison heart. Follow these steps:

Remove the heart shortly after harvesting the deer. Rinse under cold water.
Carefully trim away any exterior fat or blood vessels.
Butterfly the heart by slicing it open lengthwise through the center.
Remove interior connective tissues and valves. Rinse again.
Slice the heart into smaller, uniform cuts if desired. Or leave whole.
Pat the pieces dry with paper towels. Freeze in bags or containers.

Trimming the heart while still fresh makes it easier to clean thoroughly. Remove as much fat, gristle, and tissue as possible for the tenderest results.

Thawing and Cooking Frozen Venison Heart

Here are some tips for thawing and cooking your frozen venison heart:

Thaw frozen heart overnight in the refrigerator. Do not thaw at room temperature.
Cook thawed heart within 2 days for best flavor and texture.
Venison heart is delicious pan-fried, grilled, roasted, or braised. Cook to medium rare doneness.
Add seasonings like garlic, rosemary, thyme to complement the flavor.
Slice cooked heart thinly across the grain. It will be very tender.
Use in recipes like venison heart skewers, heart tacos, heart stew, or heart and vegetable stir fry.

With proper thawing and cooking, your frozen venison heart will retain its fantastic flavor and tender texture. Experiment with seasonings and recipes until you find your favorite preparations.

Why Should You Bother Saving Venison Heart?

If venison heart is new to you, you may wonder why hunters rave about this humble cut of meat. Here are some great reasons to save and savor the heart from your next deer:

It’s very tender and lean when properly trimmed. Similar texture to filet mignon.
Rich, beefy venison flavor. Some say the heart is the most flavorful muscle.
High in protein and nutrients like iron, zinc, selenium, B vitamins.
Freezing tenderizes the meat so it’s deliciously easy to cook later.
A little goes a long way. One heart provides several servings of tasty meat.
Utilizing the heart prevents waste and gets the most out of your harvest.

Venison heart often gets overlooked, but it can be one of the best rewards for your successful hunt. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!

Recipes and Cooking Tips for Venison Heart

While the heart requires careful trimming, it couldn’t be easier to cook. Here are some helpful tips:

Cook quickly over high heat. Venison heart should be cooked rare to medium-rare to stay tender.
Roast or braise for 2-3 hours until fork tender if desired.
Slice very thinly across the grain after cooking.
Add bold flavors like juniper berries, rosemary, garlic, or red wine. They pair well with venison.
Substitute venison heart in place of beef heart in recipes. Use in pasta sauces, stews, skewers.
Grill over very high direct heat, about 4 minutes per side. Top with chimichurri sauce.

With its beefy flavor and tender texture, venison heart is a versatile ingredient. Get creative with your favorite seasonings and cooking methods.

Final Tips for Freezing Venison Heart

Here are some final reminders for successfully freezing venison heart:

Always clean heart thoroughly before freezing. This prevents undesirable flavors.
Chill heart before packaging to firm up meat for easier handling.
Use freezer bags, plastic wrap, or vacuum sealing for ideal storage. Eliminate air pockets.
Freeze in single meal-sized portions for easy thawing as needed.
Label packages clearly with contents and freeze date. Use within 9-12 months.
Inspect packages before thawing. Discard if blood or large ice crystals are present.

Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have delicious venison heart waiting whenever you’re ready to enjoy it! Don’t let this nutritious and tasty meat go to waste again.

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FAQ

Can you freeze heart meat?

If you have more heart than you can use fresh you can freeze or add it to the grind for burger.

Does deer liver freeze well?

Storage Guidelines. Most cuts of venison may be stored for six to nine months in a freezer with the temperature at 0 F or below. Liver, heart, kidney, or tongue may be frozen for six months for best quality.

Does venison go bad in the freezer?

Venison should be stored frozen until preparation for cooking. Properly wrapped or packaged venison can be stored in a freezer for 9-12 months. To avoid quality deterioration, never refreeze thawed venison. Always thaw venison properly in a refrigerator or in a microwave.

How to thaw a deer heart?

Cold Water Method This is the fastest way to thaw your venison—it just requires a bit more of your attention. Leave your venison in its airtight packaging and submerge in cold tap water, changing out the water every 30 minutes so it continues to thaw.

Should you freeze venison?

Opting for fresh and high-quality venison is paramount to achieving a superior end result once the freezing process is complete. Venison, derived from deer, offers a unique and delectable flavor profile, but this exquisite taste can only be fully appreciated if the meat is of exceptional quality from the outset.

Can you freeze deer meat?

Freezing deer meat is an important step to cooking venison and should not be ignored. Deer meat, when stored correctly in a freezer, can remain safe to eat for an extended period. While the optimal quality and freshness of deer meat are best maintained within the first 3 to 6 months of freezing, it can still be safe to consume for up to 2 years.

How long does ground venison last in the freezer?

For example, ground venison freezes well but does not last nearly as long as other cuts. It won’t last as long in a freezer because the ground game has a lot more air. Air is the enemy of the freezer and ground deer meat tends to get freezer burnt more easily. Freezing deer meat that was ground, will last from 3 to 6 months in the freezer.

How do you clean a venison heart?

There is more than one way to cook a heart, which means there is more than one way to clean a heart. One way is to cut out the connective tissues while keeping it whole. Another way is to cut the heart crosswise into rings. However, this demonstration will show you how to clean a venison heart so you end up with three large pieces of tender meat.