Alligator meat
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Alligator meat is the
In the United States, outside of a short legal hunting season in some states, it can only be legally sourced from alligator farms. Farmed gator meat is available for consumer purchase in specialty food stores, some grocery stores, and can also be mail ordered.[3][4] Some U.S. companies process and market alligator meat derived only from the tail of alligators.[4] It can also be made into pet food.
Composition
A 100-gram (3+1⁄2-ounce) reference serving of alligator meat provides 600 kilojoules (143 kilocalories) of food energy, 29 grams of protein, 3 percent fat and 65 milligrams of cholesterol.[3] It also contains a significant amount of phosphorus, potassium, vitamin B12, niacin and monounsaturated fatty acids.[3]
Alligator meat has been described as having a mild flavor and a firm texture. It tastes like quail, with a mildly fishy flavor, and is often chewy, depending on preparation.[5][6]
Preparation
Various methods of preparation and cooking exist, including
Cuts from the animal used include meat from the animal's tail and backbone, which have been described as "the choicest cuts".[5]
History
United States
In the mid-1800s, alligator meat was used in some regional cuisines in parts of the Southern United States.[8] During this time, it was used in dishes such as gumbo.[8]
Alligator
Harvesting of wild alligator eggs is illegal without a proper permit; violators face serious fines and jail time.[10]
Legal status
United States
In the United States,
See also
- Game (hunting)
- Crocodile meat
References
- ISBN 9781405187404. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ISBN 9781566768894. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ^ a b c d Miami Spice: The New Florida Cuisine – Steven Raichlen. Workman Publishing. 1993-01-11. p. 35. Retrieved 2017-03-13 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c Cincinnati Magazine. June 1986.
- ^ a b New Orleans – Pableaux Johnson, Charmaine O'Brien. p. 50.
- ^ "What Do Snake and Other Exotics Meats Taste Like". The Daily Meal. January 22, 2015. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ^ a b Producing Meat – Rachel Lynette. pp. 28-29.
- ^ ISBN 9781403448576. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ^ a b The Alligator and Its Allies – Albert Moore Reese. 1915. pp. 35-36.
- ^ "FWC uncovers illegal alligator egg-harvesting operation". 24 May 2017.
- ^ "Alligator Hunting Regulations Overview | Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries". Wlf.louisiana.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ "Alligator — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department". Tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
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Further reading
- The Culinary Herpetologist. p. 132.
- Leak, Fred W. (1987). A Further Analysis of Florida Alligator Meat as a Wholesome Food Product. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Marketing.
- Thorbjarnarson, J.; Wang, X.; Schaller, G.B. (2010). The Chinese Alligator: Ecology, Behavior, Conservation, and Culture. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-8018-9348-3. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- Deutsch, J. (2018). We Eat What? A Cultural Encyclopedia of Unusual Foods in the United States. ABC-CLIO. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-1-4408-4112-5. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
External links
Media related to Alligator meat at Wikimedia Commons
