Venison is a rare and fascinating meat that is delicious and flavorful when cooked properly. If prepared wrong, venison becomes rubbery and can taste awful because it is a type of lean meat from deer. However, if you handle it like the high-end meat it is, you will be surprised at how tasty the meat can be.
If you wish to achieve the best result from this meat, keep reading to discover how to cure and smoke a venison roast adequately.
Here are some easy steps to guide you on how to cure and smoke your venison roast perfectly:
How To Cure And Smoke A Venison Roast
1. Remove Excess Fat
One of the most critical steps in roasting venison is the removal of excess fat. Venison fat, unlike beef fat, is not tasty. It retains a chewy consistency which can ruin your roast.
Most people refer to venison as gamey because of the silver skin and fat that changes the texture of the meat.
To remove the excess fat, the best thing to do is to gently trim them off, as well as the silver skin. When preparing your venison, you must not skip this step because a flare-up may occur if you try to smoke the meat with excess fat.
2. Cure your Venison for Succulence and Aroma
To obtain the best flavor, juiciness, and aroma, you have to treat your venison.
The procedure typically requires a brine or a marinade.
Brine is used to make the venison juicy and a marinade for flavor.
Usually, brining concoctions and marinades are reserved for the cuts of meat that are tougher in texture, like the front and hindquarters.
If you’re using a brine, soak the venison for at least 14 – 18 hours or more. For marinades, you can try some household marinades like:
- Italian dressing
- Barbecue
- Teriyaki
- Red wine
Soak the venison for a minimum of six hours to obtain venison meat that is juicy and flavorful.
3. Cure the Meat for Taste
After brining your venison, take it out of the brine and pat it dry. Leave the meat to rest for about three hours on a flat surface. If the meat was marinated, you can skip this step and proceed to smoke the meat.
Sprinkle some seasoning on the meat as you like; however, it is best to smoke the meat with as little spice as possible to not overpower the original taste of the meat.
4. Select and Prep your Wood Chips
One crucial determinant of the quality of your venison is your choice of wood chips. Select your option of wood chips, ensure to get the flavored ones, and soak the wood chips in water for about 1 or 2 hours before smoking.
Wood chips are great for smoking venison; they give an incredible flavor that proves that the meat was smoked properly.
5. Preheat the Smoker
Clean the grates of your smoker to get rid of particles and grease, then start a fire for indirect heat.
Close the smoker and allow it to heat up to a temperature of about 250°F 300°F.
Ensure the smoker emits thin white smoke; if not, regulate the airflow through the smoker vents to ensure the smoke level remains light.
6. Smoke your Venison
You can now begin the smoking. Open the lid of the smoker and place the venison on the smoker grates.
Close the lid and smoke the meat on indirect heat for about 1 1/2 hours per pound or till the temperature reaches 140°F.
While smoking your venison, constantly check the wood chips and smoke. Once the venison is ready, leave the meat to rest in foil for some minutes, then you can cut and serve.
Recipes for Cured and Smoked Venison Meat
You can only enjoy your perfectly smoked venison if you use it in the right recipe. Here are some meals you can enjoy with your cured and smoked venison meat:
Venison Ham Steaks
There is no one way to incorporating venison in your meals; however, one enjoyable way is to cut ham steaks and crisp them up in a skillet, then serve with creamed nettles or cheesy potatoes.
Venison Ham and Soup
There is no limit to what you can make out of venison; however, one delicious recipe is the ham and bean soup recipe.
Venison Sandwiches
Another tasty venison recipe is venison meat sandwiches. It requires cutting your venison as you please, then stacking it alongside your favorite vegetables and dressing it into your choice of bread. It is a simple recipe that you can whip up in minutes for breakfast.
Bottom Line
Overall, venison offers a wide range of recipe options that your family and friends will love. The procedure for cooking the meat is pretty simple, and if you follow this guide above, you are on your way to making the most flavorful and juicy venison meat. If you hunt your own deer for meat then consider mounting the antlers as well! Visit the OutdoorWorld Reviews homepage for more delicious recipes including how to make deer jerky as well as preparing venison tongue.
