Can You Eat Seagulls?

On Sunday I took my younger children to the beach after church.

There, I noticed the seagulls were a different species from those I grew up with on Ft. Lauderdale beach, so I looked up the varieties common to Florida.

A few articles mentioned that seagulls had once been less common due to hunting, which made me think, “Why would anyone hunt seagulls?” Which led to “Are seagulls good to eat?” since some mentions were made of them being used for food.

And then I found this bizarre article.

Right from the first lines, you know you’re in for a real literary treat.

Seagulls are a type of waterbird found near coasts and on inland waterways. They are typically gray or white with black markings on their wings, and they have long bills and webbed feet. While not so many eat seagulls, some people eat them.

Not so many eat seagulls. But some do. Whoa!

You would think it couldn’t get better than that – but it does! Today I’ll share my favorite excepts from the modern masterpiece Can You Eat Seagulls and How do they Taste?

First:

Seagulls have a chicken-like flavor, but because of their proximity to water sources, they also have a fishy taste.

This is confusing. Do other animals that live near water taste fishy? I have cows by my pond. When we get steaks from one of those cows, will it be fishy? Or is this only a saltwater thing? Like, if you raise sheep near the ocean, will they taste like fish? Conversely, what if you raise goats near a coffee plantation in the mountains of Colombia? Will they taste like espresso?

Others claim that the texture of these birds’ meat is a little oily or even gritty, which makes it more challenging to consume. 

Yes, that sounds challenging.

No matter what your opinion on the taste of seagulls is, one thing is for sure: it’s not for everyone.

Dang. I was hoping seagull meat could feed the world, instead of those awful methane-producing cows by my pond. It sounds better than mealworms or spirulina. Too bad it’s not for everyone.

…while some enjoy eating raw seagulls, it is generally not considered safe.

If you choose to eat raw seagulls, clean the bird thoroughly and cook it well to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

I’m confused.

Seagull is typically cooked by roasting, baking, or grilling. First, the bird is cleaned and soaked in salt water for eight hours to remove the fishy flavor, then trussed and roasted in an oven.

Now I’m more confused. Why do you truss them? I ‘m starting to wonder if I can truss this article.

Grilling seagulls are also possible, although it requires careful monitoring to avoid burning the skin.

Seagull is done cooking when the meat is tender and cooked through, and the skin should be golden brown and crisp. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.

My favorite sides include broiled turtle, cricket muffins, stinkhorn soup and dry ramen soaked in Windex.

If you’re still confused, Can You Eat Seagulls and How do they Taste even has a “Seagull Recipes” portion!

Seagulls are not the most popular birds, but they can be delicious if prepared properly. 

To start:

1. Take a sharp knife and slide it under the skin at the back of the neck, moving down to the tail feathers.
2. Carefully pull the skin off the animal from the middle of the legs to the middle of the back.
3. Remove the intestines and discard them.

The fishy flavor of the birds will be gone entirely after eight hours, so you can bake, fry or cook in any way to like. Who knew that seagulls could make such a tasty meal?

Who knew? We do now! Thank you!

Just remember:

There are risks involved in eating raw seagulls, but generally, seabirds are deemed safe to eat. 

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