Have you ever had Squirrel’s meat? If not, then you are at the right place because this article will discuss different aspects of Squirrel, what Squirrel meat taste like, its health benefits, how you can cook it, and much more.
We will also go through some queries related to Squirrel meat which will give you some much-needed clarity.
What Is Squirrel?
Wild Squirrels are part of the Sciuridae family, including small or medium-sized rodents.
The squirrel family includes different types of Squirrels, such as Flying Squirrels, Grey Squirrels, Ground Squirrels, and Tree Squirrels.
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Squirrels are indigenous to Africa, Eurasia, and North America and were introduced to Australia by human beings.
What Does Squirrel Taste Like?
Squirrel meat has a flavor profile similar to rabbit meat; however, Squirrel meat has a gamey texture and is considered a hybrid of rabbit meat and chicken.
The delicious meat has a sweet and nutty flavor due to the Squirrel’s natural food of squash, carrots, vegetables, nuts, almonds, and fruits.
How Is Squirrel Made?
To break down, gut, and skin a Squirrel, you will need the following:
- Kitchen Shears
- A trash bin
- A cutting board
- Water
- A small paring knife or a pocket knife
- A tray or platter
To prepare the Squirrel, you will need to start with its head, tail, and feet.
With the help of the bone-cutting notch at the end of the shear, start cutting through the three body parts.
While most people pull the head out of the body and dispose of it, if you like eating Squirrel brains, split the skull open and take out the brain.
Once you remove the head, feet, and tail, grab a knife in your hand, and with the other hand, pinch the loosen skin in the middle of the Squirrel’s back.
With the help of the knife, make a cut perpendicular to the Squirrel’s backbone, which should be 2 inches in length.
To remove the skin of the Squirrel’s body, work a pair of fingers from each hand under the Squirrel’s skin and through the 2-inch cut you just made.
Now, you will need to pull the skin off the body, and the skin will easily come off.
While you will be able to remove most of the skin, there will still be pieces of the skin in the center of the belly and the legs.
Poke your fingers in the legs and release the skin.
With the help of a sharp knife, release the skin from the center of the belly and then pull it.
While the skinning process takes practice, it is easy to do once you get used to it.
To gut the animal, you will need to ensure the knife’s blade is facing away from the guts so that you can open up the Squirrel.
This process will spill out the guts of the Squirrel, and you can reach into the body with your fingers and take out the lungs and heart.
You can take out the kidneys and livers too with this method.
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The organs of Squirrels are delicious.
You can also use shears to split open the Squirrel’s pelvis to release the remaining bits of the poop chute.
Wash the Squirrel under clean and cold water, and then you are ready to break the carcass down.
Normally, people start by breaking down the legs, as mammals have front legs free from the skeleton.
Use your knife, and behind the front leg, slice down the ribcage, and then slice along the bones in the neck until you release the forelegs.
However, you will also need to slice through the collar bone.
The hind legs of Squirrels are very significant and are attached with a joint of ball and socket.
Use a knife to slice the meat on the legs until you see the ball.
Once you locate the ball, pop the joint out.
Slice around the ball to free the legs.
Repeat this process with both legs.
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How Do You Cook Squirrel?
Here is how you can cook Squirrel:
Fried Buttermilk Squirrel And Southern Gravy
Ingredients
- Quartered/Skinned Squirrel: 3 to 4
- Buttermilk
- Salt: 2 tbsp.
- Flour: 2 Cups
- Black Pepper: 2 tbsp.
- Milk: 2 Cups (For gravy)
- Cajun Seasoning: 1 tbsp.
Method
To make this recipe, you will first need to marinate Squirrel meat in buttermilk for about 60 minutes.
Mix Cajun seasoning, flour, pepper, and salt in a large Ziploc or paper bag.
Reserve all-purpose flour (3 tbsp.) for the gravy.
Take out the meat from the buttermilk, and put them in the mixture bag.
Mix the meat with the mixture until the meat is coated evenly with the mixture.
Once the meat is coated, place it on a cooling rack for 5 to 10 minutes, enabling the crust to rest.
This process will give you a crispy crust that won’t break off when you’ll start frying the meat.
Pour half-inch olive oil into a frying pan and place it over medium heat.
Fry both sides of the Squirrel meat for 10 to 12 minutes, and cover the pan, which will soften the meat.
Once the meat is cooked and browned, place it on warm tinfoil and put a plate on top of the pieces.
Pour oil from the frying pan, ensure you keep the flour bits in the frying pan, as this will give you the flavor for the gravy.
Add around 3 tbsp. Of seasoned flour in the frying pan and stir the mixture until it is browned.
Slowly mix milk in the mixture and stir the ingredients.
Mix the gravy until it develops a thick texture, and there are visible tracks on the pan as you push the spoon across its surface.
Once the gravy is cooked, combine it with the Squirrel meat.
What Do You Eat Squirrel With?
When it comes to squirrel meat, many flavors go well with the meat.
You can pair the meat with berries and nuts, which will also hold well against creamy dishes and tomato sauces.
Here is a list of things that pair well with Squirrel meat:
Herbs
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Sage
- Rosemary
Alcohol:
- Ale
- Cider
- Dry Red Wine
Spices
- Chili
- Cayenne
- Paprika
Is Squirrel Good For You?
Here are some health benefits of Squirrel meat:
Can Cure Diabetes
The main cause of diabetes is high sugar levels when insulin cannot alter the sugar in the human body.
The function of Squirrel meat in curing diabetes is that it can stimulate insulin production and control blood sugar levels.
Can Prevent Cancer
It is well-known that Squirrel meat has anti-cancer properties and is also high in antioxidants, which can eliminate free radicals in the body.
Can Cure Rheumatism
Based on the experience of individuals who consume Squirrel meat as a cure, they state that their Rheumatism slowly disappears once they eat the meat.
This happens because the lean meat of Squirrels is a good source of protein and can reduce the pain of Rheumatism.
Squirrel Meat Is Liver Medicine
If you consume Squirrel meat, the pain in your liver will reduce, and the meat will make the liver healthier.
Related Questions About Squirrel?
Nutritional Value Of Squirrel Meat?
Research indicates that Squirrel meat contains the following:
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin
- Mineral
- Protein
- Fat
Is It Safe To Eat Squirrel Meat?
Like other game meats, Squirrel meat can also be contaminated with tapeworms, diseases, and bacteria.
Ensure you clean the meat before eating it.
Conclusion
In this article, we thoroughly discussed everything about Squirrel meat.
We also listed down the health benefits of Squirrel and how you can prepare them before consuming it.
Hopefully, this article will motivate you to try Squirrel meat.
Sources:
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