Cooking Rabbit

Tips for Cooking Rabbit

The average American has never eaten rabbit, yet the U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaims it the most nutritious meat available.

Rabbit is an all white meat that’s lower in cholesterol than chicken or turkey (164 mg of cholesterol in rabbit vs. 220 mg in chicken), has just 795 calories per pound (chicken has 810 calories per pound), and has the highest percentage of protein and the lowest percentage of fat of any meat. In short, meat doesn’t get any healthier.

But no one wants to eat any meat that’s not delicious. Fortunately, rabbit is that, too. In fact, rabbit has been an important part of the European diet for centuries, and is also enjoyed in parts of the world such as Australia and Asia.

Wild vs. tame rabbit

Wild rabbit is leaner than tame rabbit, and as long as it’s properly dressed, is only slightly gamey. The gaminess may be minimized by soaking the meat in salty water overnight in the refrigerator. As with tame rabbit, the younger the animal, the more tender the meat. Tame rabbit is more likely to be tender and have a more subtle flavor.

How to buy rabbit

The USDA includes rabbit meat in its volunteer grading system. Rabbit that’s graded has passed inspection and comes in grades A (highest quality), B (medium quality), and C (lowest quality recommended).

Generally, you’ll find rabbit listed as either “fryer” (or “young rabbit) and “roaster” (or “mature rabbit”). A fryer is a rabbit between 1 and 3 pounds that’s less than 12 weeks old. Fryers are fine grained and a bright pink color; they may be cooked similarly to poultry.

A roaster can be any size and must be over 8 months old. Roasters are coarse grained and the meat is a little darker than a fryer. Roasters can be tough, so they are usually stewed or braised.

General cooking tips

For safety, cook rabbit until it reaches 160 degrees F.

Excellent rabbit seasonings include parsley, rosemary, sage, bay leaf, lemon-grass, coriander, and basil.

Rabbit may be soaked in a marinade of sugar or honey, red wine, or olive oil seasoned with herbs.

Fryer rabbit can replace chicken in almost any recipe, but if you’ve never cooked rabbit before, it’s a great idea to start with a trusted recipe. I particularly like the rabbit recipes on videos found at Gourmandia.

Roasting rabbit

To roast a rabbit, rub it down with olive oil and chopped herbs and place it in a roasting pan. It may then be baked just like a chicken, at about 350 degrees F. (A 2 pound rabbit takes about 1 – 1 1/2 hours to cook at this temperature.)

Braising rabbit

Begin by browning the rabbit in a little olive oil. Then place the meat in a pot and cover it about a quarter of the way with water. Cover the pot and allow the meat to simmer for about an hour.

Stewing rabbit

Chop the rabbit meat into small pieces (about one inch square). If desired, roll in flour or seasonings. In a preheated pan with a little olive oil added, brown the meat on every side. Place the meat in a large pot and cover with boiling water. Cover the pan with a well-fitted lid and simmer for at least two hours, or until meat is tender. Add vegetables to the last hour of cooking.

Sautéing rabbit
Thin cuts of rabbit (no more than one inch thick) are suitable for sautéing. First, preheat a pan and add a small amount of olive oil. Place the rabbit in the pan and brown both sides, cooking until it reaches 160 degrees F.

If you add a bit more oil to the pan, you can also pan fry rabbit, giving it a crispy outer layer.

About the Author

Kristina Seleshanko is a former research librarian for “Gourmet” magazine and the author of 16 books. For more information, visit www.KristinaSeleshanko.com.

Can you give a rabbit cooked/steamed vegetables?

I give my rabbit fresh produce every day. I’ve never cooked or steamed it for him. Am I supposed to? If not, can you give a rabbit cooked/steamed veggies? What do you do?
Thanks I do care A LOT for my bun. I love him to pieces!!

The raw vegetables are the best for your rabbit. There is some nutrient loss in the cooking of any vegetable. We cook out veggies for flavor and usually add some seasonings – it makes them more appealing and digestible for us.

The rabbit evolved to eat all its food raw because of its needs for the fiber and chewing action to keep its teeth from overgrowing.

I gave the shelter bunnies some cilantro, a few carrot nubs and very leafy green lettuce this morning. They really love it!

New Top Chef Has Connecticut Convention Center Cooking
New Top Chef Has Connecticut Convention Center Cooking Steven Rosen recently was named executive chef for the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford after working for the past four years in the same role at the AAA 4-Diamond Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton. Before that he served as executive chef at the Hilton Hartford. His new position involves overseeing the daily operation of the …

Rabbit and bacon recipe – Floyd on Food – BBC

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