The Taste of My Elk

[YORT40]

I need some help from you meat specialist.
My family & I are enjoying the meals from my fifth elk in seven years. But, this years meat is a little different from all the rest. My wife & I have noticed that the meat taste more gamey, & has a little bit of an odd smell to it while cooking. My wife thinks it has a small scent of blood, my nose sniffs a tad bit of the Elk's hide. This years elk is no different from the others; it was shot in Dec., then skinned & hung in the shade for a day or more. Traveled for 18 hrs., covered with cloth with dry ice on top. Then cut-up a week to 10 days after the butcher had it. Since I brought home my first kill, the whole family has loved elk meals. Everyone prefers an Elk steak over beef at all times. The kids have said nothing of the taste from this year's meat, but I was just trying to get some input from someone who might know something about elk meat. Thanks

 

[mouthcallinmatt1]

Oh come on Troy...I know your just trying to pass off your ducks and geese as elk meat. That's why the wife doesn't like it.

Does your Dad's Elk taste wierd too?

Say hi to the family for me.

 

[ranchwife]

Don't know why your meat tastes different this year, but you might try soaking the meat in salt water for a few hours to 1 day before you cook it - it really helps remove the bloody/gamey taste and if you rinse the meat before you cook it, it isn't salty.

 

[Coues]

Try soaking it in buttermilk for a 4-6 hours (in the fridge of coarse).

 

[MEF]

If the responses above don't do it (and they should help), try marinating in Italian salad dressing. Mike

 

[Big Moose]

Elk meat is great. Are you using the same butcher as the other elk taken in the past ? If the cutting block is soiled from another customer's gamey elk and not cleaned before doing your's it's possible to transfer some gamey taste. Also, all fat and bones should be discarded. When doing chops the meat should be sliced and held apart before sawing the bones so no tallow or marrow is smerd into the meat.
That being said , try wiping each side of each piece of meat and triming the edges before cooking. Kind of tough to do with stew meat and hamburger !!

 

[Rick]

The only time I noticed a smell or taste problem with my last elk was if it was cooked, thawed or re-heated in the micro wave. I have no idea why, but if it was heated in the microwave, it had a bad smell and tasted differently than that cooked conventionally. Even if it was just re-heated chili or spaghetti, it got that smell and taste.

 

[YORT40]

Thanks for all the info. guys.
As it turns out, Rick is the big winner to the meat trivia question. We have found there is no smell & game taste at all if we let the meat defrost during the day rather than defrost it in the microwave. My wife has started her own business so lately she begins dinner after getting home. Meaning, things are rushed a little in the morning & in the evening. Anyways, I don't know what happens in a microwave, but it wasn't good. Thanks again.

 

[Rick]

Isn't that wierd? My elk tasted great and gave off no smell if I cooked it "conventionally", but even reheating it in the microwave made it taste and smell bad. I've never had that happen before. Anyone else ever notice this?

 

[Cda55]

I have defrosted it in water and never noticed a smell. I wouldn't know how it is to reheat because it is gone on the first round.

 

[MEF]

Beef even smells and tastes funny if defrosted in a microwave. Must be something akin to a transporter gone wrong on "Star Trek"!

Mike

 

[wapiti]

You guys should consider cleaning your microwaves!

Just kidding, I can tell a difference also.