Cooking Squirrel question

[Guest Fenris]

OK, I know it's an age old question, but I had something interesting happen today.

Got two squirrels yesterday, dressed them out and soaked them in salt water for 24 hours or so. Today I quartered them and put them in the crock pot with some brown sugar, soy sauce, rosemary, etc. Let them slow cook for about 5 hours.

One of them has meat falling off the bones and is delicious! The other is curled up and is still tough. I've cranked the crock pot up on high for another 45 or so to see if that helps, but I hate wasting so much.

When I dress I usually cut the legs off and then leave the body intact. Should I quarter them instead? Cut down the middle and then across in half?

I know an older squirrel is going to be tougher by nature, but 5 hours in a crock pot, I would have thought, would do the job.

Suggestions? I want to try some other recipes (oven fried, etc.) but I don't want to waste a lot of meat.

Thanks

[gregintenn]

I salt and pepper them, put them in the crock pot whole, and fill it with enough water to nearly cover them. Then I add 1/2 stick of butter and cook on low overnight. The meat falls off the bone. I then debone the meat, return to the crock pot, and put in dumplings and cook until done; about 30 minutes. An easy way to make dumplings is to cut flour tortillas into strips.

They are good fried, but you often need to boil them for a while first so they won't be so tough. If you leave the other one in the crock pot long enough, it WILL be tender.....eventually. I'll bet the tough one was a fox squirrel.

[gregintenn]

I'll bet the tough one was a fox squirrel.

I guess I was wrong. I just saw your other post. That is a beautiful girl. I applaud you on being a good father and spending time with her. It will stay with her all her life. I wish more parents would follow your lead.

[ShaunM]

I usually boil or marinate to tenderize then grill them whole. I also fry the brains and put them in scrambled eggs. Never tried them in a crock pot.

[Oh Shoot]

...

I know an older squirrel is going to be tougher by nature, but 5 hours in a crock pot, I would have thought, would do the job...

I think that's rather odd myself. Haven't eaten squirrel in many a year, but ate a pile of them back when, and I never found a particularly tough one. As far as old, it's generally acknowledged that 4 years is a VERY old squirrel in the wild.

- OS

[whiskey]

Somethings can't be explained. I don't usually cook them in the crockpot, but I would think that would get them tender. I had some wild boar I cooked in a crockpot do the same thing once. It just never got tender. I had cooked it the same way before and after with good results.

As to your question about quartering them up, it shouldn't make any difference if you are going to put them in a crockpot. I usually quarter mine, boil them until tender and then pan fry the quarters. I don't like the salt water soaking for meat. I usually prefer to soak them in milk or buttermilk.

[Hidalgo]

I broil them for 25 minutes on a piece of hickory .....

..... then throw away the squirrels and eat the hickory board.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Those critters look WAY too much like a RAT for me to eat them.

[DaveS]

I just knew that recipe was coming! Squirrels are aweful good. I make mine up like chicken and dumplings. Use your favorite recipe, but use "Nut Munchers" instead of chicken.

[gregintenn]

A pressure cooker will tenderize them much faster than a crock pot if you're in a hurry.

[Guest 1shot]

I like to put them quartered in a pressure cooker for about 10 or 15 minutes after the pressure gets up. Take them out dip them in egg and milk and roll them in flower and drop them in a skillet with some oil and fry them like chicken. Then make gravy with the drippings.