In the developed world, not a lot of people consume insects for pleasure, but that is quite unusual if you take into account the number of individuals and the number of nations in the world that do. In Asia, many individuals eat insects on a weekly or even daily basis. However, you might one day be glad that you read about eating insects, if you are stranded somewhere a long way from any other source of food.
For instance, many army personnel are taught how to consume worms and insects as part of their routine training course as part of their survival training. Insects are abundant and are simple to catch or trap, they are also a richer source of protein than steak and easier to cook and safer to consume raw than meat from mammals, fish or birds.
Insects can provide over three times the quantity of protein weight for weight than any meat or fish. They are also free, you just have to know where to look or how to bait them. However, you ought to not consume just any insect that you can get your hands on. There a few simple fundamental guidelines.
Do not eat anything that can bite or sting you back. Not because this is dangerous to you, but because creatures like bees, wasps and some ants just do not taste nice because of the poisons they make for their stings. A notable exception to this rule is the scorpion. Many people find roast scorpion a luxury.
You could hone this rule to just include brightly coloured, stinging insects - especially ones with yellow colouring. Furry insects are not nice either, especially caterpillars. Flying insects in general, like flies, mosquitoes, blue bottles and the like, should be avoided as well.
Big beetles (with the exception of cockroaches), grass hoppers, locusts, crickets and scorpions are the best. So are worms, maggots and most other larvae of that type like bee, wasp and hornet larvae. Termites and non-stinging ants are also edible.
Most people fry the insects in oil or fat after taking off the wings (like with flying termites or ants). However, if you are stuck in the wild, you might not have any oil with you. Luckily, that is not too big a problem if you cook the insects fairly slowly, because most of them have enough of their own body fat to be fried in.
If you find that eating your first meal of insects is simply too much to bear, have a go at mashing them in with some boiled root vegetables or wrap them in leaves. Boiled nettle leaves are very healthy and young dandelion leaves can be consumed raw.
If you are not certain how far to cook your insects, worms and larvae, here are a few pointers from Asia. Fry big beetles, termites and scorpions until they are crunchy on the outside but with a small, slightly soft centre. Fry worms, crickets, grass hoppers and the like until they are hard and crisp and boil grubs and bee, wasp and hornet larvae for just a few seconds.
Most Westerners that visit Thailand turn their noses up at eating insects, but after six years of living here, I have never heard any of those who tasted them say that they were awful. In fact, most said that they were surprisingly tasty, but then why else would so many people like them?
For instance, many army personnel are taught how to consume worms and insects as part of their routine training course as part of their survival training. Insects are abundant and are simple to catch or trap, they are also a richer source of protein than steak and easier to cook and safer to consume raw than meat from mammals, fish or birds.
Insects can provide over three times the quantity of protein weight for weight than any meat or fish. They are also free, you just have to know where to look or how to bait them. However, you ought to not consume just any insect that you can get your hands on. There a few simple fundamental guidelines.
Do not eat anything that can bite or sting you back. Not because this is dangerous to you, but because creatures like bees, wasps and some ants just do not taste nice because of the poisons they make for their stings. A notable exception to this rule is the scorpion. Many people find roast scorpion a luxury.
You could hone this rule to just include brightly coloured, stinging insects - especially ones with yellow colouring. Furry insects are not nice either, especially caterpillars. Flying insects in general, like flies, mosquitoes, blue bottles and the like, should be avoided as well.
Big beetles (with the exception of cockroaches), grass hoppers, locusts, crickets and scorpions are the best. So are worms, maggots and most other larvae of that type like bee, wasp and hornet larvae. Termites and non-stinging ants are also edible.
Most people fry the insects in oil or fat after taking off the wings (like with flying termites or ants). However, if you are stuck in the wild, you might not have any oil with you. Luckily, that is not too big a problem if you cook the insects fairly slowly, because most of them have enough of their own body fat to be fried in.
If you find that eating your first meal of insects is simply too much to bear, have a go at mashing them in with some boiled root vegetables or wrap them in leaves. Boiled nettle leaves are very healthy and young dandelion leaves can be consumed raw.
If you are not certain how far to cook your insects, worms and larvae, here are a few pointers from Asia. Fry big beetles, termites and scorpions until they are crunchy on the outside but with a small, slightly soft centre. Fry worms, crickets, grass hoppers and the like until they are hard and crisp and boil grubs and bee, wasp and hornet larvae for just a few seconds.
Most Westerners that visit Thailand turn their noses up at eating insects, but after six years of living here, I have never heard any of those who tasted them say that they were awful. In fact, most said that they were surprisingly tasty, but then why else would so many people like them?
About the Author:
Owen Jones writes articles on many topics, but is currently concerned with fighting beetles If you are interested too, visit our web site at Electronic Insect Killer.
No comments:
Post a Comment