How Long Is Deer Sausage Good For In The Freezer? A Hunting Guide

As an avid hunter one of my favorite parts of the hunt is being able to enjoy the meat long after the season ends. Venison sausage is a tasty way to preserve your deer meat but like all food, it doesn’t last forever. Knowing how to properly store and freeze deer sausage will ensure you can enjoy that smoky, savory flavor for months to come. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about freezing deer sausage, from prep to storage. Let’s dive in!

Preparing The Deer Sausage For Freezing

After you’ve harvested your deer and had the meat processed into sausage, the first step is proper packaging Here are some tips

Package sausage into serving sizes – I like 1 pound packages for easy thawing and cooking.
Use freezer-safe materials like vacuum seal bags, plastic freezer bags, or freezer paper. Remove as much air as possible prior to sealing.
Label packages with contents and date. This lets you know what it is and how long it’s been frozen when you go to use it.
Allow sausage to chill in the refrigerator before freezing. Don’t freeze right after processing or packing.

Letting the sausage chill ensures it freezes evenly throughout.

Freezing Your Deer Sausage

Once your packages are prepped, it’s time to pop them in the freezer. Here are freezing tips:

Arrange packages in a single layer on freezer racks or shelves. This allows cold air to circulate evenly around each package.
Once frozen solid, packages can be stacked or stored upright. Just don’t block vents or tightly pack while still soft.
Maintain a constant 0°F freezer temperature. Use a thermometer to monitor. Fluctuating temps leads to freezer burn.
Avoid opening the freezer frequently or adding large amounts of unfrozen items, as this raises the temperature.
Consider a chest freezer just for meats if you harvest a lot of venison. The cold air stays contained when closed.

How Long Does Deer Sausage Last In The Freezer?

Now let’s get into that big question – just how long is frozen deer sausage good for? Here are some general freezer life guidelines:

Fresh sausage: 2-3 months for best quality. Up to 4 months is okay but quality declines.
Smoked/fully-cooked sausage: 4-6 months for optimal flavor and texture.
Sausage patties or links: 2-3 months for best results.
Raw ground venison: 3-4 months until noticeable freezer burn.
Venison roasts & steaks: 6-12 months if well packaged.

As you can see, most deer sausage keeps best quality for 2-6 months in the freezer. But with proper packaging, temps, and storage, it can last up to a year before losing too much flavor and texture.

What happens if you go past these times? The sausage will still be safe to eat, but deteriorating texture and taste will be noticeable. If freezer burn is present, trim it off before cooking. Defrost and cook venison sausage within 1-2 days for food safety.

Tips For Freezing Deer Sausage

Follow these simple tips for freezing your venison sausage like a pro:

Let sausage chill in the fridge before freezing. Don’t go straight from stuffing to the freezer.
Package in ready-to-cook portions like 1 pound. Avoid giant bulk packages.
Use quality freezer bags or paper, and press out all excess air.
Label each package with contents and freeze date for easy identification.
Quick freeze at 0°F or below. Use a thermometer to monitor your freezer.
Once frozen, packages can be stacked neatly. Maintain organized freezer space.
Cook frozen sausage within recommended times for optimal texture and flavor.
If freezer burned, trim off affected areas before cooking. Sausage is still safe to eat.

Thawing Your Frozen Deer Sausage

When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen venison sausage, proper thawing is key. Here are some thawing tips:

For quick thawing, place vacuum sealed sausage in cold water. Change water every 30 mins to defrost evenly.
Thaw sausage in the refrigerator overnight. This is the safest method and minimizes bacterial growth.
Microwave defrosting is okay, but cook sausage immediately after thawing. Don’t let it sit and grow bacteria.
Never thaw sausage at room temperature or by running hot water over it. This promotes unsafe bacterial growth.
Cook thawed sausage within 1-2 days. Do not refreeze thawed sausage without cooking it first.

Be sure to follow USDA guidelines, only thawing as much sausage as you will use within a couple days. Refreezing thawed raw sausage can lower quality and create a food safety risk.

Can You Refreeze Thawed Deer Sausage?

You may be wondering if you can safely refreeze thawed venison sausage. Here are some key factors:

Raw thawed sausage should never be refrozen without cooking first. Bacteria multiplies rapidly at room temp.
Sausage thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen safely if done immediately. Don’t let it sit out.
Sausage thawed in cold water can also be refrozen right away. Change water regularly while thawing.
Microwave thawing is riskier. Best to cook sausage directly after microwave thawing.
Pre-cooked or smoked sausage thawed in fridge can be refrozen, but quality may decline slightly.

