Best Oven Venison Roast Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What temp is best for venison roast? ›

It's lean, don't over cook it

Venison is very low in fat and is best served medium-rare. This equates to an internal temperature of 57°C/135°F if you're using a meat thermometer.

Add other fats to keep game meat from becoming too dry. Rub a roast with oil, butter, margarine, bacon fat, sweet cream or sour cream to add moisture, richness and flavor.

The best way that I've found to make sure a venison roast (bone-in or out) tender is to cook it in the crockpot or slow cooker on low for 8-9 hours, or until it is falling apart. If you cook it on low you won't dry it out. Please note that I don't recommend cooking this on high for 4-6 hours.

Soaking: The most common soaking liquids are buttermilk, saltwater, white milk, vinegar, lemon juice and lime juice. While some hunters swear by certain soaking methods to take the “gamey” flavor away or bleed the meat after processing, others don't find it all that helpful.

Large cuts of venison taste best when pot-roasted for several hours. If you have access to a crock pot, use any recipe for beef pot roast and you'll be pleasantly surprised. However, instead of cooking for two to four hours, venison may require substantially longer cooking time for the meat to become tender.

Soak over night at least 8 hours. This process removes the blood which causes the roast to have that wild unwanted flavor.

You can simply pat the venison dry and season with salt and pepper before cooking, or you can marinate the cut of meat for a few hours or overnight. Personally, when it comes to venison steak and venison backstrap, I like to use a simple marinade to enhance the flavor of the venison without overpowering it.

People have been soaking venison and other proteins in milk or buttermilk for years. The claim is that the acidic or low ph level helps to break down the tissue to tenderize the meat while also ridding the meat of a powerfully “gamey” or wild/iron-like flavor.

Heat a large heavy-based frying pan until very hot, and then sear the fillet on all sides until dark golden-brown on the outside (this will take about two minutes). Then reduce the heat to low and gently fry, turning regularly, for 6-8 minutes or until cooked to your liking.

How is venison best cooked? ›

Naturally tender cuts like loins and tenderloin take well to high heat grilling, pan searing, or stuffing and trussing and should be served rare to medium rare. Here's my recipe for how to cook Chili Cocoa Crusted Venison Loin. Tougher muscles from the shoulder, shank or neck should be braised or stewed slow and low.

However, the further down the leg you go the meat gets tougher and these roasts should be slow cooked. I'll be honest, outside of a standing rib roast (which is the back strap/t-loin) most tender venison meat is best cut into steaks and cooked medium rare.

The best way to treat this meat is to pat it dry with a paper towel, season lightly with salt and black pepper, and use high heat and cook it to medium-rare or even rare plus.

Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least four hours, and no more than 12, before proceeding to cook it as you normally would. The calcium in milk contains enzymes that will tenderize the meat, and the main protein in milk will neutralize the gamey flavor.

The secret to a fantastic smoked wild game roast is to brine it before smoking, removing it from the heat once it reaches the desired internal temperature and resting it before slicing.

The CDC says 145° F for whole cuts or steaks (medium well) or 160° F for ground meat (well done). This of course is not what most chefs would say. For best flavor and texture, 130° F (medium rare) is commonly recommended for venison steaks.

Medium temperature is passable: 135 to 145 degrees. However, venison steak will begin to take on a gray appearance, taste slightly livery and lose moisture at these temperatures. Medium well and beyond, above 145 degrees, is not recommended.

You should be able to feel the tenderness of the meat when pricking it. Pull the meat when it reaches about 180-190 degrees internally. Don't let it get past 200 degrees. This might take anywhere between 8-12 hours to achieve, depending on the size of the roast.