Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Here is a tip that I do all of the time, especially when there are folks around that are leary about eating Venison. This will take all of the "game" taste out of the meat - I guarantee it!

Soak your Venison in Milk overnight before you plan on throwing it on the grill or in the oven the next day.

About 1 or 2 hours before you cook it, take it out of the milk, rinse it off, pat it dry. I always marinate mine for an hour or so. Use your favorite marinade. (Of course, you don't have to marinade if you don't want)

Another tip when roasting in the oven. Use plenty of onions & fresh apples. These will also "draw" the "game" flavor out.

Enjoy!

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I cant really say as I know what "gamey" taste like everyone always says deer taste "gamey" but I dont know it just taste like deer to me just like cow taste like cow..

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Ditto what Rusty said.
I've fished and eaten fish all my life, even fished commercially. The only fish I've ever eaten that tasted fishy was purchased at a store or maybe sat too long in the freezer. Meanng it wasn't cared for properly. Venison is the same way. Take care of it and it will take care of table.:)

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I agree. A swift kill & proper handling.
However, I'm told that the rut affects the flavor. My ex-husband & my husband have hunted early in the season-both having a "dead eye" and cleaned their game promptly & well...NEVER did the venison taste "gamey".
However, I did have venison that was shot late in the season and apparently killed by someone who knows his 'business' but [:'(] boy, did it taste gamey! My taste buds just weren't prepared!

I still have some of that gamey venison in my freezer...and it's rare to have venison in our freezer for any length of time. So Yooper, thank you for the tip...I'll definitely give it a try!

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Don't ever purchase fish with a fishy smell to it-indicative that it isn't fresh and more than likely wasn't handled correctly. The fish should be firm, smell like the waters it was caught in or have no smell.
If you are going to pay the bucks for fish...you should expect FRESH.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I don't know if what the deer eats on a regular basis has anything to do with how the animal tastes on the dinner table. I hunt in the Upper Peninsula of MI, there are few cornfields, (or what you would normally see on a farm in Ohio or southern Michigan) found in the area I hunt. The deer in our area primarily are eating what the forrests can provide. The primary trees are White Cedar, other conifers, & few hardwoods.

Now, I have heard that "corn fed" deer are the best tastin'. I cannot say that I've ever tried one.

Does anyone have any other comments on this?

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I soak all my venison in milk before I cook it and it takes care of any gamey taste.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Make sure you remove the film that is sometimes on the meat prior to cooking. This will add to the gamey taste.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Mexican Muley Chorizo, the perfect recipe for a big necked rutty mule buck. The rut definitely makes a difference in taste for mulies around here.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I soak mine in milk and wostershire sauce.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I never shoot bucks for the table. That takes care of all the gamey taste I have ever seen. Grain feed deer do taste better than just forest fed deer. This after taking quite a few of both. When and if I do shoot an older buck I give the meat away. Every time. I give it to friends who are going to grind it up and mix a bunch of salt and seasoning in it.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I butcher my own deer and never have a problem with gamey taste.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

The rut makes some difference, smell the glands on the bucks legs and youll know why handling of the animal is MOST important during the rut. If you get some of that stuff on your meat. WOWZAA, nasty, gamey meat. The main thing that affects taste is diet, so corn fed deer will taste best. Look at how beef and pork are prepared for butcher, they are taken off the range and "fed out" with grains and corn to improve the taste. I once shot an antelope in his bed sleeping, head shot, never woke up or even twitched. NASTIEST meat I EVER TRIED to eat. A few weeks later, a buddy shoots at and scares off a herd of antelope on his ranch. We jump in his p/u and race to the other end of his alfalfa pivots (@7miles) he climbs on the haystack and waits, pretty soon here comes the same batch of goats troting in, he drops two does, and signs the carcass tags over to me. So here I sit w/ two antelope that just got spooked, ran @ 7 miles. Antelope are notorious for being gamey, I'm thinking ALL jerky, but to my surprise, it was as good as any whitetail I've ever had. The difference, these were eating alfalfa.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Almost forgot, when you process your animal, DONT break into or cut any bone, the marrow will REALLY make the meat gamey. If your haveing it done professionally, specify that you dont want any bone cuts, all boned out. Also clean the fat, tendon, and membranes off before you cook it. Game fat will really ruin flavor.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I had a guest at my home that i invited over and he new i was cooking venison meatloaf, he looked over at me and said i dont know why people try to take the taste out of a deer, i eat deer becuase i like the taste of it. I was impressed, and ever since then i just ate it becuase i too like the taste of a deer. Also remove all silver skin from your deer if u do it yourself

