How long can Elk go in a freezer?

[herdbull33]

My cow has been in the freezer coming up on two years. I was thinking about making some jerky soon only because i'm not really sure how long I can keep it in there? Thanks in advance.

[Lingcod]

Wrapped or vacuum packed? If vacuum packed it would still be good till this fall for sure. Wrapped, would probably have some freezer burn, but still be good for jerky.

[Westside88]

I overlooked some Mule deer in the bottom of my chest freezer. It was 2 1/2 plus years old. I was worried it would be ruined, but I thawed some steaks out and cooked them up. They were fine so I took the remainder and added it to my pepperoni batch for this year.  I was relieved I didn't waste any, I think you'll be fine

[bobcat]

Two years is nothing if it's wrapped properly. I'd only begin the get concerned when you get near 4 years.

[bracer40]

Cooked some up a few years back that was three years. No discernible difference

[Curly]

I've recently found some elk in the back of the freezer from 2011. Those steaks tasted just fine...no freezer burn whatsoever. We wrap it in plastic wrap then butcher paper over that. And our freezer is not the frost free type.

[Bob33]

I would think that after two years it would be dead.

[jrebel]

It should be fine.  If you are worried about it, we should make some pepperoni sticks out of it.  You need to taste my last batch of spicy pepperjack!!!!!  It is divine...

[Bob33]

If the freezer temperature has been kept at around zero or colder it can go several years without problem.

[Bullkllr]

I would think that after two years it would be dead.

Deserved of recognition:

[actionshooter]

Just recently found a elk roast dated 2012 and my wife wanted to throw it out, I wasn't going for it.
 Thawed it out and it was fine. 
 Totally depends on how its wrapped.

[Rainier10]

I've recently found some elk in the back of the freezer from 2011. Those steaks tasted just fine...no freezer burn whatsoever. We wrap it in plastic wrap then butcher paper over that. And our freezer is not the frost free type.

We did vacuum seal one elk two years ago and it is actually getting freezer burned.  The packages cracked from the cold and getting banged around in the freezer.  We went back to plastic wrap and then butcher paper for everything.

[dreamunelk]

We wrap in paper than vacuum seal.  I have eaten some that was over 3 years old with no complaints.

[lokidog]

I've had vac packed meat that was seven years old, but on a regular basis eat it three years old. Sometimes you need to trim a little freezer burn, but it always tastes fine.  I no longer cut into steaks before freezing as it leaves too many edges to freezer burn.

I had a chunk of marlin that was ten years old, saran wrapped then in a baggie, it was fine as well.     

[NRA4LIFE]

Yup, I've ate 5 yer old meat that was wrapped very well or vacuum sealed and it was fine.  I now vacuum seal everything.  I also leave it in as large of chunks as possible.  I also leave the silver skin on loins and trim when eating, for an extra layer of protection.

[Jimmer]

When you say "my cow has been in the freezer for two years",
You talking the whole cow or just a few pounds?? Elk is better than beef, can't believe it's lasted that long.

[Sneaky]

Depends on the wrap and the freezer. Most commercial cold storages house tens of millions of pound of seafood at any given time, they say it will last indefinitely as the rooms are kept at around -5 or so. That fish sandwich you ate at the drive through could be ten years old or older.

[dvolmer]

To start off with, freezer burned or not, it wont hurt you physically.  Studies do say that some of the nutritional value can be degraded over time.  Of course the amount of air that gets to it seems to do the most damage and that is why vacuum packing or wrapping in plastic bag and squeezing out the air along with butcher paper seem to help the freshness of it and the overall look and taste.  I like many of you eat meat up to two years old and then if I still have it after that it goes to jerky and sausage of some kind. you should be fine!

[Fl0und3rz]

I would think that after two years it would be dead.

The problem is more in convincing it to get in the freezer in the first place.

[yakimanoob]

I would think that after two years it would be dead.

The problem is more in convincing it to get in the freezer in the first place.

[Ghost Hunter]

Until the next one.

[JDHasty]

Frost free - not so long

Deep Freeze, manual defrost - a long long time

[fireweed]

Just cooked a 2009 elk roast last night.  Just cut off and trimmed the touch of freezer burn in a few places and seasoned well. 

[coachcw]

I turn mine annually .....

[Fl0und3rz]

Freezer burn is already partially jerkied, right?

[JDHasty]

Freezer burn is already partially jerkied, right?

Freezer burn is a function of sublimation.  Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing through the intermediate liquid phase.  It does not effect the edibility of food, but it generally drastically degrades the palatability unless as part of a controlled freeze drying process.   

[Fl0und3rz]

Alright Mr. Smartypants, how do you tell a joke from an honest question? 

[Rainier10]

Alright Mr. Smartypants, how do you tell a joke from an honest question? 

The smiley face.    When you put that at the end of the question it is a joke.  If you don't its a question.  Sometimes even if you put it at the end of the question you get flamed. 

