There are a lot of people who believe that gamey meat possesses something addictive.
You would go back to having it again once you try it.
This addiction is why many people new to gamey meat ask, “What does gamey taste like?”
The core reason behind its unique taste is the diet regiment that the animals follow.
The majority of these animals tend to consume wild grass and wild food. It makes their meat and muscles carry a different taste than what we are used to.
Gamey meat is highly popular in countries like the United States, Australia, Russia, and certain Asian countries.
The United Kingdom does eat a lot of venison meat. Gamey meat goes perfectly well with any steak recipes out there.
What Is Gamey?
Gamey is an intriguing word for describing flavors.
If you are eating gamey meat, then the smell of the meat will be more earthy than regular meats. The smell is quite distinct, which you can instantly make out.
Gamey meat tends to smell like a mixture of campfire accompanied by nuts and earthy mushrooms.
The smell can be a little overwhelming for some people. Common types of gamey meat include elk meat, moose meat, rabbit, pheasant, wild duck, goose, bison, and more.
The flavors tend to be more intense and strong compared to the subdued flavors of animals from the farm.
Many people aren’t accustomed to the intense pungent flavors of wild animals, so it might carry a negative connotation in restaurants for certain diners.
Game meat comes from animals that are popular on the hunting ground and isn’t from the farm.
The game meat carries high nutritional values and does not possess any antibiotics and hormones as they were never given any in the wild.
What Does Gamey Taste Like? Does Gamey Taste Good?
The taste of gamey meat is like meat that is starting to rot. For instance, when beef is mature and hung, it is permitted to decompose slightly.
The muscle fibers break down by the enzymes, which causes the meat to be tender and tasty.
The same thing applies to animals like hare, deer, grouse, and pheasant. However, the process of maturing takes longer in comparison to the beef.
In other words, Gamey meat is quite similar to the organ meat of domestic animals.
Gamey meats come with an excessive flavor of meatiness than the standard meats.
Some people even say that it has a tart-type of taste as it carries a lot of texture to it. The gaminess comes from the fats of the meat.
How to Make Meat Taste Gamey?
There are some important things that you need to do before you cook your game meat. They include:
- Immediately field dresses your game meat.
- Place the meat on ice.
- Refrigerate the game meat for the next 3-7 days.
- Try freezing the leftover game meat for a year.
Next would be soaking and marinating your game meat. You can do the following:
- Cut the meat into equal pieces and put it in a large bowl.
- Use buttermilk to soak the meat. Keep it overnight.
- You can choose a traditional acidic marinade to be more effective in counteracting the gaminess.
- Marinate your gamey meat for at least 3-4 hours.
Now you can proceed to cook your gamey meat. You can follow these key steps:
Step 1 – Before you start cooking, you need to bring the game meat under room temperature.
Let it sit on your kitchen counter for a few hours. Cooking it straight out of the refrigerator will not end well.
Step 2 – To avoid overcooking and drying your game meat, use a meat thermometer. You need to check it periodically. Stick it inside at an internal temperature of 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 3 – You need to set your stove heat to a medium-high for faster cooking if you are frying your meat.
Cooking your gamey meat on a lower setting tends to eliminate the juices, which will make your meat tasteless.
Step 4 – After removing the meat from the heat source, you need to let it rest for a good 10-15 minutes. Cover it with a tin foil after you place your meat on the plate.
Step 5 – You need to trim down the fat from the meat as much as possible.
Excessive fat will make your meat extra gamey, so you need to cut down the fats. However, you can carry out this procedure before cooking.
The fat has a lighter appearance in comparison to the meat. It possesses a slimmer texture, which will be easy to recognize.
You can always keep a little bit of the fats if you want some gaminess.
Caution – You need to clean and cook your gamey meat properly.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS), most game meats contain parasites and bacteria that cause serious sicknesses in humans. You need to take up the proper measurements before handling gamey meats.
Conclusion
Gamey meat expands your culinary expectations to its highest potential.
It is healthy to switch from consuming farm-based animals to wild animals at times.
It is exciting to have a flexible recipe repertoire. Plus, it carries a multitude of health benefits too.
What Does Gamey Taste Like? Does Gamey Taste Good?
Ingredients
- Gamey meat
- Ingredients from your favorite recipes
Instructions
- Depending on the recipes you choose, the taste can vastly differ.
- For authentic results, it is important to choose a recipe that will highlight the original flavor.
- Have fun experimenting with different recipes and taste tests!
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