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I have couple people(niece and son) who said, I don't like Venison - Its Gamey..etc..etc..bla..bla . I fooled them both with Venison Spagetti and Venison Stew. Neither had a frikkin clue until I told them some hours later after they had digested and were nice and relaxed.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

AJ, Gotta love it!! I feel it depends on how its cooked to be honest. I have always cooked mine the same way I cook Beef and even fooled my mother! She is now hooked and always wants to know when I am fixing a Venison roast, Barbeque, or Meatloaf. LOL Go figure.

And this is my mom with a major "Bambi complex" that swore to never eat deer meat. lol Not sure but all of my does/bucks are taken with one shot and drop where they stand. I have heard that this makes a huge difference in meat taste???

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

soak in pineaplle juice, carribean jerk marinade with pineaplle juice is great!!!! Soak and grill

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

My chinese mother in law is visiting us and I gave her some venison just to see what she would do with it. She sliced it thin, marinated it in soya sauce, sesame oil and corn starch. Then stir fried with vegetables. Best chinese food I've ever had and extremely tender.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Here is my take, venison does take up the flavor of their food, my deer almost always have been eating my apples and I can taste and smell apple flavor in the meat. I can also smell a stinky swamp deer and won’t eat them. I do not like strong tasting venison and some not all older deer can be stronger tasting. If you don’t like “gamey”, strong venison taste shoot young ones bourn this year, they are very very mild tasting. Oh by the way got a 3 or 4 year old 8 point 20 inch spread last night while he was eating apples off the tree. Slice and dice today after work.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I've also heard that you should never freeze meat that is in the midst of rigormortise(sp??). The build up of acids (lactic acid, maybe) within the muscle can cause a nasty flavor. That's why you're supposed to age meat a little. These acids will dissolve.

But in early bow season, how can you do this?

I don't have a walk in fridge!

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

I agree. I ask my butcher to let it hang for 24-48hrs for me and tip him for the freezer space, seems to work pretty good. Anything is for sale i guess. Ask you butcher and work out a deal

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Gamey! I know for a fact that when my husband cuts all the fat off it is a whole lot easier to pass off as beef or pork. I think most hunters know that. However he brought home this Game Sauce from a Sportsmans Shop and I must say it makes a world of differene. The meat comes out very moist and kind of sweet, great tenderizer too. The web site on the bottle is www.vtmadebbqu.com if you are interested. Not so Gamey any more.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

The # 1 reason for gamey taste in vinison/wild game is how its taken care of in the field.
If you gut shoot or otherwise spill the contents of the gut or bladder and dont take care of ASAP, if you dont cool it on hot days, Wash it out and clean it, if you throw it on the top or hood of your truck and drive ?????? miles, if you shoot it and dont cllean it for several days,(sounds crazy but I had two guys do this and then get mad becouse I told them just to throw it away. They shot a doe did not field dress it and it was gut shot, 3 days of 80+ weather, did not know how to field dress it.) getting your hands all over scent glands and then working on meat, + some other things will get you real gamey tasting meat.
If you dont know, learn. You will have less "Gamey taste" and not have to do so much covering up of the good natural taste. Its not beef and should not taste the same.
I love it.
Rick

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

we drain the fat from our burger after browning and then simmer in water about 20 min it takes out the gamey taste too

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Yeah, like other's said, I've been taught that if you are butchering your own deer, make sure to take the time to get as much tendon out as reasonably possible. The tendon can add to the gamey flavor.

RE: Don't Like the "gamey" taste of Venison?
 

Is there any flavor left in the meat or do you throw the burger away and drink the broth?:D;) only kidding, to each they're own. But that does sound like your doing something wrong in the caring dept.