The prospect of eating a possum will make many people uncomfortable and strange.
The age-old question of “How does possum taste?” Because of curiosity, it circulates widely in many nations.
Why? Because it is considered a delicacy and an essential element of the gastronomic culture in nations such as Australia.
Possums are also popular in New Zealand, Indonesia, Sulawesi, and Papua New Guinea.
The people that live in these nations like this wild animal. Possums are quite meaty and have a high fat content.
Contents
What Exactly Is a Possum?
According to National Geographic, possums are a suborder of the 70 tree-living marsupial species unique to Australia.
Possums and opossums have similar names and are members of the same species; yet, they are two distinct animals.
Possums come in a range of shapes and sizes, but the Brushtail possum is one of the most prevalent.
They feature long, thick tails, a furless underbelly patch, and a prehensile tip. They are common throughout Australia.
A possum’s food consists of birds, insects, fruits, rodents, and dead animals.
They also eat vegetation, eggs, cereals, and frogs. Possums seem to need a high quantity of calcium for their diet.
Possums have weak vision, but their hearing and smell capabilities are extraordinary.
They are constantly on the lookout for food and are most active at night. They have razor-sharp claws that they utilize to catch prey, dig, and climb.
Mature possums live for scavenging. Possum babies are around the size of a honey bee. They usually spend around 80 days within their mother’s pouch.
What Is the Taste of Possum? Is Possum Delicious?
Possum flavor varies based on its nutrition. If a possum just consumes human waste, it will taste fatty and disgusting.
The meat will have an awful odor that may put you off. You can still eat it, but the flavor will be unpleasant.
Yet, if you eat a possum that lives outside of the city and has been integrated, it will taste excellent. Why?
Since these possums consume fruits, bugs, and other nourishing wild foods. It’s simple to prepare using carrots and potatoes.
Possum meat has a flavor that is comparable to squirrel and rabbit meat.
Since it comes from the wild, the flavor is even akin to gamey flesh. Garnishes may be added to make the meal more flavorful.
Chart of Nutrition
This nutritional data is based on a 100g serving size and 221 calories. These are their names:
| Nutrition | Content | % Daily Value |
| Total Fat | 10 g | 13 % |
| Saturated Fat | 1.2 g | 6 % |
| Cholesterol | 129 mg | 43 % |
| Sodium | 58 mg | 3 % |
| Total Carbohydrate | 0 g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 g | 0% |
| Sugar | 0 g | 0 % |
| Protein | 30 g | 60 % |
| Vitamin D | 0.00 mcg | 0 % |
| Calcium | 17.00 mg | 1 % |
| Iron | 4.64 mg | 26 % |
| Potassium | 438 mg | 9 % |
How Do You Cook Possum?
You must first clean and skin your possum before cooking it. Make an incision along the whole length of the possum’s abdomen. Remove the organs, head, and feet next.
Another incision is required below the length of each leg. After the possum is heated enough, its fur and skin will fall straight off.
But, if the skin has cooled, you must remove portion of it by cutting it.
Under its epidermis, you’ll discover a thin layer of fat that should be straightforward to remove. If you want to prevent the gaminess that comes with gamey meats, you may eliminate the fats.
When you’ve finished skinning and cleaning your possum, you’ll need the following supplies and processes.
- Eight large potatoes
- 2 large spoons of butter
- 1 large scoop of sugar
- a sprinkle of salt
- To taste, add pepper, thyme, or marjoram.
- A cooking pot with a tight-fitting cover
Step 1 Put your possum meat in a saucepan with enough water to prevent it from burning. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid.
Step 2 Add the potatoes after the possum has been in the pot for an hour. Possum flesh cooks slower than tater tots. That will keep the potato from being overcooked.
Step 3 Arrange the potatoes in a circle around the possum. To taste, add sugar, salt, and pepper to the mixture. You may also use marjoram or thyme for the pepper.
Step 4 Remove the cover every 15 minutes and baste it with the possum juices.
Possum fats should have been produced by now. The juice or water will produce a tasty gravy to accompany the meat.
Step 5 After the possum is cooked enough and the flesh slips off the bones, add a pinch of flour to thicken the sauce. (If necessary)
Caution Place a container under the cooking board if you are roasting your possum. Since the meat is oily, it will readily drop off the board and into the oven.
Conclusion
According to The New York Times, a possum is smarter than it seems or is too stupid to act clever.
Only a Southerner would comprehend this Southern characteristic. Possums are both timid and vicious, having razor-sharp teeth.
Most people in the Southern United States, Australia, Africa, and Asia consider them a delicacy.
Possums are not something you eat every day, but they make fantastic treats for rare occasions. They need meticulous washing and are eaten in a variety of ways.
FAQs
What does possum meat taste like?
Possum meat has a flavor that is comparable to squirrel and rabbit meat. Since it comes from the wild, the flavor is even akin to gamey flesh. Garnishes may be added to make the meal more flavorful.
How do you prepare a possum to eat?
Use a lot of black pepper, gently coat the opossum with flour to help it brown, then drizzle some broth over the flour with a spoon (this is “basting”). Brown light brown or as brown as you want in a 350 degree F oven – watch and continue to sprinkle top of opossum with broth (or oleo) until done and ready to serve.
Do Southerners eat possum?
Possums are significantly more Southern than squirrels in terms of habitat, preparation, and re-evaluation. According to culinary historian Michael Twitty, the origins of Southern cuisine were “European meals rich of Native American components” being “molded by black hands.” Possum roast is one such dish.
What are the benefits of possum meat?
Possums create meat that is low in fat but rich in omega-3 and omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids by eating a wild diet of leaves, new shoots, fruits, and grasses. As compared to the most prevalent sources of meat for pet food, possum meat is considered to have the greatest quantity of fatty acids.
Which wild animal has the tastiest meat?
The Top 10 Tastiest Wild Game Animals
The ultimate wild game meat is wild sheep roasted over an open fire.
Cow elk are meat hunters’ trophy.
In terms of both quality and quantity, moose bring a lot to the table.
Early-season caribou is excellent table food.
Muskox meat is referred to as “polar beef.”
Additional details…•October 11, 2022
Are opossums good to eat?
When Europeans or Africans came, Native Americans seem to have relished eating opossum, and they brought the species to early immigrants. Between 1607 and 1612, William Strachey saw the opossum in the Virginia colony, and his description made it plain that the animal was edible.
Can humans catch TB from possums?
Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious illness that may affect almost all mammals, from farmed cattle and deer to wild animals like pigs, possums, and ferrets. The illness is classified as zoonotic, which implies that it may spread from animals to people.
Is possum meat legal?
There are no explicit laws in the United States that protect opossums. Also, trapping and hunting seasons for these species are open.
How do you smoke a possum?
Smoking coon or possum
Place a double handful of charcoal in your smoker and add lighter fluid. Let the lighter fluid to sit for 10 minutes. Finally, ignite the fire and add several pieces of hickory or pecan wood (more wood than charcoal). Let at least 30 minutes for this fire to burn before adding any meat.
Are raccoons edible?
Raccoon, contrary to popular belief, tastes rather nice when properly cleaned and cooked. It’s similar to dark-meat chicken or turkey, but greasier and more tender. Where can you get a raccoon to cook with? If you live in the country, a friend or neighbor may be willing to sell you one.
