How do you prepare squirrels?

[BBerguson]

A friend and I went squirrel hunting today with my 17 M2’s. I was 6 for 8 and he was 5 for 9, not bad for his first time shooting the gun! The shooting was fast and furious taking less than 45 minutes and we did all our shooting in about 2 acres! This was at my MIL’s where I “knew” we‘d be lucky to see a squirrel or two. Boy was I wrong!

Anyways, I cleaned the squirrels and I have them all soaking in salt water now. My plan is to cook them in the slow cooker to “de bone” them and then make a stew with dumplings. Having never done this before like this, I’m wondering how long they should be soaked In the brine. I’ve read 1 hour to 3 days…. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[JonB]

I can't help with brining...I've never brined squirrel. I don't even wash it, unless I screw up when gutting it.
Also, remove the glands from arm pits and the glands on the hind legs behind the knee.
.
First, I sear it on a hot pan or hot BBQ grill, then slow cook in a crock pot.

 

[Josh]

Boil them, pick them clean, make squirrel pot pie

 

[JWFilips]

I always liked mine slow cooked in a dutch oven in brown gravy with floated dumplings on top! Same for rabbit! This was how my Mom cooked those critters and I loved them! Mine never taste as good however . But every critter taken from the woods was a celebration for her & my Dad and it continues for me!

 

[RicinYakima]

I just tell them, "You are going to get killed and eaten." No sense beating around the bush.

 

[waco]

I just tell them, "You are going to get killed and eaten." No sense beating around the bush.

Lol

 

[oscarflytyer]

When I hunted them regularly in college, I would parboil a bit then pick and use for stir fry

 

[richhodg66]

I really need to get out and do some squirrel hunting. I'd like it a little bit cooler outside and for a few more leaves to drop first.

 

[JonB]

I wish I felt like shootin some squirrels (in town, in my yard) ...because there is at least 4 that are not fearful enough.

 

[Ian]

Flour and brown in the bottom of a stock pot, add water to cover, simmer until tender, drop in your dumplings and cook until done.

 

[Rick]

Prepare squirrels? I just ask them to hold still while I squeeze the trigger.

 

[fiver]

i only prep them for the coyotes after they piss me off so i'm no help if you plan on eating one.

 

[L Ross]

If I get young ones, I dust them in seasoned flour and brown them in a hot cast iron pan in bacon grease. Then I braise the pieces in cream of mushroom soup thinned with white wine. This thickens as the pieces braise. I add a little half and half to the pan and turn the heat real low and simmer until tender. I serve these with Uncle Ben's long grain and wild rice and something like asparagus, or sauteed' zucchini.
The tough old buggers with a pair of cojones like an old boar pig get pressure cooked and made into pot pie.
Yes remove the glands just like you would with a coon or wood chuck.

 

[Rick]

Old boar like this one?

 

[BBerguson]

Taking the same boy and his younger brother hunting on Thursday. Should be fun!

 

[dale2242]

When I was actively hunting Gray squirrels, my wife would pan fry then like you fry chicken.
When they were nice and brown, she would put them in a small pressure cooker for 15 minutes or so to tenderize any tough ones.
The meat would nearly fall off the bones.
They were delicious.

 

[Mitty38]

I just throw it in a crock out with cream of mushroom soup. It's done when the meat falls off the bones. Pulled squirrel sandwiches. Salt and pepper to taste.

 

[richhodg66]

I'm finishing up a crock pot of squirrel chili I made, the two in it were big and have been in the freezer a while, probably not the best. I crock potted them with some chicken broth over night, picked all the meat off the bones (always seem to miss a few rib bones) then back in the crock with beans, corn, the white chili mix, an onion and half a pepper plus a few jarred jalapenos. Turned out alright, but I really need to experiment a bit on how to cook them.