Okay guys I’ve tried squirrel 3 different ways: fried, baked, and grilled. Problem the meat has been tough and dry. The next ones will be in the pressure cooker. Any suggestions how to tenderize?

Tree rat n dumplings......

Stick them in chicken broth in the crock pot till the meat falls off the bone. Peel the meat and use it in your favorite pot pie recipe.


Just had some for supper!

Pressure cooker works great for tenderizing

Have not been crazy about dumplings but may have to try it again with the squirrel.

Wife said the pressure cooker with bbq sauce is the ticket for the next batch. She also liked the pot pie idea too.

Sous vide that rascal then fry it. Or pressure cook it first. Usually only fried young ones, the older ones always ended up in dumplins.

sear them real good. Add a little water, salt, pepper and flour then let them simmer in a dutch oven for a couple hours.

I toss them in flour (salt and pepper) and fry in olive oil on low for 20 minutes each side. Take out and toss in flour again. Put pieces in cake pan and add milk to the top of meat. Put foil on top, but only seal 2 sides lightly. Bake on 300 for 3 hours. I like to let it cool and take the meat out and peel off bone (it will fall off) and add back to the gravy that was produced. Mix together and put over rice or mashed potatoes (or could do dumplings). Some of the best wild game meat.

The young ones I fry, the older ones either pop pie or stew for about all I cook

Grandma would fry young ones and the older ones went into the dumpling pot.


Mo

Soak 'em in buttermilk for 2 to 3 hours; keep the bones in 'em while they cook; and then slow cook 'em until the meat falls off the bones.

I only like them with dumplings

Pan fry. Use the grease to make a roux and dump in the stew pot with tomatoes and your favorite stew vegetables.

Curios what does soaking them in buttermilk do for the taste or as a tenderize for the meat.

Crock Pot with gravy has always made them perfect for me.

Should’ve taken the shot gun to the deer blind Saturday and I would have had another mess of squirrels to try some of your suggestions. 0 deer seen, 6-8 squirrels within shotgun range.

Well, you must not be too hungry.

Bunch of good ways mentioned on here already but another way i like them is to lightly bread them and fry them for a few minutes on each side then throw them in a pan then make your gravy and pour it over the squirrels and stick them in the oven til the meats tender.

Young ones I fry, old ones I make Brunswick Stew.

Red fox squirrels tend to be tough. The grey squirrels are much more tender.

How do you cook cotton squirrels and pack squirrels....

This right here. My wife makes the best squirrel pie! She hates it when I tell people that, especially her city slicker friends .

Well if they don't like the pie don't tell them about the brains.