How Can I Store Deer Summer Sausage?

Deer hunters know how precious deer meat is and how important it is to keep it that way.

If you have recently bought deer summer sausage and are looking for a way to store it, you are in the right place.

Deer summer sausage is a spicy, savory, and smoky cured meat. The flavor comes from a combination of salt, sugar, red peppers, and black pepper. 

To store deer summer sausage, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. 

Deer summer sausage must be stored in the fridge to maintain its flavor. It is best to eat deer summer sausage within two weeks of purchasing.

In this article, I will answer questions about how to store deer sausage. I will talk about the safest options for freezing, refrigerating, refreezing, and more.

Do I Need to Refrigerate Venison Summer Sausage?

Most of the time, venison summer sausage doesn’t need to be refrigerated. On the packaging, you can find more specific information about your summer sausage.

You should place the sausage in the fridge once you have opened it because it will most likely say “Refrigerate after opening.

Sausages are safe at room temperature, but some might need to be refrigerated. They need to go into the fridge immediately if it says “Needs refrigeration” on the packaging.

You might know that summer sausage is a particular type of meat. Most store-bought venison summer sausage will be as good as new in the pantry because it has a long shelf life.

The cure is a unique mixture of ingredients that preserves the meat for a longer period.

The cure includes a component called sodium nitrate, which is efficient at fighting botulism bacteria.

Don’t allow the sausage to sit in the pantry for more than one month.

If you want to consume the deer summer sausage cold, or it feels safer to store it in the refrigerator, you can do that as well; it won’t hurt the meat.

How Long Does Deer Summer Sausages Last in the Refrigerator?

It is best to finish your deer summer sausage within three weeks after opening it and storing it in the fridge.

To preserve meat for that long and maximize its shelf life, it is best to tightly cover the sausage with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

This will prevent the air from entering and potentially compromising the meat. The venison summer sausage will be good for three months if you store it in your fridge.

Can I Freeze Venison Summer Sausage?

There is no question about it. Just like you would any other type of food, venison summer sausage can be frozen.

If your main goal is to maximize its shelf life, then this is the best bet. The meat must be properly frozen so that it does not rot before time.

Follow this guide to freeze venison summer sausages:

• Make sure you have enough freezer paper for the sausages.
• Wrap the sausages in the same way you would a gift, by putting the paper on a flat surface.
• The edges of the meat should be folded around.
• Use freezer tape to stick the edges of the freezer.
• Don’t forget to write the date down when you label the sausages. You could forget it if you don’t have it.
• It’s best to keep the package in the freezer for up to six months.
• If you have a vacuum sealer at home, you can use it to seal the packaging and then throw it in the freezer.

It is a good idea to freeze the sausage for more than three months. You can keep it in the fridge if you plan on using it over the next couple of months.

Can I Refreeze Deer Summer Sausage?

You can refreeze sausage during the summer months. During the process of thawing, you should be very careful.

It’s a good idea to thaw the summer sausage in the fridge or the microwave.

If you plan on refreezing the summer sausage, you shouldn’t leave it at room temperature for longer than 24 hours.

You risk ruining the food if you thaw it and re-freeze it.

Changing the temperature too much can decrease meat quality and cause it to turn bad, even though deer summer sausage is cured meat.

Every time you thaw the sausage, make sure you check for signs of spoilage.

You should get rid of the sausage if you notice a change in smell or color or see mold growing.

How to Thaw Deer Summer Sausages?

The best way to thaw deer summer sausage is in the fridge or the microwave. Thawing in the fridge will take a bit longer, but it is the simplest and most natural option.

Make sure the temperature in your refrigerator is under 41F, you have to make sure.

You need to place the sausages on a plate to find room for them on the bottom shelf.

You can keep meat juices out of your fridge by putting the plate on it. If the sausages are soft to the touch and there is no ice, you will know they are frozen.

The whole process might take an entire day depending on how big your batches are.

If you are going to have frozen deer sausage for dinner, you should get it out of the freezer the previous day.

In the microwave, there is another method of thawing. This is a much quicker way to thaw sausages than in the fridge, but it also requires a lot of care.

If you want to avoid burning the sausages, place them on a plate and set the microwave on “defrost.” They should stay inside until they separate.

If you use a fork, you can check to see if you can separate them.

Once the sausages thaw, microwave again for two minutes to separate them.

You should cook deer sausage after it’s been refrigerated. The harmful bacteria will not be able to find this.

Conclusion

Everyone’s health is dependent on knowing how to store deer summer sausage. Many food-borne bacteria emerge due to improper food storage.

The best way to finish deer summer sausage is to keep the open packaging in the refrigerator.

Most of the time, unopened packages are in the pantry. Double-checking is possible by reading the packaging label information.

Because of its curing ingredients, summer sausage is more resistant and durable than regular sausage.

It is also enjoyable for many meat lovers out there. If you are one of those people, you will not need to freeze this meat delicacy before it is gone.