Can You Eat Cicadas? Yes, and Here ’s How to Catch, Clean, and Cook Them

Get ready to see cicadas everywhere. More than a trillion of the critters are expected to surface in parts of the United States this year in a rare co-emergence event the likes of which hasn’t been seen in over two centuries. Known for their deafening mating calls, which can be as loud as lawnmowers, cicadas emerge after more than a decade underground, offering a tasty meal to birds—and even the occasional human. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] That’s right, cicadas, like many insects, have been hailed as an eco-friendly and high-protein alternative to poultry and cattle. They’re low in cholesterol, crunchy, and carry what has been described as a nutty flavor and shrimp-like quality. Restaurants have featured the bugs in experimental menus, while several cookbooks have even been published dedicated to recipes involving cicadas. So if you’re interested in seeing cicadas on your plate this year, here’s what to know about how to get started. Step one: catch them Cicadas can typically be found in woody places, such as near trees and shrubs—though for hygiene reasons, experts warn against collecting cicadas for food in locations that may have pesticide or litter. You can even start looking in your own backyard. However, you should try to be selective. Freshly emerged cicadas from the ground may not make for the tastiest snack. It’s best to wait for them to molt, shedding their former shells to be cl...
Source: TIME: Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Uncategorized News Desk overnight Source Type: news