Thread: Boiling stags heads, why do some come out yellow and some white?

So over the years I've boiled out a few stags heads. Sometimes they will come out of the pot bone white and other times yellow like they are full of grease.

I do the same thing everytime, in the pot with a bit of dishwash liquid and boil for about 1 1/2 hours.. then out and waterblast. The only thing I could think of was that I left the red for about a week before boiling vs the sika doing 3 days later.

Here's a couple of examples
Redstag from the roar came out nice and white:


Couple of sika from the weekend yellow


Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by Nick.m

So over the years I've boiled out a few stags heads. Sometimes they will come out of the pot bone white and other times yellow like they are full of grease.

I do the same thing everytime, in the pot with a bit of dishwash liquid and boil for about 1 1/2 hours.. then out and waterblast. The only thing I could think of was that I left the red for about a week before boiling vs the sika doing 3 days later.

Here's a couple of examples
Redstag from the roar came out nice and white:
Attachment 221705

Couple of sika from the weekend yellow
Attachment 221706

Any suggestions?

some really good recipes for boiling out heads on you tube most use peroxide to bleach white ( used on blondes at hair dressers easy to get ) some recipes add lime to last stage of boiling out

Thanks. I do normally whiten them up a bit with peroxide aswell however it just amazes me how different they can be when they come out of the pot.. not sure why or how. The ones that come white initially seem to always be whiter then those that come out yellow.

Try adding a bit of laundry powder in. It'll more effectively remove the fat and will whiten it up. Does increase the chance of damaging the bone though as it's quite a bit more aggressive than dish washing liquid.

I found it also makes quite an unpleasant smell that turns my otherwise quite strong stomach for some reason. The next one I get I'm just hanging in a tree, no rush...

I use vanish laundry powder, first boil about an hour, waterblast then short bursts in the boil up with more water blasting in between. Then 35% Peroxide

Yellow will mean that there is still some oil/fat in the bone

I use dishwashing fluid and napi-san. Always white.

Bit of a thread hijack but what do you guys use to boil your heads up in? Is there a cheap DIY option?

Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Bit of a thread hijack but what do you guys use to boil your heads up in? Is there a cheap DIY option?

try your asian shops - they do large pots cheap - big enough for job

Whitebone Creations on YT do the best tutorials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lknMPC0FQ04&t=231s

Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

Chuck them up on the shed roof and let them get a bit of sun and they should whiten up a bit.

You could just about see his shed from your place.

Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Bit of a thread hijack but what do you guys use to boil your heads up in? Is there a cheap DIY option?

I've used a 20ltr steel paint bucket before.

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

try your asian shops - they do large pots cheap - big enough for job

if you go down this route Chur Bay watch your heat yes asian supply shops have cheap big soup pots will do the job but they tend to have fairly thin bottoms I use my two burner camp stove really low

I have a big stainless steel pot I bought on trademe.
Can't remember the size but it's been good. Just need to refine my own technique.

I have worked out over the years that if the head is clean/fresh and only couple of days old it will always come out nice and white after boiling out. If the head is a week old and smelly or been wrapped and left in plastic bags they can quite often come out looking a bit yellow.
I always boil them out the same way each time. Remove all skin, brain & eyeballs, boil for 2 hours with half cup of washing powder then immediately dunk into bucket of cold water for 5 mins, lastly clean up with knife, screwdriver & water blaster.

Originally Posted by Huntn

I have worked out over the years that if the head is clean/fresh and only couple of days old it will always come out nice and white after boiling out. If the head is a week old and smelly or been wrapped and left in plastic bags they can quite often come out looking a bit yellow.
I always boil them out the same way each time. Remove all skin, brain & eyeballs, boil for 2 hours with half cup of washing powder then immediately dunk into bucket of cold water for 5 mins, lastly clean up with knife, screwdriver & water blaster.

What he said, fresh is best.