01 Jan 2010

How to Cook Snails

Kristina Seleshanko 4 Comments Tags: escargot, snail

Escargot, the famous French delicacy, isn’t something most Americans have tried. But mastering the art of serving truly delicious escargot isn’t difficult. It’s just a matter of know-how.

Purchasing Escargot

Purchase live snails that have been well fed and kept watered every day. Do not buy packages of live snails that contain some dead snails in them. Frozen snails are also an acceptable choice.

Finding Escargot in Your Garden

You may also eat snails direct from your garden. (In fact, that may be the best way to keep them from eating your salad patch!)

Snails are easiest to collect while it’s raining, or immediately after it rains. You can also lay out snail traps: tuna fish cans (well cleaned) and filled with beer. Set them out in the evening, and wait for the snails to approach. They love the beer, but they will die if you allow them to partake. Other good places to find snails include under rocks and objects like trash cans.

Be sure to let any small snails remain free; you’re looking for mature adults.

Snail Fast

Allow store bought or garden found snails to fast for five to six days; this improves their flavor and detoxifies their bodies. Store bought snails should come in a wooden box that can stay outside, but make sure it has legs, so the box never touches the ground. Plastic boxes are fine, too, as long as they have plenty of holes for air circulation, but again, the snails should not be able to reach the ground, or they are likely to find food to eat. Home grown snails may remain in a glass jar as long as the lid has plenty of air holes drilled in it.

After two days of snail fasting, Gordon Ramsey suggests placing a carrot in the jar or box and allowing the snails to stay put until their feces turn orange. Or, try feeding the snails dill after two or three days without food.

During this fasting period, be sure to gently spray the snails with water every day.

Preparing Escargot

Always wash the snails well under running water. Throw out any snails that are dead.

It was once traditional to salt snails before cooking, because it was thought to make them less slimy. However, it’s not necessary, actually makes them more slimy, and is torture to the snail.

Instead, once washed, you may simply place the snails in boiling water. Allow them to boil for three minutes, then remove their shells with tweezers and place in cold, salted water. Allow to sit for about an hour. Rinse thoroughly and place in fresh water.

The snails may then be cooked according to your recipe – check out Gourmandia’s escargot recipes on video. You may also freeze the snails for later use by placing them in an air tight container or bag.

The snails may also be cooked and placed back in their shells for serving – if you first wash the shells in soda powder, rinse well, and boil.

Written by Kristina Seleshanko

Kristina is the author of 16 books, ranging in topic from historic fashions to modern weddings to writing and singing. She was once a union actress and singer in New York City, a librarian for "Gourmet" magazine, and an adjunct writing instructor.

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4 Responses to this article

Ilan Carmi January 4, 2011

where can I find the tweezers to eat with the escargot, snails at the table ? how are they called in english , please.

many thanks in advance for your help.

Kristina January 7, 2011

IIan, they are called “escargo tongs.” If you do a Google search for them, you’ll find lots of places to buy them.

eagan January 10, 2013

Whats the scientific name for these edible snails. Are there poisonous variety of snails ?

admin January 10, 2013

Eagan, some snails could be poisionous, but if you live in the U.S., it’s highly unlikely you’d find them in your yard. The common garden snail is Helix aspersa (also knowns as Cornu aspersum and Cantareus aspersus). It has a brown shell that usually has a pattern, like these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helix_aspersa#cite_note-2 . This is the same type of snail usually served as escargot in France.

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