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Eating Snails?? A good idea??
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tjahardie



Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Location: Northumberland
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 1:02 pm    Post subject: Eating Snails?? A good idea?? Reply with quote
    

Right, I'm new so forgive me if I seem a little green.

Snails are eating my lettuces (although not as much as last year). I don't want to put pellets down but I quite like the idea of eating snails instead. This would remove the problem and give me something to eat!

Is it worth the effort of purging them? I've always imagined that they'd be great with a bit of garlic butter.....

Also, I've heard that there are certain snails that should be avoided. As far as I know, the ones munching my lettuces are common garden snails.

Any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated!

hedgehogpie



Joined: 02 May 2006
Posts: 684
Location: Kent
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

As far as I know (and I'm prepared to be corrected by anyone who knows better) all of our snails are ok for eating (except the Roman Snail, which IIRC is protected?) - it's more a question of size versus the effort of preparation.

The other thing with snails is that they can be carriers of lungworm so cooking is essential although I can't imagine that anyone would be even remotely tempted to eat them raw.

tjahardie



Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Location: Northumberland
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 1:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

haha! I'd like to say I could eat a raw snail but think I'd probably prefer to cook!

gil
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Do you need to purge them first ?

tjahardie



Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Location: Northumberland
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 1:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

As I understand it, if you don't purge them first they're full of soil / grit. I was told to keep them in a bucket with an adequate food supply for two weeks before eating them.

hedgehogpie



Joined: 02 May 2006
Posts: 684
Location: Kent
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You might like this https://picasaweb.google.com/HelixiaP/SnailsBlog#5463060020984695874

Found it on this interesting blog titled Eating Garden Snails: https://eatinggardensnails.blogspot.com/

Quote:
Autumn is a good and easy time to gather snails to eat straight away. The French do this traditionally. The snails have grown and fattened up throughout the summer, and are now hibernating. This means they have purged themselves and are dormant, but have not yet lost much weight. All you have to do is find them, and kill them in boiling water soon after gathering. Don�t keep them in a warm damp place first or they might wake up again.
If you�re ready for a snail meal, you can freeze or bottle them after boiling in stock. See the March 09 archive for details of preparation and recipes.


If you scroll down to Monday, March 23, 2009 there's more about her methods.

tjahardie



Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Location: Northumberland
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 2:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks v much! I actually came across this lady's blog when I typed "eating garden snails" into google. I hadn't realised she'd been on the BBC!

Looks like I may need to wait until September!

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 3:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i put em in a crock pot with some apple for a week or so

my usual meathod of cooking is to cover them with salt and stir a couple of times over about 30 mins ,wash to remove the slime and excess salt ,boil for about 30 mins in water or buillon ,drench in garlic butter and eat with a pointy thing to winkle em out of the shell

yum

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ps no need to wait if purged
purging is mainly to avoid the risk of them having feasted on toxic plants

T.G



Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 3:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

the cook chappie who comes on radio2 on what was the chris evans - is it mayo now slot, he mentioned a couple of weeks back about how to purge snails - ours- for eating, and was saying how nice they were .. would it be available on some replay facility?

boisdevie1



Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 3897
Location: Lancaster
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 3:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sounds good. What's the best way to catch/collect em? Sheet of wood laid down in the garden so they'll collect under it. Love snails and the idea of free food has a certain attraction.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 3:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

it isnt really catch

Went



Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dpack wrote:
it isnt really catch


They play games with you if you are not careful - I am sure they are able to shape shift.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 10 4:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i wondered where the little red watering can came from

asterix



Joined: 31 Oct 2008
Posts: 5
Location: South London
PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 10 9:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I would put them in a box with holes for three weeks with flour (for purging) and thyme (for flavor). Wash them in vinegared water to clean them and make them salivate. After that they are ready.

Garlic and butter is ok. But I prefer with ground pork, ham, tomato sauce, white wine, garlic and and hot pepper.


Bon appetit!

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