Freeze or chill after butcher?

[Motherhenandflock]

Those of you that have processed your own birds: what has worked for you? I've heard freeze them right away and I've heard chill them in the fridge then freeze. I've had nice tender meat and I've had tough meat.
After all the time and money invested I want to finish the job the right way.

 

[JudyMcKinn]

Mom used to put the freshly cleaned carcasses in a large dishpan or tub (depending on how many you are cleaning) filled with water and ice, to cool them quickly, then when they were completely cooled out, freeze them.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

It's my understanding that they're more tender if you let them rest in the frig overnight, before freezing.

 

[hinkjc]

We do 1-2 days of chilling in the fridge before packaging them for the freezer.

Jody

 

[Cheri]

ooo Thanks. I needed to know this as my hubby enventually wants to do this. The hogs we will take to a butcher.

 

[Motherhenandflock]

Yes, thanks so much for your replys. The first time we took some of our birds to be butchered they put them directly into the freezer and they were tough!

I will for sure chill them first in the fridge or ice water!