Turtles, turtles everywhere!!!

[1911crazy]

I have many big snapping turtles were I'm bass fishing right now and they are chasing bass away.  My question is how do i cook them??? I taught my kids never to kill anything you don't eat so here it goes.
                                                                     BigBill

Is there an easy recipe?? Like turtle on the barbe?? I read an native american recipe where you just put them upside down on the campfire and when the shell cracks their done. Ever do that??  These are some big nasty turtles.

[MOGorilla]

I would check your area to see about the laws on turtle are.  The aligator snapper is an endangered species, and therefore quite expensive if caught eating one.  I am not sure on the standard snapper.   I would talk to the conservation department.  The only way I have ever eaten turtle was in gumbo.  Use like you would a heavy fish or chicken.

[clodbuster]

My Grandma panfried them just like chicken and no,  they don't taste like chicken.  The individual pieces tasted different.  The neck is white meat  fine-grained and mild flavored.  The legs are like "clam flavored beef. There is a back piece that is excellent also.  Makes me want to  go walk down a drainage ditch and look for one right now.

[maddmaxx]

Hardest part is cleaning 'em. If you punch a small hole in their skin, you can use either an air compressor or garden hose to inflate them till they stick out their head and feet. With those out of the way, use a thin bladed knife and cut around the breastplate. If its a female and ready to lay eggs, the eggtrack will be around the periphery. Eat them, too. there might be 25 or so. Grainy, but egg flavored. The meat might be tough, so if you can use tenderizer it sure won't hurt. I like it deep-fried.