# Anyone cooked crocodile? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883 "2011-05-23T12:14:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/1 "2011-05-23T12:14:54Z")
I searched and could not find if this question has been asked. I was watching Masterchef Australia and some of the contestants had to cook crocodile. I wonder if any Doper has cooked it (or alligator I suppose). Any receipes or preperations for this meat? ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/2 "2011-05-23T12:21:31Z")
Yes. It needs very quick, light cooking. It’s a very lean meat and tends to toughness if it’s not treated properly. It’s been years and years since I cooked it, but if I recall correctly it does benefit from marinading as well. Most of the crocodile you get in mainstream retailers (if you can, the only place I’ve found it in Adelaide has been at the Central Markets) has been frozen before sale. I don’t have definitive proof, but I feel it doesn’t do the texture any favours. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/3 "2011-05-23T23:06:31Z")
> [@Sierra\_Indigo](#): > > It needs very quick, light cooking. It’s a very lean meat and tends to toughness if it’s not treated properly. It’s been years and years since I cooked it, but if I recall correctly it does benefit from marinading as well. I’ve not cooked it, but I have eaten it, at the Crocodile Park in Darwin. We asked about cooking methods and the advice given was pretty much the same as **Sierra Indigo’s**. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/4 "2011-05-23T23:14:49Z")
I’ve never cooked it myself, but have had it a few times at restaurant’s. And agree with all advice given thus far, it has to be cooked very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/5 "2011-05-23T23:47:29Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > Anyone cooked crocodile? “Need answer fast”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/6 "2011-05-24T00:45:52Z")
I’ve eaten in Greektown in Detroit. Alligator, too. Not amazing, but pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/7 "2011-05-24T11:58:46Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > I wonder if any Doper has cooked it (or alligator I suppose). Yes. It’s fairly easy to obtain here fresh, if you know where to look. > [@](#): > > Any receipes or preperations for this meat? It \*is \*a very light meat, I treat it as somewhere between salmon and chicken. I’ve only ever braaied it, though (that’s South African for BBQ) - brushed with melted butter and apricot jam, seasoned and basted. Cooked fairly quickly. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/8 "2011-05-24T14:39:22Z")
I’ve made gator in a few ways. The meat can be very tough. Marinading, pounding, and piercing the meat are ways to tenderize it. For use in a stew like dish, cut thin slices of meat and add into simmering ingredients, don’t try to brown it. It can be deep fried in small chunks, cooked quickly. Bread it, drop it in hot oil, as soon as it floats, it’s done. The flavor is delicate, and overcooked it just resembles tasteless overcooked chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/9 "2011-05-24T14:49:35Z")
It’s been 25 years or so, but a Cajun buddy of mine came to Nashville and opened a Cajun food place. One of his featured dishes was similar in effect to [http://www.gumbopages.com/food/seafood/piquante.html](http://www.gumbopages.com/food/seafood/piquante.html) As with so many stews and preparations that include so many veggies and condiments along with the “meat” it’s hard for me to remember just how the gator tasted. We even discussed his adding Road Kill Sauce Piquante to his menu, since the same effect could be had with it. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/10 "2011-05-24T20:35:18Z")
I’ve cooked it a few times. My brother-in-law usually gets one a year and gives me the tail meat to cook up. I’ve used it in stir fry, but the crowd pleaser is breaded and fried. Squeeze some lemon juice on it, and serve with a key lime or cajun dipping sauce and it’s good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-cooked-crocodile/582883/11 "2011-05-24T23:19:52Z")
Everything I’ve read agrees that deep-fried works well for gator/croc meat. You cut it small enough, and by the time the crumb is golden the meat’s just cooked inside and it’s like, well, a chicken nugget.