Venison is a term that refers to the meat of any game animal, including deer, elk, caribou, antelope, and certain species of goats and antelopes
. The term venison comes from the Latin verb venari, meaning “to hunt”
. However, it is most commonly applied to deer meat, which is characterized by its fine grain and supple texture resulting from short, thin muscle fibers
. Venison is a healthy red meat alternative that is low in fat, cholesterol, and calories and high in protein, vitamins, and minerals
. It can be used to prepare similar cuts as beef, including steaks, roasts, ground meat, and stew meat
. Venison has a distinct earthy, almost rich flavor, owing to a deer’s diet of grasses, leaves, twigs, berries, and fruit
. Although venison is generally considered safe to eat, it can still transmit diseases, and it is important to source it correctly from healthy deer
