Buddy got a bear...what do you make with it?

salemg · 11-28-2007, 06:16 PM

One of my buddies got a bear a few weeks ago and now he has all this bear meat in the fridge and doesn't really know what to do with it. So I am asking all of you what can you do with it? I had a friend a few years ago that made some great bear sausage, i'll be getting that recipe this weekend, but I think that is the only way that I have had it. Any tips would be helpful.

nocatchem · 11-28-2007, 06:19 PM

Bear meat is not all that desirable but can be. I have had it made in to kielbosa. That was ok. I also had kielbosa made out of a 50/50 mix bear and deer, that was much better. Also summer sausage was good made out of bear meat.:lurk:

longarm · 11-28-2007, 06:41 PM

Apparently the quality of bear meat varies considerably. Before you assume it is all not-so-special make sure you try a few recipes that don't mask the flavor too heavily under spices, etc. Last year I had the pleasure of eating a roast from a local bear and it was absolutely delicious.

Oncorhynchus · 11-28-2007, 06:53 PM

I got a bear during rifle deer and had breakfast sausage made out of it and jerky out of the backstrap, both are awesome. They mixed beef into the sausage, I believe around 40%. Several people told me its no good but I'll gladly eat a bear meatloaf or biscuits and gravy out of this stuff.

baltz526 · 11-28-2007, 06:55 PM

it would have been excellent. 2 weeks in the refridgerator and it is probably spoiled. with bear, the best way to treat it is, skin it cut and wrap the same day you kill it if at all possible. it makes great burger and roasts/stew meat

Don Becker · 11-28-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baltz526

it would have been excellent. 2 weeks in the refridgerator and it is probably spoiled. with bear, the best way to treat it is, skin it cut and wrap the same day you kill it if at all possible. it makes great burger and roasts/stew meat

Gee! Actually, he said a "few" weeks . . . . what a waste. I was going to offer-up a copy of the bear stroganoff recipe from the last OHA magazine but, unless we're missing something, it's too late :frown:. Don

98ramtough · 11-28-2007, 07:15 PM

Maybe he meant freezer? Give the guy a chance before we jump all over him.

I think alot of it depends on what the bear was eating. I have had bear that was eating berries and such that tasted excellent. And had bear that was only good for sausage, guessing maybe i was eating fawns etc...

Don Becker · 11-28-2007, 07:19 PM

'Hope so! That's why I said " . . . unless we're missing something . . . ."

[BTW, my dad was born in Prosser - - 85+ years ago - - 'don't think I've ever been there.]

Don

Art Vandeley · 11-28-2007, 10:32 PM

I had beer sausages made from a bear that was shot up in BC and they were awesome! I have heard that it really depends on what the bear has been eating as well. I hear its best if they have been feeding heavily on berries. I hope this bear did not go to waste...

tag-a-long · 11-29-2007, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salemg

One of my buddies got a bear a few weeks ago and now he has all this bear meat in the fridge and doesn't really know what to do with it. So I am asking all of you what can you do with it? I had a friend a few years ago that made some great bear sausage, i'll be getting that recipe this weekend, but I think that is the only way that I have had it. Any tips would be helpful.

I sure hope he meant freezer. Bear makes great pepperoni, and summer sausage. I don't care for steaks, but some people do. Please tell us that he had it in the freezer. If not, it has surely gone bad.

Lured In · 11-29-2007, 06:59 AM

Make a ham! (just like pork) Brine it, smoke it and eat it! We did this with my last fall bear and it was awesome!

baumer · 11-29-2007, 07:59 AM

Bear meat can be quite good depending on the Bear's diet and time of year shot. Fall bears it is a necessity to get all of the fat trimmed off. I have gotten one bear in the fall and it really was just suitable for grinding and sausage. Too much fat and really tough to get trimmed all the way. On the other hand, spring bear meat in my family gets eaten quite quickly.

shinook65 · 11-29-2007, 08:40 AM

I agree with the try it before you grind it. Hoping its not spoiled, try a steak..!

Teton · 11-29-2007, 09:47 AM

I took a medium sized black bear when I was 16. We had sausages and jerky made while cutting the loins into steaks.

It was quite good, but we took the thing directly to the processor right after the kill.

The cape hangs on my wall at home (and my wife closes the door to that room every time we have company :grin

.

Nuf · 11-29-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocatchem

Bear meat is not all that desirable but can be. I have had it made in to kielbosa. That was ok. I also had kielbosa made out of a 50/50 mix bear and deer, that was much better. Also summer sausage was good made out of bear meat.:lurk:

Just a gentle reminder: trichinosis is a disease caused by a parasitic roundworm, in English, trichina. It's found in some pork (feral pigs) and bear meat, can be transmitted to humans if the meat is eaten raw or untreated. Trichinae mature in a person's intestines and are usually killed by the body's defenses. Some, however, can survive in the form of cysts in various muscles for years. For fresh pork not used for sausage, the meat needs only be cooked to an internal temperature of 137� F. Pork to be consumed raw, as in dried sausage, can be made completely safe and free of trichinae by freezing it to -200� F for 6 to 12 days, -100� F for 10 to 20 days or 5� F for 20 to 30 days.

salemg · 11-29-2007, 12:27 PM

sorry I did mean freezer. Yea it would be a waste to keep it in the fridge so long, was pretty tired last night when I typed this out. So all of the meat is still good, I know he did get some ground into burger meat, but still has back strap, steaks, roasts.

Don Becker · 11-29-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salemg

sorry I did mean freezer. Yea it would be a waste to keep it in the fridge so long, was pretty tired last night when I typed this out. So all of the meat is still good, I know he did get some ground into burger meat, but still has back strap, steaks, roasts.

Whew!

Don

[Oh yea - - if you or your friend aren't OHA members and if he wants a copy of that stroganoff recipe, let me know and I'll PM it to you. Don]

Limbhanger · 11-29-2007, 01:31 PM

I had breakfast sausage and pepperoni made from mine and the whole family likes it. I will probably do the same thing again.

riverswild · 11-29-2007, 04:38 PM

It can be some of the best tasting meat if taken care of and cooked properly. I prefer roasts, canning, burger and making my own sausage.

For roasts I use the hinds/hams and even the backstrap.

Here is my favorite way to cook bear roasts....

1 bear roast or backstrap
2 small cans Cream Mushroom Soup
1 or 2 lbs of Mushrooms
Potatoes
Carrots
2 cups water
1 packet Au Ju mix
Marjoram
Rosemary
Johnnys Seasoning
Flour
1 table spoon butter
1 table spoon oil

In a crockpot/slow cooker, mix Au Ju, water, rosemary & marjoram.
Stir in Cream of Mushroom Soup.

In a skillet heat oil & butter.
Season roast with Johnnys, roll roast in flour and braze all sides on high heat. I usually do this with a frozen roast and burn the outer edges.

Place roast and drippings in crockpot and cook on hig for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

Add cubed potatoes, carrots and mushrooms and cook on high for 1/2 hour or on low for an hour.

I have also used this recipe for moose roast with a packet of beef stew mix. Talk about tasty!