Rabbit meat is rich in high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals. As a popular meat, it has an annual consumption of about 200g per person.
Still, some food lovers do not know what rabbit meat tastes like or how it is cooked. If you are reading this article, you might be one.
Nevertheless, the right information will make you consider trying rabbit meat.
What Does Rabbit Taste Like?
In clear terms, the flavour of rabbit meat is dependent on its type.
Generally, there are two types of rabbits: wild rabbits and domestic rabbits.
The domestic type has a mild taste with a wide vitamin-mineral variety. This indicates that they are more abundant in essential nutrients than wild rabbits, which are tougher and drier.
Again, younger rabbits tend to be soft and tender, while the older ones are chewier.
Overall, the meat has a flavorful, but slightly strong taste.
Adding the right spices when marinating can change the taste of this white meat. For seasoned meat-lovers, rabbit stew with vegetables is a great meal any day.
Does Rabbit Taste Good?
Yes, it does. Rabbit is a herbivore that tastes particularly good when cooked properly.
Therefore, the extent to which it turns out finger-licking good depends on the expertise of the chef.
Rabbit meat has a high-calorie content of about 795 calories per pound. Still, it is a lean meat. This makes it a good source of energy for different types of eaters.
Does Rabbit Taste Like Chicken?
Yes, a lot of people think that rabbit tastes like chicken.
When describing a type of meat, comparing it to another often helps. In this case, the taste of chicken is a near-perfect match to that of rabbit meat.
One thing that connects both types of meat is that you can prepare them the same way. However, rabbits tend to be firmer and meatier than chicken.
Another distinguishing factor between the two types of meat is that rabbit, especially the wild type, is gamier than chicken.
Best Way to Cook Rabbit
As we mentioned earlier, you can cook rabbit meat in virtually the same way as chicken. For example, you can fry, braise, smoke, stew, or roast it.
However, to really bring out the flavour, you need to cook it in the best way possible:
- Ensure you thaw your frozen rabbit before you start cooking. Since it has low-fat content, this shouldn’t take long.
However, don’t thaw at room temperature. Instead, you can defrost in cold water, a refrigerator, or in a microwave oven.
Only defrost in a microwave oven when you intend to cook your rabbit meats immediately.
Once the meat is thawed, wrap and dry them with a paper towel.
- Next, mix the marinade. You can add you preferred spice like black pepper, and top everything off with quality oil. Then, whisk it all together. The easiest way to marinate your rabbit pieces is to put them in a plastic bag that contains the marinade.
However, marinating the insides could also bring out richer flavours when you are ready to eat it.
Toss the content of the plastic bag together until the marinade covers every spot on the pieces. Refrigerating makes it easy for the marinade to permeate the meat.
- Lastly, cook your rabbit meal in an oven. Preheating the oven helps to prevent cold spots in the rabbit pieces.
The time it takes to cook rabbit meat is dependent on the joint. However, since it has low-fat content, you can expect it to be ready between 10 to 15 minutes.
It is also safe to cook your frozen rabbit in an oven after bringing it out of the freezer. However, it might take longer to cook this way.
Your rabbit pieces should be firm and free from internal redness when you’re done. The best parts of a rabbit to cook are its torso, saddle, and legs.
As a tip, leave the bones while cooking to lock in the juices and moisture.
When you’re done eating, make sure to refrigerate the leftovers within the first two hours of cooking. Then, reheat to about 78 degrees C whenever you decide to eat it again.
The above method is how you can get rabbit meat to taste delicious.
Is Rabbit Meat Good for You?
Rabbit meat is healthy for your body in several ways.
Firstly, it is rich in crude, digestible protein. According to statistical reports, rabbit meat contains 20.8% protein.
This is almost twice as much as pork (11.9%) and 4% more than beef. It is the highest percentage of protein among popular meats.
Furthermore, rabbit meat has a low fat and cholesterol content. According to statistical reports, 100 grams of rabbit contains only 136 milligrams of fat. This low content helps to prevent health issues like high blood pressure.
Rabbit meat is also rich in calcium and phosphorus, two nutrients that help to build strong bones and teeth. Asides these minerals, it is also abundant in vitamins like vitamin B3 and B12.
Due to its high nutrient content, this meat is also recommended for pregnant women.
There are no significant dangers of eating rabbit meat. However, there are a couple of things to be cautious of:
- Undercooked rabbit meat can cause health issues. Therefore, you should ensure that all the inner redness of blood is absent before eating. If necessary, boil your rabbit pieces severally before cooking.
- Avoid wild rabbits. Asides the fact that they are tougher to chew, wild rabbits can cause health issues for you. Therefore, we recommend you buy and eat domestic rabbits that you can ascertain what they have been fed with.
- Although infrequent, protein toxicity can be an issue when eating rabbit meat. However, this usually occurs when your meals are not balanced. Therefore, eating only rabbit meat is not advisable.
To Sum Up
Rabbit meat has a great taste and is highly nutritious. Although any type of meat lover will love to have a bite, it is best suited for people who want a more robust tasting and healthier meal than chicken.
Rabbit meat has numerous health benefits. It has a high-protein and low-cholesterol content, making it ideal for any meal.
Have a taste of rabbit meat today and find out the best way you want to cook it.