Preparing and grilling turtles??

[flinch]

Has anyone dressed and grilled/or smoked some turtles?  I'd like to get some information on that.  I assume some beer is required to get them dressed out?

[bretto]

Don't know about smoking or grilling but they make great soup. Always put them in clean water for a couple of days to purge them, they'll taste a lot better

[JMartin]

I have cleaned a lot of turtles.....beer is not manditory, however it is highly recommended. When I was a young snapper(sorry) I actually bought a booklet through a trapper supply company, it had a number of ways to clean turtles, I'll see if I can find it, if I didn't already give it to someone, you're welcome to it. The ways to clean one vary from submerging in boiling water, to busting the back open with a sledge hammer. Whichever way you do it....don't overlook the "backstrap" good luck.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

A couple of years ago, and old river rat showed me how to clean a snapper with nothing other than a 4" fillet knife.. Takes about 15-20 minutes.
If there is interest,, I'll write it up.

[702plmo]

We cut off the head and insert a water hose and fill the turtle up with water.   They will swell up 2x.   Make the skining part very easy.

[Dave Bulla]

I've HEARD of doing the same thing with compressed air but have not done it myself.

Small slit in a leg, insert air nozzle and inflate.  Supposed to seperate the halves of the shell and seperate the skin from the turtle.  Just deflate and undress it.

[Ray Hammond]

sounds like the potential for a large chinese fire drill complete with guts all over the floor and ceiling and nasty pitchers on the web, Dave!!!

[BigRonHuntAlot]

Why are you guys eatin turtle when there is venison and pork running around...?  :p    

[Brian Krebs]

hey - I used to live in Michigan; and I ate quite a few snapping turtles... and they are the best meat that I can remember.

 I would take the meat; and put it on sticks and barbecue it over coals; and put barbecue sauce on it.  

 Each muscle tastes different; some like perch; some like beef; some like chicken - it really really good.

[S. Brant Osborn]

Turn him on his back and use a knife along the area where the bottom shell meets the top. It is a softer joint tissue there.  It will be self explanitory from there.  

Mary yourself a cajun gal like i did a shee will take that meat and talk funny over it until it is fit to eat.  

Brant

[Roy Steele]

I like it best, clean it and cut it up.Small young arounr 10 pounds is best but any size will work.Put in a cooking bag BQ,Mrs Dash,Creole seasoning,Old Bay,what ever you like.Put in oven at 250 leave all day or to it falls apart..