How to Prepare a Rattlesnake for Good Eating
80A Little Background on Cooking With Rattlesnake
First, be sure that you are allowed to hunt or kill rattlesnakes where you are located. It is against the law in some areas. If you buy rattlesnake meat, expect to pay a high price. The last time I saw it, the price was about $30 per pound. In the southwest, rattlesnake meat is a delicacy. Rattlesnake chili is a common and popular recipe.
Rattlesnake tastes like a Cornish game hen to me, with a hint of gamey flavor. It even has a similar texture, but it is a little chewier and a bit stringy. There is nothing to worry about regarding eating a poisonous snake. Even if venom is present in the meat, it will cause no ill effects if ingested.Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Some Precautions About Preparing a Rattlesnake for Cooking
You need to skin the rattlesnake before you can prepare it for eating. The first thing to do is turn it so that its underbelly is facing up. Cut off the snake's head about 4 inches below the head, unless you want to keep the skin.
Be careful when handling the snake's head, as it could still contain poisonous venom. Get rid of the rattlesnake's head immediately in a tightly covered container, away from kids and pets. Believe it or not, the decapitated head can still bite for a few hours. Be sure to wear gloves when cutting and disposing of the rattlesnake's head.Instructions for Preparing a Rattlesnake to Cook
Hang the snake up just below the tail end. This will allow it to 'bleed'. Starting at the head end of the rattlesnake, make a cut down the length of the snake all the way to where the white part of the tail is located. Now cut all the way through the tail at this point.
The rattlesnake meat can simply be peeled away from the skin now. It is not difficult to remove. Start at the head end and peel the skin up toward the tail end.The next step is to remove the intestines and other innards. Then wash the snake meat well in cold water. Cut the snake into two large pieces and freeze in salt water. Make sure the snake is put in a tightly covered container. If not, the snake will literally crawl out.How to Cook With Rattlesnake
When you are ready to prepare the rattlesnake, thaw and rinse in cold water. Then cut the snake into suitable sizes for your rattlesnake recipe. Cook the rattlesnake as desired- grill, bake, fry or throw it into a stew or rattlesnake chili recipe.
Of course, with some rattlesnake recipes you will want to remove the bones first. To debone rattlesnake meat, simmer the rattlesnake in water with about 1/4 cup of lemon juice added to it. After the rattlesnake has cooked for about an hour, it should be easy to remove the rattlesnake meat from the bones.
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Comments
Eastern Pennsylvania is seeing an increase in rattlesnakes because of continuing land development. I'm definitely going to check with our wildlife and game folks to find out if I can legally shoot one!
Hey, if I get close enough to one to shoot him, I will claim self-defense! LOL
Bonnie
I personally don't prepare them myself, no way. I just watch. I leave that part up to my husband. And then I eat them.
yea i cant wait to eat the snake meat i live in south africa and most of the chinese restaurants dont prepare them i gotta eat one this month
This information is usefull but its what I already know I'm just looking for a good recipe for the rattler I'm eating tonight. Even my wife is looking forward to tonights dinner.
i need to know, have you ever used rattlesnakes to cure cancer? i have a "recipe" if you wanna call it that, to give my mom snake to cure her cancer. i was told to; cut four inches from the head, and four inches from the tail, skin the snake, cut down the middle and take out its insides, put in salt water for about 3 min, and then let it dry out. then grind it up and give it to my mom to eat. the guy said we'd need to give her ten snakes to cure it. i have no idea if it works but im willing to try anything. :( im so desperate, everyday my mom gets worse. and i need her to be what she was before. so please if you could tell me this will work, it'll give me some ease.
ass
Wierd, ass was not mentioned in the rattle snake meat page.
Ana, a friend of mine is searching to try this. Her breast cancer has mastisized into the liver and other areas of her body. There was an Indian man who did this with his wife. She WAS cured. The problem faced is salmonella poisioning. If the immune system is compromised it can be dangerous. Will keep you posted if she finds the meat. I understand it can be purchased in Texas. Keep googling.
Ana, personally one of my relatives had advanced cancer and doctors were just waiting for her to die, that is until we met a man how told us he had the cure....which was eating rattlesnake. I was doubtful about it but we had nothing to loose....needless to say her cancer is completely gone and living a healthy lifestlye with no recurrence of it again. I would recommend you do give her rattlesnake. Best wishes!!!!
what does freezing it in salt water do?
Ate some tonight, you dont have to shoot them. Rattle snakes are very docile. I just noosed and decapitated, skinned , gutted, cleaned and grilled mine.
Salt water keeps from ruining the meat, but freezes the muscle so that the snake doesnt keep squirming off the grill, my snake moved for over a half hour, which is why you DO NOT get near the head after youve cut it off. The involuntary muscle movements on a snake are far greater than in other animals.
this is so horrible. no one should have the right to go out and kill a snake. you people should be ashamed. that's a living animal. i hate people that kill animals.
Bonnie Ramsey says:
2 years ago
LOL Sorry, Angela! I tried to read all of this hub but I just feel something crawling up my spine. Especially when I saw the picture. I did give you a thumbs up because from what I was able to read it is a well written hub as yours usually are. No need to doubt that! This is just one of those subjects with me LOL> It is beyond me how so many people can have a snake as a pet! Ewwww!
Bonnie