Would you, could you eat bugs and insects?

[old Grump]

As any good Entomophage (eater of insects) knows, these twelve bugs are more than just pests... they're what's for dinner! In many cases people started eating these insects out of necessity, but these days they've become a delicacy. Read on to discover twelve insects that can be quite tasty.

http://www.oddee.com/item_97582.aspx

I'm having this discussion on another site because of a conversation I had earler with a fellow shooter about eating bugs and crustaceans, The initial topic got into who would survive if society crashed and our high tech toys went away. What could you eat, would you know how to find, identify, harvest and prepare nuts, roots, berries, grasses. Could you identify food animals, kill and prepare them for eating. Buying our food for the last few generations in cans, jars, boxes and wrapped in plastic has created a whole country full of people who wouldn't be able to or know how to gut a sheep or cook a squirrel or make a flour from acorns.

The amazing thing is there is a world full of protein where ever you are, your basement, in Central Park in New York City, in the woods or shivering in a cave in the mountains of New Mexico. I'm talking about insects and bugs, yes there is a difference. They comprise most of the total mass of living bodies on the surface of the earth and an awful lot of them are edible.

[ready]

Absolutely, if I'm hungry, I'll eat anything. I'm not a hunter so I've never prepared an animal for dinner but I'm sure I'd figure it out.

[FunkyPertwee]

For some reason, the bug-looking crustacean critters in the local creeks are more appetizing than insects.

I love crab. I just don't know where I could find rotten chicken in SHTF. I guess shoot some birds or squirrels and let them stink up a little. Crabs ought to like them just fine.

mmmm..... crustaceans.....


We got scrumps and flounder too.

[btcave]

Got no problem with it. Not my cup of tea until the modern world stops turning.

[ready]

I think it would depend on the bug, too. I don't know if I could eat spiders and I would prefer toasting them a little bit if I could.

[gpwasr10]

I'm having this discussion on another site because of a conversation I had earler with a fellow shooter about eating bugs and crustaceans, The initial topic got into who would survive if society crashed and our high tech toys went away. What could you eat, would you know how to find, identify, harvest and prepare nuts, roots, berries, grasses. Could you identify food animals, kill and prepare them for eating. Buying our food for the last few generations in cans, jars, boxes and wrapped in plastic has created a whole country full of people who wouldn't be able to or know how to gut a sheep or cook a squirrel or make a flour from acorns.

The amazing thing is there is a world full of protein where ever you are, your basement, in Central Park in New York City, in the woods or shivering in a cave in the mountains of New Mexico. I'm talking about insects and bugs, yes there is a difference. They comprise most of the total mass of living bodies on the surface of the earth and an awful lot of them are edible.

Let me tell you something Old Timer, if I'm hungry and you let your gaurd down, I'll be eating you ;-).

[old Grump]

Let me tell you something Old Timer, if I'm hungry and you let your gaurd down, I'll be eating you ;-).

Hope you have a strong stomach and a lot of friends. Harvesting a bucket of ants would be easier and safer, tossing a net and bringing in some crawdads would be tastier and they don't shoot back.

[Dr. Gonzo GED]

Had some chipotle grasshoppers at a mexican place once.

Pretty good wrapped in a tortilla.

[Hedning]

I eat a lot of them while Im riding my bike. Not that I want to, but I just cant keep my mouth shut when Im on it. And Ill eat every moose arround before prepare an insect dinner. But if you have to you have to. Guess I would enjoy it whenever that situation rise. Guess everyone of us would eat a human too if there was no other choice.

[AKTexas]

Now? no thanks.

To survive? Yup sure will. I have eaten toasted grasshoppers doused with hot sauce. I could do it again.

[Mac_Muz]

LOL, Just dropped in to say hi, Been bustin tail.

I eat crustations any chance I get. Lobster is high on my list, so are oysters, clams, crabs, limpets (like a big barnacle). (More)

Just last week I split open a white pine log and inside were pine borers (a grub) I was cookin off maple syrup in a pan on a barrel stove so I dipped each one and ate them right up. They are a maple nut flavor then.

[ready]

LOL, Just dropped in to say hi, Been bustin tail.

I eat crustations any chance I get. Lobster is high on my list, so are oysters, clams, crabs, limpets (like a big barnacle). (More)

Just last week I split open a white pine log and inside were pine borers (a grub) I was cookin off maple syrup in a pan on a barrel stove so I dipped each one and ate them right up. They are a maple nut flavor then.

You can eat barnacles? Learn something new everyday.

[old Grump]

You can eat barnacles? Learn something new everyday.

http://northernbushcraft.com/inverte...acle/notes.htm
My Swedish Grandma's sister used to gather these and clams in Oregon. Had my first fried clam at her table.

[Mac_Muz]

Well these limpets are like barnacles, but bigger, about the size of a 1/2 dollar coin. To me they look like dark tan volcanos as a child would draw one, It takes a big bunch to make a meal. I don't eat them like that, and just add them to oysters, clams, and mussels as i can. Now the combination is a worthy meal. I also might add any smaller crabs, and other assorted findings.

Assorted findings are razor clams if i can catch them, and I do mean catch, since they can burrow or tunnel dam fast. Cherry Stone a clam is often added to the menu, but raw.

A little kelp can be added if you like that sort of thing. It's a little more fitting of PETA people though. Friggin veggie heads just set me off.

[Partisan1983]

I love crab, lobster, oysters, clams, shrimp, crayfish etc. etc. etc.


Of which only crayfish can be found in MI.....as for eating insects, that sounds about as much fun as two guys fucking. No thanks, I'd rather starve to death.

[FunkyPertwee]

I love crab, lobster, oysters, clams, shrimp, crayfish etc. etc. etc.


Of which only crayfish can be found in MI.....as for eating insects, that sounds about as much fun as two guys fucking. No thanks, I'd rather starve to death.

Hell yeah. All you need to catch crabs around here is a piece of string and some stinky meat.

[old Grump]

I love crab, lobster, oysters, clams, shrimp, crayfish etc. etc. etc.


Of which only crayfish can be found in MI.....as for eating insects, that sounds about as much fun as two guys fucking. No thanks, I'd rather starve to death.

After a few days of nothing to eat but swamp water a rotten apple with a long green worm in it will look pretty damn good. You will also get downright paranoid about people stealing your clover, your dandelions and your cattails. A handful of minnows swallowed live will be a gourmet meal and mushrooms growing on a pile of old horseshit will be a happy addition to the frying pan. You won't starve if you can recognize food when you see it no matter what it is.

[FunkyPertwee]

After a few days of nothing to eat but swamp water a rotten apple with a long green worm in it will look pretty damn good. You will also get downright paranoid about people stealing your clover, your dandelions and your cattails. A handful of minnows swallowed live will be a gourmet meal and mushrooms growing on a pile of old horseshit will be a happy addition to the frying pan. You won't starve if you can recognize food when you see it no matter what it is.

Just don't eat the mushrooms from the cow shit until SHTF is over.

[Partisan1983]

After a few days of nothing to eat but swamp water a rotten apple with a long green worm in it will look pretty damn good. You will also get downright paranoid about people stealing your clover, your dandelions and your cattails. A handful of minnows swallowed live will be a gourmet meal and mushrooms growing on a pile of old horseshit will be a happy addition to the frying pan. You won't starve if you can recognize food when you see it no matter what it is.

I've gone days without food...many, many times in my life. You eventually get used to it after awhile

[old Grump]

I have to and after a few days you aren't quite as frisky or as sharp. Food almost seems repugnant in a way but your lizard brain knows you have to eat and you will. Whatever you can get your hands on.