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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'farming' garden snails- weird or not?

121 replies

BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 20:31

I've been 'farming' garden snails for eating for several years, but what do people think about this? Most of my immediate family think it's both cruel and gross. Others think they taste lovely, and don't see an issue.

I have a patio garden that gets infested with the wee feckers. They ate my new plant to a stick before in a day. Did beer traps etc but no avail.

I researched a great deal and found a method to use them to eat, and proceeded to do so.

Basically, I catch them, put about 12 in a big outdoor container with breathing holes, and put a carrot in to feed them. I clean their area out each day and then when it's time to eat them I withdraw the carrot till they make no stools. Then I can prepare them for cooking humanely by putting them to sleep first in the fridge.
I think it's a great way to get rid of garden pests and get protein.

Then I make lovely escargots.

Apart from the fact I already eat cows and other animals but not very often, aibu for doing this?

OP posts:
lowlight · 15/05/2024 20:35

Sounds like a good idea. Are french escargot the same species as our garden snails? I assumed they were a bit different.

In the algarve i see people collecting snails to eat but these are smaller than our garden snails.

I love snails but am a bit scared to try the ones in my garden....

XenoBitch · 15/05/2024 20:36

I don't see anything wrong with it at all. I hope the people who are criticising you are vegans, otherwise they are hypocrites.

Saying that, I remember a thread on MN where OP's DD had a "pet" snail that they had found in the garden, and OP was asking about pet sitters for it as they were going on holiday. That one left me scratching my head.

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 15/05/2024 20:37

Well obviously it's weird, but I'm confused as to why you'd 'farm' them. Why not just catch them a day or before before you want to eat them, and not give them the carrot?

dandelionseverywhere · 15/05/2024 20:39

I hope you're joking because they're full of fungal growth and parasites.

bluebeardswife7 · 15/05/2024 20:40

Two posters who didn't read the OP. 🤣🤣

Majorpom · 15/05/2024 20:42

Oh wow it sounds quite ingenious.
I don’t like escargot but as long as they are safe to eat and you like them then why not!!

XenoBitch · 15/05/2024 20:43

dandelionseverywhere · 15/05/2024 20:39

I hope you're joking because they're full of fungal growth and parasites.

A quick Google tells me that they are fine to eat if cooked properly.

Viviennemary · 15/05/2024 20:43

Gross gross gross. But it's a culture thing I suppose.

MrsBobtonTrent · 15/05/2024 20:44

We did this when I was a child (not in Europe). But I remember it being important that we only ate second generation. So catch your snails, they breed, you separate the youngsters and then eat them. So you need two snail pens - breeding and eating.

KentInAutumn · 15/05/2024 20:46

This absolutely turns my stomach to think about tbh. Which is entirely my problem of course.

Nevertheless, I can’t help but wonder how you cook/serve them. Or if any of your family/friends eat them. Or if they ever make you unwell or if you worry about them causing you harm.

Original poster
BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 20:47

You have to clean out their guts. So you feed them carrots so the poo is orange, then you withdraw the carrot till they have an empty stomach. That's why they don't have parasites when you eat them. That and boiling them for 20 mins, then cooking in hot butter etc for 15 mins.
Gordon Ramsay said it was ok? Lol

OP posts:
HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 15/05/2024 20:49

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 15/05/2024 20:37

Well obviously it's weird, but I'm confused as to why you'd 'farm' them. Why not just catch them a day or before before you want to eat them, and not give them the carrot?

Much safer (and tastier) the way OP describes. Mainly because you don't know what they've been eating before you caught them!

Soubriquet · 15/05/2024 20:49

I have no issue with people doing this….but no way would I. I mean I can’t see how common garden snails could be safe to eat. I’m sure the one in the restaurants are actually farmed as opposed to free range

Hemiola · 15/05/2024 20:50

Not weird. My grandmother did it back in the 30s and 40s. Friends of ours also did it, same method as you. Makes total sense. The Romans introduced the banded snails - for eating? Not sure, but perhaps more tasty?

KentInAutumn · 15/05/2024 20:50

But just why. In a world where you can eat so many other delicious foods that you dont need to personally feed/remove the parasites/kill, why?!

Anyway, yes, it’s weird OP 🤣 sorry. But you MUST know that already.

SerendipityJane · 15/05/2024 20:50

One of mankinds earliest farmed source of food

Lumaca romana, (translation: Roman snail), was an ancient method of snail farming or heliciculture in the region about Tarquinia. This snail-farming method was described by Fulvius Lippinus (49 BC) and mentioned by Marcus Terentius Varro in De Re rustica III, 12. The snails were fattened for human consumption using spelt and aromatic herbs. People usually raised snails in pens near their houses, and these pens were called "cochlea".[5]

MusicOrDrama · 15/05/2024 20:50

I do suspect you are on a wind up op 😄

I mean I know it's possible, I just can't imagine anyone would a) have the stomach for it, b)be arsed with that faff and c)be bold enough to advertise their wrong'un ways!

DuploTrain · 15/05/2024 20:51

It does gross me out honestly, but YANBU to do it - very eco friendly protein, basically no carbon footprint.

Original poster
BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 20:51

They are safe to eat bc I've been feeding them nothing but carrots and fresh water then purging them fully and cooking them twice.
Plenty of garlic and parsley and butter. You need to clean them before you cook them as well.
Just the same as French ones but smaller.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 15/05/2024 20:51

Hemiola · 15/05/2024 20:50

Not weird. My grandmother did it back in the 30s and 40s. Friends of ours also did it, same method as you. Makes total sense. The Romans introduced the banded snails - for eating? Not sure, but perhaps more tasty?

That makes sense.

Although, I expect it will be suggested on MN soon as a way to beat the cost of living crisis.

WeeOrcadian · 15/05/2024 20:53

BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 20:51

They are safe to eat bc I've been feeding them nothing but carrots and fresh water then purging them fully and cooking them twice.
Plenty of garlic and parsley and butter. You need to clean them before you cook them as well.
Just the same as French ones but smaller.

Are they not really rubbery when they've been cooked twice? Genuine question

Original poster
BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 20:53

@MusicOrDrama you think I'm on a wind up? I'm sad but not that sad. 🤣
I think it's brilliant. But it's obviously a bit gross for many!

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 15/05/2024 20:54

KentInAutumn · 15/05/2024 20:50

But just why. In a world where you can eat so many other delicious foods that you dont need to personally feed/remove the parasites/kill, why?!

Anyway, yes, it’s weird OP 🤣 sorry. But you MUST know that already.

Environmentally friendly, humane, cheap, excuse for garlic butter.

Win, win, win, win.

Brexile · 15/05/2024 20:55

What about slugs, do they have any culinary uses? I remember DD1 trying.to eat one when she was little.

Original poster
BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 20:55

@WeeOrcadian no. You have to boil them in stock for about 15/20 mins, then you can clean them again and do the escargot thing.
If you don't boil them they will be horrifically rubbery and inedible. Lol.
They are molluscs. So need that much cooking to break down the muscle. Yum!

OP posts:
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