IS the MEAT BAD?

[fredohio]

I have a freezer outside in the garage where I keep all of the deer meat. I went out to retreive some and much of it was soft. I temped it and it was still under thirty degrees so I tried to cook/brown most of the soft stuff but it still didn't taste all that great. I froze the rest. I then tried to use some to make meatloaf and the outside of the meat was brown and the inside was red. Is the meat still good to use? Any help would be appriciated. I would hate to throw out all of that meat.

[gary c.]

If I new the meat had not gotten any warmer than that I probably would not be too scared of it. The thing is that I don't think it would have gotten soft at 30 degrees. Makes me wonder if the freezer had quit working or the power was off and things got warm then the freezer started working again and it started to freeze again. It's a shame to waist good venison but you sure don't want to ruin your families taste for venison by giving them soured meat either.
Gary C.

[KwackWacker]

I agree with Gary. If you don't know how long the freezer had not been working I would toss it out.

[DeerDope]

I live in New Orleans and Learned a few tricks since Katrina.
First meat WON'T thaw at 30. It has to get above 32 degrees and for a little while before it will start to thaw. If the meat was soft throughout it was probably above 40 degres and that makes it questionable for consumption.
If you really don't want to loose the meat I would cut it up or grind it small enough to cook it completely through. Do not try medium rare.
Now in the future.... put a few shaped ice cubes from a tray in a bucket or butter dish in the freezer. Every time you come to camp or check your refrigerator, make sure the ice cubes are still shaped. If you lost power and they melted then refroze they will be in the bottom of the bowl.
Hope you remember this trick!
Eric