Davyo Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 Been googling but no straight answer.Local butcher has asked for a dozen rabbits.I have 2 I head shot this morning.But will not be out till Thursday night with the NV.Will it be ok to keep these 2 (grolched when shot) in fur in a fridge or freezer? Or shall I go with my prevous plan and shoot a dozen fresh. I usually dress all my rabbits the day after shooting in the winter months and straight away in the summer.But I hear of people either freezing(or in a cooler)them in fur or skinned till they build up a decent number for the game dealer.Any advise would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 Providing they have been gutted, there should'nt be any problem with storing them in the freezer with the fur on. I would make sure that they are well wrapped before freezing. I wrap mine in newspapers then place them in cooler bags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted December 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 Would buying a tall fridge be a good idea so they stay fresh but not frozen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 with the weather this cool i will leave mine in the garage hanging for 3/4 days gutted but in the fur colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 You cannot freeze and re-freeze so they must be sold frozen to the butcher if you do this or Drop those two off early and let him decide - even better. Not so sure you should mix age of carcasses up so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul taylor Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 You shouldnt need a tall fridge mate they stop jumping once you shoot em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 You cannot freeze and re-freeze so they must be sold frozen to the butcher if you do this or Drop those two off early and let him decide - even better. Not so sure you should mix age of carcasses up so much why can't you freeze and re freeze ?? colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 why can't you freeze and re freeze ?? colin Your not supposed to refreeze frozen meat once its thawed unless its been flash frozen, even then I have my doubts, Of course you can defrost, cook, then refreeze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 (edited) Your not supposed to refreeze frozen meat once its thawed unless its been flash frozen, even then I have my doubts, Of course you can defrost, cook, then refreeze health wise is fine so long as the meat is not in the danger zone for any length of time the danger zone being 5-55 degree centigrade, so if its thawed in the fridge and kept cool ie 2-3*c then re frozen then that's fine as any bacteria in the meat will only reproduce while in that zone, at my last place of work we have brought nz lamb in that has come in deep chilled the meat is soft but has ice crystals in which come over by boat so is in this state for some weeks then can be frozen, now as for quality wise that is different as when meat thaws out the water crystals in the muscle fiber thaw making the meat softer every time it thaws so if it's done any amount of times eventually it will just be a pile of mush, so if you have a rabbit that has thawed say once for not too long and kept cool then it will be fine if however it's thawed at room temperature and left for a while then i wouldn't bacteria will reproduce very quickly 1 will be a million in a few hours hope this helps need a cup of tea now after all this typing colin Edited December 2, 2013 by colin lad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangey Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 Been googling but no straight answer.Local butcher has asked for a dozen rabbits.I have 2 I head shot this morning.But will not be out till Thursday night with the NV.Will it be ok to keep these 2 (grolched when shot) in fur in a fridge or freezer? Or shall I go with my prevous plan and shoot a dozen fresh. I usually dress all my rabbits the day after shooting in the winter months and straight away in the summer.But I hear of people either freezing(or in a cooler)them in fur or skinned till they build up a decent number for the game dealer.Any advise would be great. my game dealer will only take them guts in.only thing i do is empty their bladder then freeze them till i have about 100 and give them a call and they come and collect... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masmiffy Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 my game dealer will only take them guts in.only thing i do is empty their bladder then freeze them till i have about 100 and give them a call and they come and collect... Same here, frozen guts in, same with hares. We have 2 'iceland' glass top freezers we fill then take to the dealer and come home with a cheque!! They will collect but you have to wait for your money!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 (edited) Is this something to do with the Meat Hygiene Regs? My Dealer wants them cleaned and skinned! my game dealer will only take them guts in.only thing i do is empty their bladder then freeze them till i have about 100 and give them a call and they come and collect... Same here, frozen guts in, same with hares.We have 2 'iceland' glass top freezers we fill then take to the dealer and come home with a cheque!!They will collect but you have to wait for your money!! Edited December 3, 2013 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 Freezing with the guts in sounds a terrible idea to me. Leave the red offal in, yes. But not the intestines. Haven't heard of that one before. Joe public finds out carcases are being sold unpaunched it might put them off buying wild game. It would me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 An old acquaintance a master butcher and respected game dealer (also a keen experienced stalker) told me it was illegal for him to thaw then re-freeze any meat, though he thought it fine with certain meats (vension) for his own personal use this was about were the fat was stored in muscle or otherwise but rules is rules. Its got to do with the food regs (you know the label that says suitable for home freezing meaning not previously frozen). Deep chilled is not frozen. It worries me what some do with what amounts to food for sale to third parties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 An old acquaintance a master butcher and respected game dealer (also a keen experienced stalker) told me it was illegal for him to thaw then re-freeze any meat, though he thought it fine with certain meats (vension) for his own personal use this was about were the fat was stored in muscle or otherwise but rules is rules. Its got to do with the food regs (you know the label that says suitable for home freezing meaning not previously frozen). Deep chilled is not frozen. It worries me what some do with what amounts to food for sale to third parties It worries me as well, but the freezing malarkey is only something I know a limited amount about, because I sell fresh or eat/freeze for my personal consumption. Knowing a bit about Colins background I am minded to accept his comments on this subject! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masmiffy Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 Is this something to do with the Meat Hygiene Regs? My Dealer wants them cleaned and skinned! I asked when we started shooting large numbers if we should gut then freeze and was told 'no freeze guts in' Have done this for the last 2 years!! will ask next trip why this is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 kent please don't get me wrong what i am saying is you can re freeze, not if it's legal or not at our farm shop we don't sell meat that has thawed then re frozen i am just saying you can and i have done with my own food as to the legality of it it's not something i personally have spoken to the eho (environmental health officer) about i do know another butcher that asked his eho about making sausages with meat that has thawed out then freezing the made sausage and was told that it was ok as for freezing rabbits with the gut's in i suppose if the game dealer is working in chilled environment below 5*c then i guess they could be part de frosted and worked on but not saying that's what they do colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangey Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Freezing with the guts in sounds a terrible idea to me. Leave the red offal in, yes. But not the intestines. Haven't heard of that one before. Joe public finds out carcases are being sold unpaunched it might put them off buying wild game. It would me. think its a case of having to be lisenced to sell prepared meat to game dealers ie gutted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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