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Community => Butchering, Cooking, Recipes => Topic started by: -Trap_addicT- on November 11, 2015, 08:34:51 PM

Title: Beaver Meat
Post by: -Trap_addicT- on November 11, 2015, 08:34:51 PM: I finally got around to cooking some beaver meat up. It was the seventh one we've trapped this year and it was a big plump male. I was pleasantly surprised. It's not much different than beef really. Like anything else, there are dozens of recipes online. None of them intrigued me enough that I was willing to attempt them. I've seen several recipes on here as well and I know this topic is been brought up many times. Took a very simple approach, as I wanted to taste the meat itself, you know? At least this time, I may try a more elaborate cooking method next time. After we got the skin off of it, I took the guts out. A guy recommended that I remove the castors and oil sacks before cutting into the meat. I went ahead and did this, although I didn't end up cutting into the meat on the hindquarters until after it was fully cooked. Originally I just plannned on eating the back straps, but there is quite a bit of meat on the hindquarters as well. Once I got the hindquarters cleaned up and the fat taken off, I ended up just leaving the hindquarters intact and cutting through the spine and pelvis to keep it in one piece. It is a strange looking piece of meat when you do it this way! I'm glad I have a huge crockpot!

I made up 2 cups of Au Jus, placed the hind end of the beaver in the crockpot and scattered sliced onion and scallop potatoes on top. Poured the Au Jus over the top and cooked it on high for 5 hours. It tasted a lot like roast beef, partially due to the Au Jus I'm sure. I was amazed at how tender and flaky the meat turned out when it was fully cooked. No stringy or chewy bites. I'm going to fry up the back strap steaks tomorrow. I also have the tail in the refrigerator with the skin still on it. Any simple recipes that anyone recommends is greatly appreciated? I have always heard it is delicious and would love to try it. Thanks for any input.

I will recommend beaver meat to everyone...just stay away from the fat. The pure white fat is terrible, just like the fat of a deer, elk, bear…etc.
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: KFhunter on November 11, 2015, 08:37:33 PM: TAG

Pictures would be cool too if it's isn't too much trouble.
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Turner89 on November 11, 2015, 08:52:15 PM: Thats pretty cool trap addict. That's what I wanted to hear :chuckle:. I'm going to try it as soon as I get some beaver trapping going. Im hoping I really like it. It would be a cool bonus.
Ill be looking for the report on the backstraps. What kind of area was he trapped in? A big marsh like area, or river/stream ?
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: KFhunter on November 11, 2015, 08:57:17 PM: I bet the water could have an affect on meat taste, stagnant water, eating brush growing in strong mineralized water, river bank cottonwood.

interesting
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Turner89 on November 11, 2015, 09:00:32 PM: That's what im thinking. There could be a big difference in taste depending on alot of variables :twocents:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: dreamunelk on November 11, 2015, 09:02:34 PM: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: -Trap_addicT- on November 11, 2015, 09:06:33 PM: This guy came out of a high mountain stream. I was disappointed when I arrived to check the traps today, as the pond is already mostly froze. He has been working since mid-May and was successful in damning up the creek and making a large pool with a hut right in the middle. I have read on that quite a bit. I've heard many different things about the habitat they live in affecting the taste of the meat. The conclusion I came to after a lot of reading is that the meat is mostly affected by the season and age of the animal. That makes sense when you start thinking about other animals such as dear. They seem to be affected the same way. I have a couple live traps (Hancocks) set in a real nasty swamp too. I'm looking forward to catching one and comparing the two. Has anyone else noticed a difference in the meat that may have been caused by the habitat?
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: pianoman9701 on November 12, 2015, 07:24:11 AM: I had beaver tail once and it was grilled on the BBQ with the skin on until the skin was crunchy and falling off. It was excellent with salt and pepper.
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: kellama2001 on November 12, 2015, 08:17:17 AM: I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but can't wait to! Here's a link to an article on eating beaver meat, including the tail, by The Meat Eater's host Steven Rinella.

