Can You Eat Possum and What Does Possum Taste Like?

by Derrick | Last Updated: December 22, 2023

In recent years, people have been more and more open to eating wild game. This leads to many people looking into what wild game they can eat.

A common question is, can you eat possum? You can eat possum if it is dressed properly and cooked correctly.

Do people eat all types of exotic foods, such as Possum? I can’t speak for the whole world, but there are many areas of the United States where Possum is a typical wild game that people will in fact eat.

Possum consumption isn’t as common as people eating other types of wild animals such as rabbit or venison, but there are still many areas where it’s a normal part of the diet.

One of the main reasons people often wrinkle their noses at eating possums is due to how possums look. With deer or rabbits, they are cute looking, and we don’t consider them strange looking. The possum on the other hand is kind of squinty-eyed with a long pointy snout, and most people don’t find that attractive.

What Are The Dangers Of Eating Possum?

Eating possums or any wild game can be dangerous if proper precautions aren’t followed. Let’s look into some of the proper precautions we should take when procuring or cooking possums to ensure we remain safe.

If the meat is not cooked properly or prepared in a certain way, then many dangers could come from consuming possums.

Food issues are usually caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances contaminating food. When the food is not properly cooked or processed, these organisms can contaminate our food and if eaten, cause us to become ill.

As we can see, it’s advised to be careful when cooking possum. If you follow proper precautions and cook the meat properly, your risk of becoming ill should decrease significantly.

How To Make Sure You Don’t Make Yourself Sick – How To Prepare & Cook Possum

Possums and other wild game could have several things that could make you sick wild game is likely to carry bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, as well as a slew of parasites, thankfully proper handling and following the proper cooking method to the right temperature can go a long way to make sure you and your loved ones do not get sick.

1) Keep The Meat Clean

Possums can carry bacteria that contaminates the meat. If you are procuring the possum yourself when it is obtained you should carefully gut and skin the animal, removing these items will go a long way to minimizing contamination.

Next, the meat should also be washed with cold water to remove any dirt or hair that may have adhered to the meat while it was being processed.

2) Cook The Meat Properly

All meat must have an appropriate cooking temperature to make sure it is safe to eat. Cooking possum to eat is no different. According to the USDA, wild game meat should be cooked to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure no bacteria.

Also, remember how much grease and fat drips from your cooked possum. If

A possum should be cooked until the meat reaches a temperature of 165, do not just guess at the internal temperature, we recommend you use a properly calibrated food-grade internal instant-read thermometer.

3) Serve The Meat Right Away

While this is true with most food, do not let the meat sit at room temperature for long periods. Meat should be consumed within a reasonable amount of time or refrigerated or frozen to ensure bacteria don’t have time to grow.

What Does Possum Taste Like?

Possum tastes like dark game meat; some have compared the flavor of possum to that of lamb or even duck.

It is important to understand that much of how possum tastes is determined by how you cook it and how you season it. If you first try it a certain way and do not care for it, try cooking it and or seasoning it differently to see if you find something you prefer over other methods.

My 3 Best Ways To Cook Possum

In my opinion, the best way to cook possum is to grill it; while you can use a propane grill if that is all you have, I recommend using a charcoal grill. Charcoal produces a more natural flavor and can add a slightly smoked flavor to the meat. Marinading ahead of time in Italian salad dressing can add a lot of flavors and tends to make the meat more tender when cooked.

Use a slow cooker; slow-cooking game meat can bring out many flavors and ensure you do not dry it out. The slow cooker will keep the moisture within the cooker and generally make the meat fall off the bone tender.

Lastly, roasting in a conventional oven. Conventional ovens are the old stand-by; while I don’t feel possum tastes as good when cooked in the oven, it is easier to do when you may not have access to a grill or a slow cooker.

Benefits of Eating Possum

Wild game meat can have many benefits; the same holds true for possums. Assuming the possum has been obtained from the country and hasn’t been foraging trash in the city or suburbs, possum can be higher in omega-three fats than traditional store-bought meats.

Outside of the nutritional aspects, possum meat can be an easily sourced, fairly lean protein, so it can be great for those looking to supplement the family’s meat budget with wild game.

Common Questions

Do People Eat Possum, and Is Possum Edible?

Yes, it is fairly common for people who prefer wild game meat to eat possums and a variety of other wild game animals.

What Do Possums Eat?

Possums will commonly eat fruit, grains, and even insects.  They have also been known to eat from people’s garbage cans.  Ideally, if you are going to eat possum meat, I would recommend finding one that isn’t commonly feasting on human trash, as it can give the meat an offputting taste.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has been helpful for you, and you are more comfortable now eating possum, it is a staple in many folks’ diets so give it a try!