ericfox

I keep all my deer meat in the deep freezer. When I'm ready for some... lets say a roast like I made yesterday- I get it out and soak it for a day in water in the fridge... then drain the water and soak again for another day in the fridge... then empty water, cut off fat and slimy stuff and cook

Problem is that some of the meat seems to either already have... or develope a bad taste... it may happen while soaking in the water? I find that after taking the roast out of the water there is a lighter color (like a tan) on the outside area of the roast in a few areas... the meat smells funky in these areas... I try to cut them off mostly but a good amount of the meat still tastes funky

I hope I can get some idea of what I'm encountering here... Thanks a lot!

Mojotex

Sounds like "freezer burn" to me.

Bocajnala

This is meat from last year I assume? Yes, this is freezer burn I think. Wrap the meat better. Use freezer paper instead of plastic bags, or try to use the meat before it gets this way. That tan color is typical of freezer burnt meat.
-Jake

Wingbone

It's freezer burn. Try slicing away the brown parts before cooking. The rest will taste great and the dog will love you.

MZS

I always heard soaking in water such that it contacted the meat was not a good idea safety wise, particularly for that long of a time. See http://homecooking.about.com/od/turk.../blturkey5.htm I will sometimes soak frozen fish in a water for an hour or two to thaw quickly, but they are sealed in several plastic bags so the water does not touch them, and they are fried up immediately. Try thawing in a fridge for a day or two instead, without the water. Your soaking process could be partially spoiling the meat.

chaded

It may be freezer burnt. I've never soaked any meat in water though. Deer is my wife and I's staple meat and we eat it every week and never had a problem. I will agree with MZS that soaking it may be doing something to it.

isatarak

Freezer burn. You could try vacuum sealing the meat. We wrap in freezer paper, though and don't have any problem. No need to soak deer meat. In fact I would advise against it .

UncleNorby

I just thaw mine in the fridge, get it out of the freezer several days before I cook it. Otherwise I thaw on the counter. Don't use a microwave to thaw venison. Don't understand what you're trying to acheive with the water deal in the fridge, but I would not recommend that you continue to do that.