How Long Are Venison Sticks Good For? The Complete Guide to Storing and Enjoying Deer Snack Sticks

Venison snack sticks, also known as deer jerky sticks or summer sausage are a tasty treat that many hunters look forward to after a successful deer hunting season. However, questions may arise about the shelf life and proper storage of these ready-to-eat venison products. This comprehensive guide will provide all the details you need to know to properly store and enjoy venison sticks for months to come.

What are Venison Sticks?

Venison sticks are a type of ready-to-eat, shelf-stable meat product made from ground venison meat. They are similar to beef jerky sticks or summer sausage except they are made from wild deer meat instead of domesticated beef. The venison is mixed with spices and cure ingredients, stuffed into casings, smoked, and dried to create a chewy, flavorful, and portable snack.

There are a few different types of venison sticks

• Snack sticks: Small, bite-sized sticks around 3-4 inches long. They have a larger casing and are meant to be eaten as finger food.

• Summer sausage: Long rods around 1 foot long and 1-2 inches in diameter. They are usually more heavily spiced than snack sticks.

• Jerky sticks: Long, thin sticks around 6 inches long and 0.25 inches in diameter. They have a chewier, drier texture than other stick types.

No matter the shape or size, the shelf life and storage recommendations are generally the same across all venison stick varieties.

How Are Venison Sticks Made?

To make shelf-stable venison sticks without refrigeration, the meat goes through a process of grinding, mixing, fermenting, stuffing, smoking, and drying:

• The venison is trimmed of fat, tendons, and silverskin before grinding.

• The ground meat is mixed with salt, sugar, and cured with nitrates/nitrites. Spices and seasonings are also added for flavor.

• The meat mixture ferments at a controlled temperature to develop taste.

• It is stuffed into cellulose or collagen casings to form the sticks.

• The sticks are smoked at low temperatures for 1-2 weeks. This cooks the meat while adding a smoky flavor.

• They are air or oven-dried to around 1/3 of their original weight, which removes moisture so bacteria can’t grow.

The curing, smoking, and drying process preserves the meat by inhibiting microbial growth. This allows the sticks to be shelf-stable at room temperature once properly packaged.

How Long Do Vacuum-Packed Venison Sticks Last?

For maximum freshness and shelf life, venison sticks should be stored in vacuum seal bags or plastic freezer bags. Here is how long properly stored venison sticks will last:

• Refrigerator: Unopened, vacuum-packed venison sticks can last 2-3 months in the refrigerator.

• Freezer: Venison sticks can last in the freezer for 1-2 years without losing quality. Vacuum sealing prevents freezer burn.

• Shelf life: If kept sealed and stored at room temperature away from heat or sunlight, venison sticks can last for 2-3 weeks before drying out or spoiling.

Once opened, the venison sticks should be eaten within 1 week when refrigerated. They can also be frozen for later use. For best quality, try to use up refrigerated venison sticks within 5-7 days of opening.

Do Venison Sticks Require Refrigeration?

Most commercial venison sticks made by specialty meat companies are fully cooked and cured for shelf-stability. This means they can technically be safely stored at room temperature as long as they remain sealed in the original packaging.

However, refrigeration will extend the shelf life significantly. While they may technically last 2-3 weeks at room temp, for best quality and food safety, venison sticks should be refrigerated or frozen immediately after purchase. Refrigeration ensures you get the longest storage time possible.

If you made your own venison snack sticks and want to store them without refrigeration, they must contain cure ingredients and undergo a lengthy smoking/drying process to be shelf-stable. Without these precautions, homemade sticks must be refrigerated.

Tips for Storing Venison Sticks

Follow these tips for safe storage and maximum freshness:

• Store unopened venison sticks in the original packaging. Once opened, rewrap tightly in plastic wrap or place in resealable plastic bags.

• Keep all venison sticks refrigerated at 40°F or below. The colder the better for extending freshness.

• For freezer storage, wrap sticks tightly in plastic freezer bags. Squeeze out excess air and seal. Freezing prevents quality loss.

• Place sticks in moisture-proof and odor-proof packaging. Exposure to air, light or food odors can cause off-flavors.

• Avoid temperature fluctuations. Don’t leave venison sticks out on the counter or move them back and forth from the fridge.

• Use opened sticks within 5-7 days. Discard any that look dried out, smell off, or feel slimy.

• Label packages with the date. Write on the bag when you opened it and when it expires. First In, First Out.

• Store away from raw meats to prevent cross-contamination. Keep eggs, liquids, etc from leaking onto sticks.

Following these storage guidelines strictly will keep your venison sticks fresher for longer, ensuring you get to enjoy the fruits of the hunt to the fullest.

How to Tell if Venison Sticks Are Bad

It’s important to watch for signs of spoilage to avoid eating spoiled venison. Here’s what to look for:

• Mold: Mold or fuzzy growth anywhere means venison sticks should be discarded. Mold can penetrate deep into the product.

• Sliminess: A slippery, glossy texture or slime formation indicates bacterial spoilage.

• Discoloration: Green, gray, or brownish tinting may signal spoilage. Normal venison is purplish-red.

• Off odors: Venison sticks that smell sour, ammonia-like, or strongly gamey should not be eaten.

• Texture changes: Sticks that are stiff, dried out, or cracked probably exceeded their shelf life.

When inspecting the venison, if anything looks or smells off, it’s much better to be safe than sorry. Don’t risk eating spoiled meat.

Enjoying Venison Sticks

Once you’ve followed the proper storage recommendations, it’s time to start enjoying those venison sticks! Here are some serving ideas:

• Enjoy as a high-protein snack on hikes, at work, or on the go.

• Chop up sticks to add smoky venison flavor to salads, eggs, soups, pasta, or pizza.

• Serve sliced sticks with cheese, crackers and wine for an easy appetizer.

• Take on camping trips or hunting excursions for a filling and portable meat source.

• Bake or fry quickly to heat through if you prefer warm venison sticks.

Deer snack sticks are a convenient way to savor and extend the limited quantity of venison you harvested. Just be diligent with cold storage and proper handling to get the most out of your cured venison products. Follow these tips and your venison sticks should stay fresh and delicious for many weeks, or even years when frozen, after the hunt.