It’s amazing to see the incredible feats that humans have accomplished on this planet. It is also surprising to see how much we eat everything that moves.

Yes, we eat turtles. Have you ever wondered what a turtle tastes? Are they safe to eat?

Let’s see.

Can You Eat Turtles

Fossil evidence shows that turtles were eaten by humans more than 400,000 years before our time. Today, both turtle soup and meat can be found all over the world. In New Orleans, turtle soup was a very popular dish.

These dishes are usually made with sea turtles.

However, due to the declining sea turtle population, it has been made illegal to capture, eat, or kill any of 7 species.

There are however, many countries where sea turtles can still be caught and eaten.

What does a turtle taste like?

The cooking method and seasonings used will determine the taste of the turtle.

Soft-shelled turtles have become a very popular Asian dish. They are chewy and tasty.

What parts of a turtle can you eat?

The neck, tail, limbs, and eggs of turtles can be eaten.

Neck and Tail

The turtle’s neck is its most meaty part. It depends on the species as to what the tail looks like. Some turtles have long, meaty tails while others have shorter ones.

The common snapping turtle is a popular turtle species. It has a long tail that allows you to enjoy some turtle meat.

Limbs

Many turtle meat enthusiasts consider the limbs to be the most delicious part of a turtle’s entire body. Most turtle meat lovers prefer to bake or fry limbs due to their generous meat distribution.

Many consider making soup from the limbs to be a waste of meat.

Inside

You can also eat the limbs and necks of turtles.

Eggs

You can also eat eggs from turtles if they have them. They are healthier than meat.

What Kind Of Turtles Do People Eat?

Many decades ago, sea turtles were preferred to freshwater fish.

With the ban on hunting sea turtles in place, other species such as snapping, red-eared sliders, and soft-shelled, pond turtles have become popular. It’s usually the invasive species that end up on the dinner table.

The WWF placed sea turtles on its endangered species list in 1978. However, sea turtles were once a popular food option in many coastal areas.

In the past, sailors would take turtles along on their voyages. The turtles can survive without food for up to a month, so they are a great food source in times of need.

Can You Get Sick By Eating Turtles?

Yes, it is possible to get sick from eating turtles. 19 people died in Madagascar this year from food poisoning caused by eating sea turtles.

All types of algae are consumed by sea turtles. These plants are not harmful to sea turtles, but they can cause fatal illness in humans.

Consuming turtles that have consumed such algae can cause you to get sick. It can even cause death in the worst case.

The salmonella virus can also be transmitted to turtles, which can cause digestive-related problems and even death.

After handling a turtle, you may want to use gloves and wash your hands.

Can You Eat Turtle Eggs?

The eggs of turtles are high in protein and can be eaten. It is now illegal to raise turtle eggs. If you have the opportunity to eat turtle eggs, ensure that you properly cook them.

What Does A Turtle Egg Taste Like?

Turtle eggs are similar in taste to other eggs, according to people who have tried them. They also have a strong, persistent smell.

Which Turtles Are Legal To Eat?

It all depends on where you live. In almost all US states, you can’t catch or eat sea turtles.

In most states, however, it is legal to eat invasive species such as red-eared sliders and pond sliders.

It is a good idea to check the local laws before you go.

It is illegal for sea turtles to be eaten in any US state due to their declining population.

Along with sea turtles, some freshwater turtles were included in the IUCN’s red-list of endangered species.

The famous New Orleans soup’s main ingredient, the alligator snapping turtle has been also banned.

How To Cook A Turtle?

Once you have cut the turtle’s body into pieces, boil it to tenderize. After that, you can choose how to cook it. Snapping turtle soup is a favorite of many chefs.

You need to learn how to cut a turtle before you can cook it. We will be discussing a snapping turtle in this article. It is legal to eat in most US states.

How To Cut Open A Turtle?

What you need to do to open a turtle’s shell:

• For the turtle to bite, a stout stick
• Hand ax, or heavy knife
• Pliers
• Wires
• Serrated knife
• Protective gloves

Give the snapping turtle some stick to eat. You should be careful or the snapping turtle could bite you.

Once it has bit the stick, hold it at the two ends and pull the stick as far as you can to stretch its neck.

After you have extended its neck, cut off the head using a knife or a hand-axe.

It should be done in one go. It should be as abrupt as possible so that the turtle doesn’t feel any pain.

If you’re curious about whether turtles feel pain or not, this article will answer all your questions. What is the Strength of a Turtle Shell? Are they bulletproof?

Grab a plier to hold the wire. The wire should be inserted through the turtle’s tail. To bleed the wire, place it upside-down on a tree.

Once the turtle is completely bled out, you can use the plier for removing the claws. Snapping turtles have sharp toes that aren’t edible.

Fill a large pot with water. Boil the turtle. Let the turtle simmer for a few minutes. When the shell is softening, use a stiff brush to scrub it. This will remove the turtle’s skin and kill any bacteria.

We now move on to the cutting.

It is important not to open the organ sac. Bloated organs should not be removed. This will cause a bloated feeling in your intestines, and a foul-smelling result.

Do not use a sharp knife to poke or stab the organ sack.

Instead, you can use a serrated knife (plastron) to remove the lower plate.

Now, remove all legs, neck and tail.

You can’t use the guts or shells. They can be thrown. You can also include any eggs in the edible section, along with the neck, legs, and tail.

Final Words On Can You Eat Turtles

If there had been no restriction on turtle eating, they would have been exterminated from the face of the Earth.

They are considered the best meat by those who eat them. It’s not surprising that the turtle-meat-eating generation has caused such a decline today in turtle population.

Asian countries and many island nations eat soft-shelled turtles as freshwater species. These turtles are used to make soup, fried, and boiled.

This is also true for Americans who love turtles as their main dish at barbecue parties.

The strong pressure from marine life conservation groups has significantly reduced turtle poaching.