Squirrel is TV chef's tasty new dish

[Globetrotter.uk]

Found this on my local papers website today.


Grubs up folks

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news...gory=News&itemid=NOED14 Jul 2008 20:02:47:760

 

[crazydave]

up in the noorth where they are culling greys its on the shelf in several local butchers.

 

[Silverback]

I think it is worth giving a go for the experience of tasting it but if you have ever skinned one I reckon you expend more calories getting the jacket off than you get to consume at the end of it

 

[Tony]

Yeah, they can be hard work for what you get. I've seen a few people have the skins off right quick though, they've just got the knack.....I need to get me the knack

 

[ganstey]

Squirrel might be a possibility when I'm down in the wood with a few mates of mine. One of them does a lot of air rifle shooting, and has offered to reduce the population by a few. Although, I reckon he'll be hard pressed to see any, let alone shoot them

Anyhow, if he does manage to bag one, what's the best way to prepare it. Bare in mind that I've never attempted to process any animal 'in the full' as it were, so "do the same as you would to a rabbit" doesn't help me much Is it possible/worth just getting out the breast meat as you would a pigeon?

Once I have the raw meat prepared, I guess you could fry it or stew it.

G

 

[Big Bad Stu]

I guess the best meat will be in the saddle (behind the ribs to in front of the back legs) like on a rabbit.

As for cooking the possibilities are numerous:

Spit roast
Stew
Braise
Fry

Season it well with salt and pepper, a bit of garlic and some herbs, some good stock if you are stewing or braising it and away to go.

You can't tell who does the cooking in our house can you.

Stewey.

 

[sparkplug]

I had my first one a few weeks ago and also had a go at skinning one. It does take some patience, but the result is very tasty and I was surprised at how much meat there was on them.

To add to the recipe ideas, we tried a few hot smoked for around an hour and they were very nice indeed...

 

[ganstey]

I had my first one a few weeks ago and also had a go at skinning one. It does take some patience, but the result is very tasty and I was surprised at how much meat there was on them.

To add to the recipe ideas, we tried a few hot smoked for around an hour and they were very nice indeed...

Is the skinning process one that can be described, or do you need some practice on more conventional game first so that you can work it out as you go?

G

 

[dommyracer]

^^Very similar to rabbit, but on a smaller scale and more fiddly.

 

[spamel]

They have skin as tough as leather but very rubbery! At least, that was my impression of it. Both The Ratbag and myself have shot a couple now and then and I find putting them down in one is very difficult, they seem to be so resilient. Bullet Proof Squirrel should be a new film based on the Bullet Proof Monk film. I'd put my money on the squirrel kicking the monks' butt!

We only took the back legs off, couldn't see much point in messing with the rest of it as there didn't appear to be much else on them. There is a quick way to do it shown on Youtube which involves cutting under the tail, standing on the tail and then ripping the fur up and over its' head like taking it's PJs off, but I haven't tried it. Their skin is tough to get off, a small razor sharp knife or scalpel blade would be a good item to help get its' skin off.

 

[ganstey]

hmm... well, according to YouTube there's more than one way to skin a squirrel

G

 

[woodstock]

Here's one I prepared earlier the fresher they are the easier they are to skin and the meat is like sweet pork

 

[crazydave]

when I did the ifficial survival course they has us skinning them with the rzor blades in our survival kits - took ages

 

[Silverback]

Is the skinning process one that can be described, or do you need some practice on more conventional game first so that you can work it out as you go?

G

I would definitely recommend practicing on a few rabbits first as the principals are exactly the same but as has been mentioned before much more fiddly due to the size and the skin is a lot less willing to part company. For a quick skin I usually separate the skin from around the saddle then cut through the skin completely. I then take hold of the two sections of skin (front and back) and pull in opposite directions (think Bullworker if you are old enough to remember them ) this should do 90% of the job for you then its just a case of easing out the legs. I keep meaning to do a photo and video tutorial on this from gutting right through to jointing as I have demo'd it hundreds of times and must in my lifetime have skinned literally hundreds of thousands . I will see if i can get my backside in gear and get something sorted!

 

[CLEM]

I would definitely recommend practicing on a few rabbits first as the principals are exactly the same but as has been mentioned before much more fiddly due to the size and the skin is a lot less willing to part company. For a quick skin I usually separate the skin from around the saddle then cut through the skin completely. I then take hold of the two sections of skin (front and back) and pull in opposite directions (think Bullworker if you are old enough to remember them ) this should do 90% of the job for you then its just a case of easing out the legs. I keep meaning to do a photo and video tutorial on this from gutting right through to jointing as I have demo'd it hundreds of times and must in my lifetime have skinned literally hundreds of thousands . I will see if i can get my backside in gear and get something sorted!

Look forward to that!

 

[firecrest]

Why it takes only 46 seconds to skin a squirrel I don't know what the fuss is about.
`How to skin a squirrel`
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66AVwthXgMA

 

[Silverback]

46 seconds to do the easy bit then the tape runs out with the skin on the back legs left on . My record for a rabbit is 27 seconds as timed on a stopwatch at a meet by Swyn's son Ed

You can actually knock up a jig for skinning squirrels which makes the job a doddle!

 

[firecrest]

Cant they just be thrown on a fire and the hair burned off?

 

[woodstock]

Cant they just be thrown on a fire and the hair burned off?

I'll give it a try and let you know how it goes

 

[Silverback]

Cant they just be thrown on a fire and the hair burned off?

They have short and very dense fur, very little to no bodyfat and being fairly slender in build I think you will very quickly end up with something closely resembling and tasting like charcoal