Cambodian field rats, specifically. The kids go through sugar cane fields to hunt them. They’re a dietary staple there. They aren’t like sewer rats, and probably taste a bit like pork. They’re probably healthier animals than most of the meat you’d get in the US would be. If you’re ever in SE Asia and have the opportunity, highly encourage you to try one.
It’s not the odd animal that bothers me. It’s just that I know rats are huge carriers of serious diseases while living that I’m not sure if they’d still be dangerous to eat after cooking.
Are they? I think the plague was spread by their fleas rather than the rats themselves, not sure about other diseases though. Eating chicken raw isn’t good for you either, so I am not sure if its much point in comparing them while alive.
Kidney beans are pretty bad for you in their raw state too.
Well I have no idea if it is dangerous or not. I’d have to investigate further.
Even if technically fleas may have spread the disease, they were still located on and being carried by the rats. Hantavirus is a huge dangerous one that rats can spread. There are others too as well as parasitic infections.
Same bacteria produce toxins and even after cooking it, the bacteria are destroyed, but the toxins remain. But it depends on the type of bacteria. It’s how some types of food poisoning works.
But yeah if all of these still mean that rats are safe to eat when cooked thoroughly, I’m on board. I just don’t know enough about cooked rats and quite frankly I don’t feel like investigating more since there is no one selling cooked rats by me lol.
I’d give it a try
Apparently, it tastes like chicken.
More like squirrel.
I hear.
Can’t decide if I would. They look good, but… rats.
Cambodian field rats, specifically. The kids go through sugar cane fields to hunt them. They’re a dietary staple there. They aren’t like sewer rats, and probably taste a bit like pork. They’re probably healthier animals than most of the meat you’d get in the US would be. If you’re ever in SE Asia and have the opportunity, highly encourage you to try one.
I would 100% have one
It’s not the odd animal that bothers me. It’s just that I know rats are huge carriers of serious diseases while living that I’m not sure if they’d still be dangerous to eat after cooking.
These are 100% organic free range bamboo rats though.
Are they? I think the plague was spread by their fleas rather than the rats themselves, not sure about other diseases though. Eating chicken raw isn’t good for you either, so I am not sure if its much point in comparing them while alive.
Kidney beans are pretty bad for you in their raw state too.
Well I have no idea if it is dangerous or not. I’d have to investigate further.
Even if technically fleas may have spread the disease, they were still located on and being carried by the rats. Hantavirus is a huge dangerous one that rats can spread. There are others too as well as parasitic infections.
Same bacteria produce toxins and even after cooking it, the bacteria are destroyed, but the toxins remain. But it depends on the type of bacteria. It’s how some types of food poisoning works.
But yeah if all of these still mean that rats are safe to eat when cooked thoroughly, I’m on board. I just don’t know enough about cooked rats and quite frankly I don’t feel like investigating more since there is no one selling cooked rats by me lol.
“but I’m still going to publicly share my opinions on it first”
I hate the internet, and yet I can’t seem to stop logging on. FML
I mean, this isn’t a scientific research lab or anything. It’s a casual conversational community lol.
Lol yeah don’t worry too much about it.
Not like this comment was your grand presentation at the International Edible Carrion Science Conference 2025 or something. :p
Oh fuck I forgot about the conference! I’m late!
Oh no! Sorry for holding you up, Doc! :O
more concerned with the brown rat since they are the host of the oriental rat flea, aka carriers of the plague.