Is it safe to eat deer meat rare?

Asked by: Ashley Daniels

The number one mistake people make when preparing venison is that they overcook it, rendering the meat rubbery and gamey. Tender cuts of venison should be served rare or medium rare unless you are braising it or mixing it with pork to add more fat.

What happens if you eat undercooked deer meat?

Trichinellosis, also called trichinosis, is a disease that people can get by eating raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with the microscopic parasite, Trichinella. Persons with trichinellosis may initially experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting.

Is it OK to eat pink venison?

Providing it wasn’t cut too thin, it should just be slightly pink on the inside. If it is still pink on the inside that means it is still nice and moist in there too. If you cook out all the pink like you would with pork, expect some terribly dry meat. Now, check out these venison recipes and eat up!

Is it safe to eat deer meat raw?

Should the venison have any larval parasites, and parasites such as tapeworm and toxoplasma gondii (which causes toxoplasmosis) are know to exist in deer. Freezing the meat below 0°F for at least two days will go a long way toward making any raw meat you eat safer. Avoid any possible cross-contamination.

Does deer meat have to be cooked thoroughly?

Tender cuts of venison should be prepared using quick cooking methods to a rare or medium-rare level of doneness (internal temperature of 120° to 135° F). If it is prepared past medium-rare too much moisture will be cooked out causing the meat to become dry and tough.

Can rare venison make you sick?

In addition, eating raw or undercooked wild game meat can result in several other illnesses, including Salmonella and E. coli infections. While some illnesses caused by eating wild game may only result in mild symptoms that go away on their own, others can be more serious.

How rare should venison be?

Venison is very low in fat and is best served medium-rare. This equates to an internal temperature of 57°C/135°F if you’re using a meat thermometer.

Can you get sick from deer meat?

Deer carry pathogenic bacteria, and so precautions are needed to prevent cross contamination, he pointed out. “Whether you get blood on your hands or clothes or not, be sure to wash thoroughly in soap and water after handling the carcass or the meat.”

Can you get trichinosis from deer meat?

Since white-tailed deer can be infected with the toxoplasmosis organism, there is a chance that humans can become infected if the meat is not properly handled. This is also true for common domestic meats as well.

Can you get chronic wasting disease from eating deer meat?

To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people. However, some animal studies suggest CWD poses a risk to certain types of non-human primates, like monkeys, that eat meat from CWD-infected animals or come in contact with brain or body fluids from infected deer or elk.

How can you tell if deer meat is CWD?

Cervids that contract CWD may take months or even years before they show symptoms of having the disease. Symptoms can include extreme weight loss, lack of coordination, drooping head and/or ears, excessive drooling, excessive drinking and excessive urination. CWD is always fatal to infected cervids.