http://themeateater.com/2014/tasting-notes-beaver/ (http://themeateater.com/2014/tasting-notes-beaver/)
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: C-Money on November 12, 2015, 08:24:42 AM: Glad you liked it Trap addic....I had it once as a kid growing up in Pennsylvania. Mom said we were having roast beef for a holiday gathering. Come to find out it was a good size beaver Dad had recently trapped. Was good meat...and don't remember anyone questioning it. Mom is an excellent cook though...Cat was let out of the bag in the following days....
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: PlateauNDN on November 12, 2015, 08:32:46 AM: Heard when it's prepared right it's tender, moist and delicious
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Jonathan_S on November 12, 2015, 10:35:54 AM: Crockpotted hindquarters. Dang tasty. They are like eating a drumstick made of beef :chuckle:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: -Trap_addicT- on November 12, 2015, 05:58:14 PM: I ended up cooking those back straps up today and wow! No wonder my bears and bobcats love it so much. Again, I took a very simple approach. Cut the back straps into half inch thick steaks, tossed them in a bag of flour and fried them on medium heat. I threw on a little salt and pepper as they cooked, but they really didn't need it. I guess I would have to consider the meat a teensy bit chewy compared to store bought beef or venison. I would really like to put someone to the test that thinks they know venison. It would be tough to tell the difference. I hate to tell the bears and bobcats, but they will be competing for the front shoulders, as I have no plan to "waste" the hindquarters or back straps from now on.

I'm going to attempt the beaver tail tomorrow. That was a really interesting link Kellama. The writer can really paint a picture. Everything he cooked sounded delicious. I am just going to put a tiny bit of olive oil in a frying pan and cook the tail with the skin on it. Once the skin begins to separate from the meat/fat, I plan to peel the skin completely off. I'm going to slice the edible parts into thin pieces and fry them a little longer.

Thank you for all the input. Happy cooking!
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Turner89 on November 12, 2015, 06:06:42 PM: Right on. Can't wait to cook some up. My wife gave me the eye roll when I told her were going to start eating beaver. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: sled on November 12, 2015, 06:08:38 PM: Quote from: Turner89 on November 12, 2015, 06:06:42 PM
Right on. Can't wait to cook some up. My wife gave me the eye roll when I told her were going to start eating beaver. :rolleyes:
:chuckle:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Joe Rothrock on December 03, 2015, 06:15:47 PM: My wife likes to cook mid-sized beaver hind quarters in a pressure cooker. Soak them over night in mild salt water to draw out most of the blood first. Season the meat as you wish. It comes out of the pressure super tender. Pull the meat off the bones like pulled pork, then make french dip sandwiches. Super good stuff!
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: lokidog on December 03, 2015, 06:31:04 PM: Sounds good, it is pretty hard to mess anything up in a crockpot though. :drool:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: MtnMuley on December 03, 2015, 07:29:55 PM: Anybody wanting this fine piece of meat in the north central part of this state, I'd be happy to share plenty. Might ask for some beer in trade and cheap beer would be fine. :tup:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: lokidog on December 03, 2015, 07:42:41 PM: Quote from: MtnMuley on December 03, 2015, 07:29:55 PM
Anybody wanting this fine piece of meat in the north central part of this state, I'd be happy to share plenty. Might ask for some beer in trade and cheap beer would be fine. :tup:

I'd love to try it but you are a bit "out of my network". :chuckle:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: MtnMuley on December 03, 2015, 07:48:02 PM: Quote from: lokidog on December 03, 2015, 07:42:41 PM
Quote from: MtnMuley on December 03, 2015, 07:29:55 PM
Anybody wanting this fine piece of meat in the north central part of this state, I'd be happy to share plenty. Might ask for some beer in trade and cheap beer would be fine. :tup:

I'd love to try it but you are a bit "out of my network". :chuckle:

