Freezer died!!!!!

CD1 · January 21, 2002, 07:55 PM

My freezer lost power 5 days ago. All of the game I harvested this year was in it. Everything has thawed, but is still very cold.

After an initial response of extreme anguish and despair, anger, and hopelessness, I checked the USDA website. They say that any red meat thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen within 3-5 days of thawing, without being cooked. Please cross your fingers...and pray for the best. It makes me sick to think of 4 whitetail deer going to waste.

C.R.Sam · January 21, 2002, 08:55 PM

I sincerely wish you good luck.

Sam

Zorro · January 21, 2002, 10:22 PM

Nope!

TIME TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF JERKY!

Try Soy Sauce and Worcestershire Sauce in a 2/1 ratio with whatever spice you like thrown in.

Dry in an Oven in the lowest possible setting till done. About 5 or so hours.

I REALLY suggest the use of this..... http://www.lea-perrins.com/

inGobwetrust · January 21, 2002, 11:31 PM

"Oh, beef jerky time!"- Nanja Ibacor, Exchange Student, Camaroon

Chili and stew too!

yorec · January 22, 2002, 04:51 AM

Good luck!

If it were me I wouldn't have to worry much - the freezer is out in the garage and the temperature outside would keep everything solid for weeks to come! Maybe you could take advantage of nature's cooler depending on where you live...

CD1 · January 22, 2002, 08:57 AM

My freezer is out in the garage, but it has been unusually warm lately. I'm thankful that it kept everything cold! I tried some tenderloin last night and it was fine. Whew!

C.R.Sam · January 22, 2002, 11:06 AM

Being plum full probably had a lot to do with it not gettin too warm.

When I have partial freezer load....I fill it up the rest of the way with jugs of water/ice. Cuts the lectric bill and a bit of power loss insurance.

Glad you dodged that one.

Sam

dZ · January 22, 2002, 11:57 AM

considering what passed for sanitary food handling in the 1500s,
i would think your meat is OK

when in doubt, add more pepper & onions

dZ

JasonReed · January 22, 2002, 01:16 PM

Same thing happened to me last year, and I lost almost an entire elk. Freezer was in the basement and I have no idea how long it was off, I hadn't touched it in about ten days. Opened it up to grab some meat and almost cried. Everything thawed and warm and smelling bad.

Glad you caught it in time.

ATTICUS · January 23, 2002, 04:43 PM

Sorry to hear of your bad luck. Three suggestions.
1) Re-freeze half
2) Donate 25% to a food bank/shelter
3) Throw one hell of a BBQ party with other 25% (BYOB)

January 21, 2002, 07:55 PM	#1
CD1 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2000 Posts: 320	Freezer died!!!!! My freezer lost power 5 days ago. All of the game I harvested this year was in it. Everything has thawed, but is still very cold. After an initial response of extreme anguish and despair, anger, and hopelessness, I checked the USDA website. They say that any red meat thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen within 3-5 days of thawing, without being cooked. Please cross your fingers...and pray for the best. It makes me sick to think of 4 whitetail deer going to waste.

January 21, 2002, 11:31 PM	#4
inGobwetrust Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 179	"Oh, beef jerky time!"- Nanja Ibacor, Exchange Student, Camaroon Chili and stew too! __________________ "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" George Orwell

January 22, 2002, 04:51 AM	#5
yorec Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2000 Location: Wyoming Posts: 2,328	Good luck! If it were me I wouldn't have to worry much - the freezer is out in the garage and the temperature outside would keep everything solid for weeks to come! Maybe you could take advantage of nature's cooler depending on where you live... __________________ What part of "... shall not be infringed..." don't you understand?

January 22, 2002, 11:57 AM	#8
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	considering what passed for sanitary food handling in the 1500s, i would think your meat is OK when in doubt, add more pepper & onions dZ __________________ "O tell the Lacedomecians to damn the torpedoes." BOTR, Chapter V: Some Monsters

January 23, 2002, 04:43 PM	#10
ATTICUS Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 1999 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,100	Sorry to hear of your bad luck. Three suggestions. 1) Re-freeze half 2) Donate 25% to a food bank/shelter 3) Throw one hell of a BBQ party with other 25% (BYOB) __________________ Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Mark Twain

January 21, 2002, 08:55 PM	#2
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	I sincerely wish you good luck. Sam

January 21, 2002, 10:22 PM	#3
Zorro Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2000 Posts: 1,072	Nope! TIME TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF JERKY! Try Soy Sauce and Worcestershire Sauce in a 2/1 ratio with whatever spice you like thrown in. Dry in an Oven in the lowest possible setting till done. About 5 or so hours. I REALLY suggest the use of this..... http://www.lea-perrins.com/

January 22, 2002, 08:57 AM	#6
CD1 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2000 Posts: 320	My freezer is out in the garage, but it has been unusually warm lately. I'm thankful that it kept everything cold! I tried some tenderloin last night and it was fine. Whew!

January 22, 2002, 11:06 AM	#7
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Being plum full probably had a lot to do with it not gettin too warm. When I have partial freezer load....I fill it up the rest of the way with jugs of water/ice. Cuts the lectric bill and a bit of power loss insurance. Glad you dodged that one. Sam

January 22, 2002, 01:16 PM	#9
JasonReed Member Join Date: December 15, 1999 Location: Colorado Posts: 91	Same thing happened to me last year, and I lost almost an entire elk. Freezer was in the basement and I have no idea how long it was off, I hadn't touched it in about ten days. Opened it up to grab some meat and almost cried. Everything thawed and warm and smelling bad. Glad you caught it in time.