Alligator Meat
Interesting Facts about Alligator Meat
Alligator meat is often considered an exotic meat, much like ostrich or venison. You usually won't find it anywhere near the hot dogs and hamburgers at the store. As a general rule, most of this meat is sold directly to butchers and a few grocery stores, and it's frozen in large bags, to preserve the fresh taste for the consumer. Nearly all the meat that is sold today is produced in large alligator farms that are found on the southern coast of the United States. Australia also produces a great deal of meat, as gators are quite common there, as well.
Experts say that alligator meat is healthier for you than chicken, particularly in the areas of fat and cholesterol content. The meat you see most often in stores is meat from the tail of the animal. It is similar in texture to veal, but with a taste more like frog's legs, fish, rabbit or chicken. Some fans also think that the tail meat is similar to white pork meat. You can even purchase an alligator tenderloin – this meat is from a tubular part of the gator's tail.
Although the tail portions are considered the best parts of the alligator, consumers also purchase the slightly tougher and darker meat from the gator's midsection. This is said to a taste more like pork shoulder, with a stronger flavor and sinewy grains. Some people even enjoy the meat found in the feet. This is often called the alligator's wings, and supposedly the texture and flavor resemble frog's legs.
Looking at this meat from a health perspective, it is considered to be a healthy alternative to fatty pork products or marbled steaks. The low amount of saturated fat, and the calories from fat in this meat, along with its low carbohydrates and high protein, suggest that alligator meat is a very healthy meat product. The meat you purchase at most stores has come from large commercial farms, where the alligators' habitats are maintained properly and their diets are controlled. If you eat wild meat, you may encounter shellfish and other seafood in the cuts, as well as alligator. Some cooks who are experienced in cooking meat marinate it, or serve it in the form of sausage, ground patties, stewing cubes and steaks.
You can adapt alligator meat to various methods of preparation. Some chefs will fry, sauté or grill the cuts, and sell it as a main dish. Restaurants sometimes serve gator meat as an appetizer. Processors and producers are also choosing to package the meat in added-value forms like ground patties and sausage. Try some alligator meat at your next meal – you may be pleasantly surprised.