The bottom line – only refreeze thawed raw sausage if you do so promptly after fridge or cold water thawing. Cook sausage thawed by microwave before refreezing to eliminate bacteria.

Signs Your Deer Sausage Has Gone Bad

No one wants to bite into a spoiled sausage. Here are some signs your frozen venison sausage has gone bad:

Unpleasant odors – smell should be meaty. Rotten or sulfurous smell means toss it.
Discoloration or grayish tint to meat. Should be bright pink to red when thawed.
Unnatural sticky or slimy texture after thawing. Bad sausage feels tacky/wet.
Presence of mold – dry fuzzy spots or discolored blotches.
Significantly dried out, hard, or crumbly meat. Freezer burn can cause this.
Expired freeze dates. Toss if frozen over recommended time limits.

When in doubt, remember the old adage – if it smells funky, it’s junky! Off odors, textures, or appearances typically mean your sausage has spoiled.

Storing Leftover Cooked Deer Sausage

Let’s say you thawed some deer sausage, cooked up a tasty batch, but have some leftover. Here’s how to store those leftovers safely:

Refrigerate cooked sausage within 2 hours after cooking. Don’t leave at room temp.
Store leftovers in shallow airtight containers. This prevents drying out.
Use leftover cooked sausage within 3-4 days for optimal freshness and flavor.
Freeze extra cooked sausage in portions if you won’t eat it within 3-4 days.
Reheat cooked sausage leftovers to 165°F. Boiling, sautéing, or microwaving all work.

Following proper refrigeration guidelines prevents bacteria growth. With proper storage, you can enjoy leftover deer sausage for days to come.

Key Takeaways On Freezing Deer Sausage

Storing your venison sausage properly is key to enjoying your hard-earned harvest long into the off season. Keep these tips in mind:

Prep correctly before freezing. Chill, package in servings in quality bags/wrap.
Quick freeze at 0°F immediately after packaging. Maintain constant freezer temp.
Store frozen sausage no longer than 2-6 months for best quality and taste.
Thaw using fridge or cold water methods. Cook raw sausage within 1-2 days.
Only refreeze thawed raw sausage if done promptly after fridge/water thaw.
Cook sausage thawed by microwave before refreezing to prevent bacteria.
Refrigerate lefto

How Long Does Deer Meat Last In A Deep Freezer?

FAQ

Does deer sausage go bad in the freezer?

Some say that frozen venison will keep in your freezer for up to 2 years. Ground meat and sausages will keep well 1-2 days in the refrigerator and 2-3 months in the freezer. Smoked sausages will last 2-3 months in the refrigerator and 5-6 months in the freezer.

Is 2 year old Frozen venison still good?

That being said, the USDA offers a recommendation of the maximum time to keep your deer meat frozen is 12 months. Frozen deer meat is obviously good beyond the 12 months. It just will not have the freshness and quality of flavor it would have if you were to eat it within 3 months’ time.

How long is deer meat good in the freezer?

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.

How long is vacuum sealed venison sausage good for?

Raw Meats – Raw meats can be kept up to 10 day when vacuum packed before needing to be cooked or frozen. In comparison, raw meat that is not vacuum packed will only last 3-5 days in the refrigerator before turning.

How long does deer meat last in the freezer?

Like most things that are ultimately frozen, there is an ideal period within which the item should be thawed and used. Anything over this time and the quality of the item will not be good. So, deer meat will easily last in the freezer between 3-9 months — that’s the ideal period. Smaller cuts should only be stored for about 3 months.

How long does deer meat last?

Smaller cuts should only be stored for about 3 months. Larger cuts (like steaks or roasts) can last a little longer, between 6-9 months. Again, your deer meat will likely still be safe to eat after this time, but the quality of the meat will not be great. Always thaw and use venison within 12 months of freezing (at the very most).

How long can you keep deer meat after thawing?

As advised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you can keep deer meat in the fridge for two to three days after thawing. They generally recommend storing the venison frozen until cooking time. This is because any meat that was frozen and then thawed deteriorates more quickly. A piece of general advice is to store the meat at 40 °F or less.

How do you freeze deer meat?

Wrap the deer cuts securely in high quality freezer paper to prevent freezer burn and to avoid contaminating one meat with the odors of another. Click here for a diagram on how to properly wrap meat for the freezer. To allow quicker freezing, try and arrange the packages in the freezer so they are not touching any other packages.