/ Register

  1. Check out our Random Pics Page here, or learn more about it here.

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

Discussion in 'Meat Birds ETC' started by Frozen Feathers, Jul 10, 2008.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jul 10, 2008 #1
    Frozen Feathers

    Frozen Feathers Songster

    2,755
    4
    211
    May 4, 2007
    Maine
    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???
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jul 10, 2008 #2
    dacjohns

    dacjohns People Cracker Upper

    5,154
    5
    251
    May 1, 2008
    Wherever work sends me.
    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.
     
  3. Jul 10, 2008 #3
    Frozen Feathers

    Frozen Feathers Songster

    2,755
    4
    211
    May 4, 2007
    Maine
    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.
     
  4. Jul 10, 2008 #4
    MissPrissy

    MissPrissy Crowing Premium Member

    24,434
    62
    371
    May 7, 2007
    Forks, Virginia
    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
     
  5. Jul 10, 2008 #5
    Leslie In North Pole

    Leslie In North Pole Songster

    320
    1
    149
    Mar 7, 2007
    North Pole, AK
    When you thaw the meat, just let it rest in the fridge for a couple of days and it should be fine. [​IMG]
     
  6. Jul 10, 2008 #6
    Harley's girl

    Harley's girl Songster

    2,293
    3
    201
    Mar 28, 2008
    Ohio (way out in the country)
    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! [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2008

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by: