How to Store Venison Sausage? [Everything You Need to Know]

Whether you are a hunter or not, venison is a great alternative to other meats. The downside to delicious sausage is that it is very lean and dries out easily. Hence, you might be wondering how to store venison sausage!

You can store venison sausage in the fridge and freezer. Keeping it at room temperature for a certain time is also ok. You can store freshly bought or cooked deer sausage in the fridge for 2-3 days, while you can keep it in the freezer for up to 2 years. Cooked venison may last 1 week in the fridge.

Let’s see some ways to store venison sausage.

How to Store Venison Sausage?

If you are lucky enough to have some fresh venison sausage in your possession, you should cook it within a few days. Venison sausage is best cooked fresh, so it’s best to enjoy it while it’s still nice and juicy. If you have cooked venison sausage, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week.

But what about storing uncooked deer sausage. As we have mentioned earlier, you can store it in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature. Let’s get to know the detail about these methods.

1. Store Venison Sausage in the Fridge

If you just bought a venison sausage or made it using hunted deer, you can store it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

For the store-bought venison sausage fridge, it is in its original package. But if you need to use a few portions and preserve the rest, wrap it tightly in plastic or aluminum foil so it doesn’t dry out.

In addition, you can seal it in a plastic container and then put it in the fridge.

If your venison sausage is smoked, keep it in the refrigerator for two or three months at 40°F or below.

2. Store Deer Sausage in the Freezer

If you want to keep the venison longer, you can freeze it.

But how long does venison sausage last in the freezer?

While the exact time frame depends on the manufacturers. Hence, chefs suggest reading the label and instructions properly before you put it in the freezer.

According to some experts, you can store venison summer sausage for up to two years in the freezer. But, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture suggests freezing the venison for 9-12 months.

However, we don’t recommend storing it for that long as it may become tasteless and lose its texture. So, it is better to eat it within a month.

To store in the freezer, wrap the sausages separately, so you don’t need to thaw the whole package. After wrapping, ensure you put it in a zip lock bag or sealed container.

While putting in a zip lock bag, don’t forget to remove air as much as possible. Next, store it in the deepest part of the freezer so that it remains at 0°F or lower.

3. Storing Venison at Room Temperature

Minnesota Department of Agriculture doesn’t recommend storing venison at room temperature. But, depending on the temperature, you may keep the uncooked venison for 1-2 hours at room temperature.

On the other hand, you can keep the cooked sausage for a few hours.

4. Aging

Aging is one of the simple ways to store venison sausage. It mainly works on dissolving the taste, which eventually allows the enzymes to break the tissue.

Also, aging makes the sausage firm and gives an excellent cutting quality to the meat. For the best result, the aging time for venison sausage is up to 10 days at less than 35°F.

However, you should not be aging it at room temperature.

Once you start aging, you can cut it after one day. But, keep in mind that improper accessories may spoil the meat.

Here are a few of the venison sausages available that you can store easily and enjoy longer.

How To Tell If Deer Sausage Is Bad?

When it comes to venison or deer sausage, you don’t want anything that isn’t fresh and of high quality. Here are some tips to help you determine if the deer sausage you are considering is bad:

• Look for vibrant colors. Deer meat should be a deep red or brown; sausages that are green or white likely have been spoiled.
• Smell it. The scent of fresh deer sausage should be gamey. But if you feel a strong earthy smell, your venison has probably gone bad.
• Touch the outside of the venison. It should be dry. However, if you feel slimy and wet, you should trash it.
• When cooking, spoiled venison will give you a sewage-like aroma.

Overall, if the meat smells bad or has any strange colors or textures, it’s probably not going to be a good choice.

Can You Refreeze Deer Summer Sausage?

Yes, you can refreeze deer or venison sausage. However, if the sausage stays more than two hours at room temperature after thawing, you should not refreeze it.

Nonetheless, refreezing the venison will decrease the quality and flavor as it will lose some moisture during the thawing process.

How Long Is Venison Good in The Fridge After Thawing?

Thawed venison cay stays in the fridge for 2-3 days before you cook it. The key is to keep it cold, and if you find it starting to smell bad, it’s time to bin it.

But, make sure you thawed the sausage properly using the microwave or in the fridge. Keep in mind that you should use venison sausage thawed in the microwave immediately.

If you thaw it in the fridge, keep the sausage in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. It will completely thaw the venison sausage.

How To Increase the Lifespan of Venison Sausage?

Venison sausage is a popular food item enjoyed by people of all ages. However, the lifespan of venison sausage is shorter than other types of sausage. There are several ways to extend the lifespan of venison sausage.

• Read the label properly and follow the instructions strictly. If the label says to refrigerate, do it accordingly. Similarly, freeze it as per the instructions.
• Inspect the “refrigerate after opening” instruction and take action accordingly.
• If a venison sausage comes from the fridge, you have to freeze it.
• If you thaw a sausage in the fridge, you can put it back in the freezer if you don’t bring it to room temperature.
• While thawing, make sure you give enough time. It will help to preserve the meat later if you decide not to cook it the same day.

FAQ’s:

• Can You Eat Two-Year-Old Frozen Venison?

If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you can eat two-year-old frozen venison, the answer is yes! If the venison is properly stored – in a freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below – it will be safe to eat.

However, the quality of the venison may suffer after being frozen for such a long time. The venison may be less tender and have a less desirable flavor. So, if you’ve got some venison in the freezer for a while, it’s still safe to eat, but it might not taste as good as fresh venison sausage.

• How to Store Venison Sausage on a Large Scale?

You can do a few things if you want to keep venison sausage in large quantities. First, make sure you have a good seal on your containers. Second, keep them in a freezer. Third, consume or freeze within a few days of opening. By following these simple tips, you can keep your large quantity of venison sausage fresh and delicious for longer.

Final Words

Deer sausage is always dear to every dinner. However, enjoying it for longer may not be possible if you don’t know the correct storage method. So, how to store venison sausage?

If you want to keep it for longer, you can freeze it for up to two years. When it’s time to cook, just thaw it in the fridge overnight and cook as usual. If you have had any venison sausage in the freezer for longer than two years, it’s time to throw it away.

Isn’t it simple? So, store your venison sausage safely and enjoy it for as long as you want!