What Does Frog Taste Like?
Frog legs are a delicacy in both French and Chinese cuisine, but they are not as popular in other parts of the world — most people haven’t tasted frogs before!
Eating frog might not seem like something you want to try, especially when you do not know what it tastes like, but it is something that is definitely worth a try at least once.
What does frog taste like? Frog legs have quite a unique flavor, but they do taste somewhat similar to chicken or even white fish, depending on how they are cooked. Some varieties of frog taste similar to lobster, too, so it does depend on the type of frog and how it is cooked.
So, if you are tempted to try out frog, then read on to find out what frog tastes like, the texture it has, and other important information!
What Part Of A Frog Is Edible?
When it comes to preparing frog, the hind legs of the frog are the most common part which is eaten.
The hind legs have the most meat, and the legs are easy enough to prepare. The legs need to be skinned and soaked in salt water before being cooked.
It is not worth trying to eat other parts of the frog, as the skin and the organs can contain bacteria that could make you sick.
Some recipes call for the meaty back strip of the frog, but this is not as common as frog legs, which is considered a delicacy in a few different cuisines.
Are All Types Of Frog Edible?
There are so many different species of frog on earth, but only a few are edible, with some being really dangerous to attempt to eat.
Out of over 7,000 frog species, only around 5 are okay to eat. The type of frog eaten also depends on where you are in the world, with some being more popular in some areas than others.
The most popular frogs consumed include Bullfrogs, Javan Giant Frogs, Leopard Frogs, Edible Frogs, and Anatolian Water Frogs. These are safe to eat, and they have a good meat content too.
The Flavor Of Frog
Frog leg meat is a light meat that is mild in flavor, like chicken and fish.
The easiest way to describe the taste of frog is to put it somewhere between chicken and white fish.
The flavor of frog legs does depend on the frog legs themselves, and how they have been prepared.
How Do Different Cooking Methods Affect The Flavor?
When fried or grilled, frog legs taste more like chicken, but when boiled or sauteed, they taste more like fish. The meat, being mild, does hold onto the flavors and spices it is given, which again alters the flavor.
Here are a few different ways in which frogs legs are cooked, and it affects their flavor!
Deep-Fried Frog Legs
Frog legs are popularly cooked battered and deep-fried — before this, they are often soaked in milk to swell the legs with moisture and remove any impurities.
The batter does become the dominant flavor of the frog legs, as well as the spices used.
The outside of the frog legs will be crispy from the batter, and the inside should be moist and juicy and have a flavor similar to fish.
Sauteed Frog Legs
A popular way to prepare frog legs in European cuisine is to stir-fry or sauté the legs in spices and butter.
The frog legs are patted dry, lightly dusted with flour, seasoned with herbs, and then fried in butter.
Once fried, the frog legs are often seasoned further with lemon juice and garlic. This gives the frog legs a more fish-like flavor.
Grilled Frog Legs
Frog legs can be grilled on a barbecue, but when cooked this way, they need to be marinated with some oil and spices to prevent them from drying out, as frog is quite a lean meat.
When grilling frog legs, they take on the flavor of the spices and seasonings they are prepared with.
They will also taste more similar to chicken when grilled, and dry out similar to chicken when cooked on the grill too.
Boiled Frog Legs
A simple way to prepare frog legs is to boil them and season them with some salt.
This gives the frog meat a platform to shine on its own — it will have a flavor similar to chicken, but slightly more neutral.
Do Frog Legs Have A Gamey Taste?
Some wild or hunted meat does have a gamey taste to it, such as duck or rabbit, but thankfully, frogs do not have this gamey flavor.
The flavor of frog is neutral and mild — instead of giving off a gamey flavor, the frog legs instead take on the flavor of spices and seasonings used.
Soaking frog legs in water, salt water, or milk before cooking also helps to remove any unwanted flavors, which should ensure the frog legs retain their neutral flavor.
Do Frog Legs Taste Good?
Whether frog legs taste good or not does depend on your preference — some people love frog legs, and some people don’t. We’re not here to judge.
However, frog legs do not have any off or strange flavors, and if you like chicken and you like fish, then you should not have a problem with the flavor of frog legs.
The flavor being somewhere between fish and chicken can be slightly different, but the spices and seasonings you used can help to balance out this — you can enjoy sauces for dipping too!
The Texture Of Frog
Frog legs taste like either fish or chicken (sometimes somewhere in between), but when it comes to the texture, they are closer to chicken.
The texture of frog legs is very similar to that of chicken wings, with the smaller pieces of meat being found along the bone. The meat is soft and tender, and the outside can be crisp too.
The meat, while similar to chicken, can also sometimes be similar to a firmer fish. Once again, it does depend on how the frog legs are cooked!
Are Frog Legs Chewy?
Frog legs can be chewy if they are cooked a certain way, but they can also be soft and fall off the bone too.
One way to prepare frog legs for cooking and to prevent them from being chewy is to soak them in milk or salt water before cooking. This allows the frog legs to soak up extra moisture, and remain soft and tender when cooked.
Frog legs might become chewy when grilled or fried, especially if they are left to cook for a little too long. Once they start to dry out, the meat can become slightly tough and dry, which is not ideal!
Can You Eat Raw Frog Legs?
It is not recommended to eat raw frogs, as the meat might contain bacteria, such as salmonella, which could make you very ill.
Some dishes call for raw frogs, such as frog sashimi, but it is definitely something to be wary of.
Frog legs should be cooked fully, and the meat should not be sticking to the bones.
How Do You Know When Frog Legs Are Cooked?
Frog legs need to be cooked fully before being eaten to ensure that they are not raw and that they do not have any harmful bacteria.
The best way to know when frog legs are cooked is to check them as they are cooking — the meat should fall off the bone and should be opaque.
If the meat sticks to the bones at all, then it will need to be cooked for longer.
Final Thoughts
The most commonly eaten part of a frog is the legs — frog legs have a similar flavor to chicken and fish, and a combination of both sometimes.
Frog is a neutral, mild-flavored meat. It often tastes mostly like the spices and seasonings it was made with.
Depending on how frog legs are cooked, they can take on more of a fishy flavor or more of a chicken flavor, but the texture is most often similar to that of chicken wings.
Frog legs do not have a surprising or unusual flavor, so if you are tempted to try them, then it is definitely something you should do!
Related Questions
Now that we have learned about frog meat and its texture and various flavors, here are some additional questions we thought you might have.
Do you need to soak frog legs in milk?
Frog legs are better when soaked in milk before cooking, and it is recommended that you soak them in milk.
The milk helps to draw out any impurities in the frog legs and helps give the frog legs a more neutral flavor. The milk also helps to add moisture to the frog legs and swell them up.
Should you remove the skin from frog legs?
You do need to remove the skin from frog legs before cooking. The skin is slippery and slimy, and it can be very chewy as well, so it is best to remove the skin.
Are frog legs white or dark meat?
Frog legs are considered a white meat, similar to chicken, turkey, and fish.
