How to Prepare and Cook a Rattlesnake for Good Eating
A 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.
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.
My Dad used to use rattlesnake meat in our chili, it was his "secret ingredient".
Darian, everything needs to kill something else to live, even if its plants.
Ahhh...is the lemon/acid that helps the meat easy to remove from the bones? I just cooked 2 last night and had a heck of a time removing the meat. I eventually got frustrated and threw away much of the meat.
Hey Darian, why don't you come down here to Texas and pet a rattlesnake? I'm sure it won't bite you, since you stand up for animal rights.
As for the rest of us, does anyone know how to attach the skin to leather? I'd like to make a belt, or some boots, but I don't understand how that's done.
you can attach the skin to leather with a product called "leather weld". it is sold at Tandy Leather. You can search it online. You need to treat the skin first. Tandy also has snake skin treatment stuff.
Thank you for your instructions on how to cook this snake i live in a very populated area of this snake so why not just be useful with what you kill.....its all about the food chain you start at the top and work your way down. Thank you
I shot my first rattler today :)
The next time I see a rattlesnake camping his ass is mine.
like black rawb said, you dont have to shoot them. i picked one up today, alive. now hes in my freezer cuz im gunna eat him all up. and make ear rings with the bones. and a knife sheath with the skin . then ill make my niece a rattle. I LOVE ANIMALS
Going camping in sep can't wait to kill and eat a snake thanks for the info
Eating rattle snakes!!!!It is strange to me.
i just spent the weekend camping in azusa canyons and was fortunate to kill a rattlesnake.of course i was anxious to eat it,so i did.i kept the skin and wrapped it around my cowboy hat,it was pretty good!i just had to do it,next im fixin to get me a coon!!!!!good eatin'
Darian, do you go out to eat at McDonald's or Burger King? Where do you think there meat comes from? Animals! There are many different animals that are good eating. What would the population of rattlesnakes be if we didn't eat that good meat? Try it cause you'll love it!
Hey -- thanks for the information. Found a fresh one in the road by our driveway last night and quickly parked the car and ran back with a stick to pick it up -- I collect the skins. This one was quite large -- four feet at least - with LOTS of meat. I'll be cooking it, but I won't eat it -- hubby wants to try it. We're in the mountains of Southern California.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK THE PETA FAN WHAT SHE EATS EVERYDAY.....GOD PUT ANIMALS ON THIS EARTH FOR FOOD...ITS A BIG CYCLE OF LIFE AND YES EVEN US HUMANS LOOSE THAT ONE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE..EXAMPLE: MOUNTAIN LION AND BEAR ATTACKS.YOU SHOULD SPEND YOUR TIME YELLING AT THE POACHERS WHO KILL ANIMALS AND LEAVE IT LAY..NOT US HUNTERS WHO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR OUR FAMILYS....
People.Eat.Tasty.Animals...P.E.T.A
thanks for the recipe. got a live one in my shop right now. relocate or eat, needed a recipe. eat!!!!! thanks
I wanna try this but im takin the 22
got a 4 footer today should be a nice change from elk and deer my neighbors will not be coming for dinner had them over for some barbecue dove the other night and that did not go over so well for their taste buds. some people have no taste for the finer things in life.
DOES RATTLESNAKES CURE CANCER?BECAUSE MY BROTHER HAS IT IN THE ASOPHAGUS,STOMACH...I HAVE IT IN MY BREAST PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IT CURE SO I COULD GIVE IT TO MY BROTHER!!!!!THANK YOU
I work on a ranch in south texas and we've killed 5 rattlers in 3 days. All were over four feet long. One of which was over six foot! All of these snakes were right where the children have played or where they play daily. It'll be nice to finally bite one back. Haha
My dad used to take me camping in the California deserts.,one time a rattlercame around too close to me where I was sitting playing. My back was to it so I never saw it waving towards it. I it was large and I was very small quiet girl. He had to shoot it. Since it was preparng to bite me, I had no hesitation about watching prepare it. He fried it up with some bacon grease and onions and we had it with scrambled eggs and potatoe. I was a very petite girl, but my dad taught me how to survive in the wilds.
Tasty! Also, I want to try the baby human foetus' people throw away after aborting them. Nothing like a bit of seasoning and oil can't fix, right? You should write a recipe for that Angela! And the best part is that, they're already dead. Probably taste like chicken but without the gamey flavor. Hee-haw!
I ate rattlesnake once in Louisiana not knowing what i was eating and it was so good,but when she told me what it was i was sick but i would love to try it once again
I have tried fried alligator...I have had frog legs...I have had chicken...I guess is just another variation on the reptile/anphibian theme...they all pretty much taste alike. The secret seems to be in how they are prepared. DANG IT! Now I am hungry again. Cheers All1
killed a timber rattler 4 ft 12 rattlers in fort valley ga gettin ready to eat
Got it hog hunting almost bit me and my dogs . So was looking for way to bite it But with flavor thanks! Very helpful
I've always wanted to try rattlesnake, but I'd rather buy it in a store than find it under my feet!
Got one last night in Shreveport LA first one I've ever seen 5 foot long skinned it and froze the meat I think fried sounds pretty good to me I killed it so I must eat it
@RedneksRock OMFG.. thats gross.. funny as hell but gross.. ive been looking for the right way to prepare rattlesnake. every youtube video of people eating it.. its REALLY tough.. don't want that. In Cali its illegal to shoot em but if theyre on my yard threatening my dogs, and family, well best not let the meat go to waste anyway.
How quickly should you cook the meat? It's been in our fridge for about 3-4 days. Is there a time limit, should we cook now or can we still freeze the meat? Thanks!
Just killed a 4 ft 6 inch timber rattle snake about to get ready to cook it!
i skewed my first rattler with my shooting sticks while hunting for mule deer in A zone (southern california) with my shooting sticks which have nails on the ends to secure them into the ground. the SOB kept trying to turn around and bite my sticks so i simply removed it very quickly and got it right through its head. i then skinned it and removed the innards before placing it in my pack. as i have had rattle snake before and enjoyed it i wanted to cook it.but i did not know how to do so, this helped alot.
thanks!
Darian,for your information snakes are very evil and you should not say you hate people that kill snakes ,wait till one of this dangeriouse creature take a bit from one of your family member ....them we will see how much love ypu have for snakes ... Good luck to Darian!!!! YOU SOUND VERY STUPID
Regards to Snake Hatter 3, snakes are not evil, they are needed to keep rodent populations down. I do love to eat the meat of rattle snakes. I just don't agree with killing an animal for the sake of killing. No animal is evil, god put them here for a purpose. Just saying you could have choose your words better. When I kill an animal I try to use the skin, and cook most of the animal organs as well. I have only ate it fried but want to try other cooking methods as well.
Bonnie Ramsey 4 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