[Fl0und3rz]

Here's another one.  Anyone can freezer burned meat and have it come out tasting OK?

[JDHasty]

Alright Mr. Smartypants, how do you tell a joke from an honest question? 

The smiley face.    When you put that at the end of the question it is a joke.  If you don't its a question.  Sometimes even if you put it at the end of the question you get flamed. 

I wasn't sure if it was a joke or not.  I answered because I don't want to see anyone put much time, effort or money into something that does not have a high probability of success. 

[herdbull33]

Wow, great respond!!! Thanks for the info everyone. I vacuumed sealed everything so based off what everyone is saying I'm sure it's fine. I'll prolly end up making some jerky here soon anyways cause man it's good. Thanks y'all

[Fl0und3rz]

Wow, great respond!!! Thanks for the info everyone. I vacuumed sealed everything so based off what everyone is saying I'm sure it's fine. I'll prolly end up making some jerky here soon anyways cause man it's good. Thanks y'all

Alright Mr. Smartypants, how do you tell a joke from an honest question? 

The smiley face.    When you put that at the end of the question it is a joke.  If you don't its a question.  Sometimes even if you put it at the end of the question you get flamed. 

I wasn't sure if it was a joke or not.  I answered because I don't want to see anyone put much time, effort or money into something that does not have a high probability of success. 

Just razzing you.  I didn't get a lot of sleep last night.

[Browndawg]

Alright Mr. Smartypants, how do you tell a joke from an honest question? 

The smiley face.    When you put that at the end of the question it is a joke.  If you don't its a question.  Sometimes even if you put it at the end of the question you get flamed. 

I wasn't sure if it was a joke or not.  I answered because I don't want to see anyone put much time, effort or money into something that does not have a high probability of success.

Like shooting elk in the heart?

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

[Mudman]

I will let ya know in about 4 years! 

[180-GRAIN]

Took me 4 years to eat my Washington moose. Never lost any to freezer burn. I agree with it depends on how its wrapped comment in a previous post.

[fireweed]

Just finished the last roast of the moose I got in 2009 that was stuck in the bottom of the freezer.  Trimmed off a bit of locker burn--turned out just fine. 

[Moose Master]

Didn't see it mention, I will only keep our meat domestic or wild in a freezer that ISN'T frost free.  This advice was given to me many years ago and has help us with the lack of damaged meat.  Double wrapped is important also.  Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year.

[Elknut1]

We've had several years go by as well with no issues at all!

  ElkNut/Paul

[PolarBear]

Frost free - not so long

Deep Freeze, manual defrost - a long long time

Frost free or automatic defrost freezers are horrible for storing meat. 

[The scout]

Obviously how it’s wraped makes a big difference, also it depends on if it’s steaks-and roasts or burger and sausage with added fat and pork. The steaks and roasts will last much longer because it’s the fat that typically makes the meat go bad.

[M_ray]

I dont have a frost free freezer so it lasts a long time. I just made tacos last night and opened a package of my elk from last year and it was perfect. 

Basically a frost free will have an element that heats up the cold plates and collects the evaporated water in a collection tray. Depending on the  model this can happen from 1-4 times a day which is why the outside edges or outside layer of your meat will burn, because basically the outer edges are defrosting and refreezing several times. all you really have to do is trim it off and the center will be good because it never completely thaws.

[PolarBear]

I found some cubed elk steaks while cleaning out the freezer earlier this summer that were marked 2005.  I thawed them out, cut a tiny bit of the ends off and chicken fried them.  They were awesome!

[luvmystang67]

While I second that freezer burn is your most likely enemy, I have had things that are vacuum sealed for 6 months versus vacuum sealed for a year and a half or two years and the meat IS different, especially burger.  It tastes fine, but the consistency changes.  It seems that some of the juice/moisture seeps out depending on how long you wait, basically becoming separate from the meat.  Meat when cooked tend to dry out a little faster.  The real risk is fat though, fat will develop a stank.  Its not awful, its just not fresh.  If I were able to take the same animal, vacuum sealed and frozen for 4 months versus 2 years, you'd be able to tell a difference.  I can.  Between 2 years and 4 years I think the difference would be small.  Its fine to eat, its just that there's a difference....

[hunter399]

Freezer burn is already partially jerkied, right?

Freezer burn is a function of sublimation.  Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing through the intermediate liquid phase.  It does not effect the edibility of food,

This sounds like the way it goes through my belly,

[TommyGun496]

If I am lucky mine will last about 8-9 months.  Between myself, my wife and the kids it doesn’t last long in our freezer!

[Wetwoodshunter]

I recently found a package from a bull I shot in 2013. I couldn't taste a difference. I wrap in plastic wrap then use a chamber vaccume sealer and I would have no problem with 2 years, but I try and cycle the stuff out.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Less handling the better - Locking freezer so little hands dont mess with it - last for years.