How to Buy Escargot
Snails may not seem like a gourmet meal, but call them by their French name, and suddenly everyone is clamoring for escargot. The traditional French preparation calls for wild snails from the south of France to be cooked in the shell in a sauce of of butter, garlic, parsley, shallots and white wine. If you enjoy the taste of escargot, but have never made it at home, you will need to know what to look for when shopping for snails. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Shop during peak escargot season. While escargot is available 12 months of the year, it peaks in the summer months, so order fresh escargot in the summer. The escargot purchased any other time of the year is more likely to be canned or frozen to preserve freshness.
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Determine whether you prefer fresh, canned or frozen escargot. Fresh snails have the best taste, but are most expensive, harder to find. Fresh snails also will require more labor in the kitchen, as they need to be scrubbed down, and you must make the sauce yourself.
Canned and frozen snails often come with the traditional butter sauce, and many restaurants use canned snails to serve to customers.
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Look for the most popular types of escargot snails. In France, the Burgundy snail (Helix pomatia) is the most common snail used in escargot. This doesn't mean other snails sold for escargot are inferior, but if you are looking to capture the authentic French dining experience, look for Burgundy snails.
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Shop at a higher-end store. Some supermarkets do stock canned escargot, but because turnover is much lower at a grocery store than a premium gourmet store, the quality is likely to be lower. Shop at a store in your area that specializes in French cuisine or gourmet ingredients.
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Tips & Warnings
Always check the "sell by" date and never eat escargot that is past its prime. Buying snails past their expiration date can risk contracting a food-borne illness.
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