Hell, I'll flash freeze and ship if the beer is right :chuckle:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: lokidog on December 03, 2015, 08:02:43 PM: We'll be going over to Spokane sometime after New Years, maybe we can swing north.
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: kellama2001 on December 03, 2015, 08:07:32 PM: Quote from: MtnMuley on December 03, 2015, 07:29:55 PM
Anybody wanting this fine piece of meat in the north central part of this state, I'd be happy to share plenty. Might ask for some beer in trade and cheap beer would be fine. :tup:

That would be worth the drive! I'd even bring good beer!!
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: MtnMuley on December 03, 2015, 08:25:56 PM: There's plenty to go around :tup:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Alpine Mojo on December 26, 2015, 08:58:13 AM: January issue of Fur Fish Game has an article on beaver meat with recipes.
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Magnum_Willys on December 26, 2015, 09:09:32 AM: Growin up a local gas station owner from the south would give me $5 of gas in trade for my weeks beaver carcasses. Loved the meat he said. At 30c /gal back then it paid for my fuel all season.
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Encore 280 on December 26, 2015, 09:17:40 AM: Beaver; "It's what's for dinner". :chuckle:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: igotbigbulls on December 29, 2015, 03:14:14 PM: Quote from: PlateauNDN on November 12, 2015, 08:32:46 AM
Heard when it's prepared right it's tender, moist and delicious

Not to many tender, moist or delicious beavers left in our neck of the woods Plat. I know you agree :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: The Weazle on December 29, 2015, 08:18:36 PM: Quote from: igotbigbulls on December 29, 2015, 03:14:14 PM
Quote from: PlateauNDN on November 12, 2015, 08:32:46 AM
Heard when it's prepared right it's tender, moist and delicious

Not to many tender, moist or delicious beavers left in our neck of the woods Plat. I know you agree :chuckle: :chuckle:

I bet there are a lot of cougars then!!! :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 29, 2015, 08:24:41 PM: Quote from: The Weazle on December 29, 2015, 08:18:36 PM
Quote from: igotbigbulls on December 29, 2015, 03:14:14 PM
Quote from: PlateauNDN on November 12, 2015, 08:32:46 AM
Heard when it's prepared right it's tender, moist and delicious

Not to many tender, moist or delicious beavers left in our neck of the woods Plat. I know you agree :chuckle: :chuckle:

I bet there are a lot of cougars then!!! :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :IBCOOL:

What's wrong with a little cougar meat?
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: The Weazle on December 29, 2015, 08:27:47 PM: Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on December 29, 2015, 08:24:41 PM
Quote from: The Weazle on December 29, 2015, 08:18:36 PM
Quote from: igotbigbulls on December 29, 2015, 03:14:14 PM
Quote from: PlateauNDN on November 12, 2015, 08:32:46 AM
Heard when it's prepared right it's tender, moist and delicious

Not to many tender, moist or delicious beavers left in our neck of the woods Plat. I know you agree :chuckle: :chuckle:

I bet there are a lot of cougars then!!! :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :IBCOOL:

What's wrong with a little cougar meat?

I never said it was bad!
Title: Re: Beaver Meat
Post by: PlateauNDN on January 03, 2016, 11:11:00 AM: Quote from: The Weazle on December 29, 2015, 08:27:47 PM
Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on December 29, 2015, 08:24:41 PM
Quote from: The Weazle on December 29, 2015, 08:18:36 PM
Quote from: igotbigbulls on December 29, 2015, 03:14:14 PM
Quote from: PlateauNDN on November 12, 2015, 08:32:46 AM
Heard when it's prepared right it's tender, moist and delicious

Not to many tender, moist or delicious beavers left in our neck of the woods Plat. I know you agree :chuckle: :chuckle:

I bet there are a lot of cougars then!!! :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :IBCOOL:

What's wrong with a little cougar meat?

I never said it was bad!

Back in the day, I was an expert at trapping beavers. Heck, I caught a few cougars as well.