Saturday, November 1, 2008

Getting Started With Venison Meat

By Terri Cole

Many people do not use venison simply because they aren't sure how to use it. Despite a commonly held misconception, venison is not incredibly difficult to prepare. All you really need to know are just a few pointers to get started. If you're like many people, once you've tried venison meat that has been properly prepared, you'll quickly fall in love.

A lot of people say that venison is 'just like beef.' While this is true to a degree, there are some differences. Venison is typically an extremely lean meat, so you may need to add some liquid or fat when you cook it. One option is to simply mix it with beef, using roughly equal portions of each in a recipe you already use such as spaghetti. The tastes are very similar so this could be a good way to introduce venison to a picky eater without them noticing.

If you are already comfortable preparing beef then the transition to preparing venison meat shouldn't be too difficult. Not only is venison a good beef substitute because the taste is similar, but it is also a very healthy option since it is usually lower in fat than beef. From my experience, however, you may need to add a little more seasonings with venison reduce the somewhat gamey flavor it might have.

Another difference with venison comes with steaks. For tender steaks you will want to marinade them first. If you don't, they may turn out tough. Any beef marinade should work well with venison, just let the venison meat marinate for a long time, up to forty-eight hours.

Do you like beef barbeque? Well, venison meat works just as well. Just take a venison roast, put it in a crock pot and cover with homemade or store bought barbecue sauce. Allow it to cook all day on low. Once it's tender and cooked through, use two forks to shred the meat or cut it into small pieces. If you see any fat in the meat-- it will have a somewhat silver appearance to it-- be sure to remove it. It isn't something many people enjoy.

Of course, venison meat can be used alone, or if it's ground, it can be combined with beef to stretch itr. However, if you really want to stretch your budget and are lucky enough to have a hunter in your family then try using venison meat exclusively.

There are several good reasons to cook with venison meat, both financial and healthwise. Of course the lean meat is a better choice than beef, but you also know that it's probably fresher than what you can buy at the grocery store. We've all wondered how long that hamburger has been sitting on the shelf in the meat aisle. With venison, you probably know exactly when the meat was processed. Not to mention store-bought meat that is free of hormones and antibiotics will cost you even more money.

It probably will take your family time to get used to the taste of venison. However, this really is one of those things that will pay off in the long run. Next time someone offers you some venison meat, go ahead and try it. Take as much as they are willing to share and do a little experimenting with recipes. You and your family just may find some new recipe favorites!

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