Does my Dh know what he is doing (butchering Q's)

[Frozen Feathers]

First time ever raising meat birds. My DH took 4 of the Cornish X's (which these 4 didn't seem to grow very good, they were half the size of the others.) and butchered them last night. He skinned them and then parted them out. Then he just threw the meat in the freezer. I thought you were supposed to cool it down first.
Did he just ruin our meat???

 

[dacjohns]

No, your meat wasn't ruined.

Some folks advocate letting meat sit for a few days before freezing to let the muscles relax.

Some folks say go ahead and freeze. When the meat freezes ice crystals build up in the tissue and tenderizes the meat.

Many hunters say to let a deer or whatever hang for a few days for the same reason, tenderize and relax the muscles.

Whatever you do make sure the meat cools off quickly and is protected from contamination. I would let the meat cool before putting it the freezer. Your freezer has to work harder to freeze meat that is 100 degrees than it does to cool meat that is 80 or 40 degrees.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Thanks!!
We've never actually had meat birds before, just stew birds... So I wasn't sure. It would have been a shame to waste that meat.

 

[MissPrissy]

I agree. Your meat should be fine. I have had to do it this way before too. I need another fridge for aging meats. Can I justify 3 fridges? LOL

 

[Leslie In North Pole]

When you thaw the meat, just let it rest in the fridge for a couple of days and it should be fine.

 

[Harley's girl]

Quote:
I have 3, 2 which are running. I love that I have that extra fridge to put the meat birds or what have ya's in there!!! I am sure you could sweet talk to the DH!