Anybody let your deer soak in salt water overnight after taking it out of the freezer? I've always done this with squirrel but not deer. I was reading about doing it with deer and was wondering how it turns out?

__________________
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." U. S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

I never have, Riflefan. With squirrel, is the purpose to get blood and bad flavor out?

__________________
NRA Endowment Member
SCI Member

Yep. It makes it taste a lot better. The water looks like fruit punch kool-aid after sitting overnight even on a small squirrel. I really like squirrel and other small game and thought when reading this that if it works on the little critters why not on the bigger ones.

__________________
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." U. S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

It works. sometimes i will soak a roast in ice salt water.

Makes sense to me. Are you leaving the squirrel on-the-bone, or not? I can imagine that there might be a lot of silverskin on a percentage basis on squirrel, vs on a deer steak/roast cut, possibly affecting the flavor, where salt would help. And, other than maybe ribs, probably not many people are leaving bones in their deer/elk cuts, with the mallow in the bones affecting the outcome.

I leave no bones in my deer/elk meat, but would be interested in what others do, along with what people do with squirrels & rabbits? I don't think a mild saltwater bath on deer or elk would end up too salty, but have never tried it. Others?

__________________
NRA Endowment Member
SCI Member

Works fine on deer & pigs when quartered up and packed in ice with the salt. You can leave it for several days. The longer the meat is in the brine, the milder the flavor and the darker the water gets.

__________________
MikeG

When I do squirrel I just put the entire skinned squirrel in the salt water and cut it up when frying. With squirrel I normally just dip in some flour and fry it up. The gravy is mmmm good.

I'm going to try it with the deer roasts.

__________________
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." U. S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Good info. So, are you using Morten Iodized Salt, Morten Rock Salt, Sea Salt, something else? Now I want to try it on some roasts before I drop them in the crock pot with all the other good stuff!

__________________
NRA Endowment Member
SCI Member

No salt water but my wife soaks venison in sweet milk over night before she cooks it. The milk is usually pink the next morning.

__________________
A truely successful life is mostly based on how well you handle PLAN B.

i just use iodized salt. Soak the roasts in icey salt water in the fridge for 1-3 days. Doesnt make it taste salty at all, i rinse it off with plain water before it goes in the crock pot.

I pre-soak my Squirrels, Venison cuts, and other game, in salt water over night, up until time to cook or grill.

That is what I have used on my small game as well.

__________________
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." U. S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Never used any brine solution on deer, but have heard nothing but good results from it. I don't mind if my venison tastes like something other than beef.

Now, I've soaked a lot of ducks in a cold brine solution to get the "fowl" taste out of 'em. Especially those diver ducks...I don't know what they're eatin' down there, but DANG!

And as MikeG said, a chilly saltwater bath is just the thing to get some of the "wild" out of a pig, particularly a boar.

__________________
Ask me about QDMA.

Your results will be much better if you start using kosher salt. It will take a bit more to do the same thing, but it tastes much better. I use 1.5 cups of Diamond Crystal kosher to 1 gallon of cold water and soak my wild turkey for 12 hours. It's truly excellent.
Note: Different brands of kosher salt will give different results due to more or less density of the crystals. Table salt, like Morton's etc. are far more dense than kosher, and therefore more potent in a brine.

__________________
"A gun is like a parachute.



If you need one, and don't have one,



you'll probably never need one again!"

After skinning a deer and quartering it I put it in a cooler and cover with ice. I then take Koser salt and pour over the top. I drain and add ice and salt every day. I was amazed at how much blood comes out of the meat. I generally keep them in the cooler for 4-5 days before processing.

Also after processing I let the meat stand in the fridge and drain overnight before freezing. My meat has never been salty.

I also brine chicken and turkey if I am cooking them whole.

Darin