How to Freeze Escargots (Snails)
If you have a taste for the exotic or unusual, perhaps escargots (snails) are a culinary delight you'll enjoy. To begin the cooking process, it is necessary to extract the snails from their shells. Next, boil them in seasoned water. After you prepare the escargots, you can then either refrigerate them or freeze them. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 4 quart pan
- 4 cups Escargot
- Colander
- Sharp implement for extracting the escargot (fork or knitting needle)
- White vinegar
- Large bowl
- 3 cups broth
- 1 diced onion
- 1 bay leaf
- Plastic freezer bags (zipper type)
- Permanent marker
Instructions
-
-
1
Fill the pan with water and bring the water to a full boil on high heat.
-
2
Rinse the escargots in the colander and pour them into the hot water. Boil the escargots for approximately two minutes.
-
-
3
Remove the pan from the heat and pour the escargot and hot water through the colander to drain the escargots. Rinse under cold water.
-
4
Use the sharp implement to remove the escargots from their shells. Insert the tip of the implement to separate the meat from the shells, twisting the shells away from the meat to separate. Look at each escargot as you remove it from the shell and you will see a hardened end (the portion of the escargot that was attached to the shell). Trim this small portion from the escargots and discard it.
-
5
Place each extricated escargots into the large bowl. Discard the shells. Add 1/3 cup white vinegar and 1 1/2 quarts of cold water to the bowl. Stir the escargots in the vinegar water for two minutes (the vinegar water will become cloudy) and then drain and rinse the escargots Repeat the vinegar rinse two more times, stirring each time. The last time you stir the escargot through the vinegar water, the vinegar water should remain clear.
-
6
Add the broth, the onion and the bay leaf to the pan. Place the escargots in the pan and boil the ingredients uncovered on the stove top. Turn the burner down to medium-low and simmer the ingredients for one hour.
-
7
Remove the escargots from the burner and drain the escargots in the colander. Allow the escargots to cool until they are at room temperature.
-
8
Place the escargots into the plastic freezer bag. Remove the excess air from the freezer bag and seal the bag.
-
9
Label the bag with the contents and the date you are freezing the escargots. Place the escargots into the freezer and keep them there up to three months.
-
10
Defrost escargots in the refrigerator until thawed.
-
1
