Outdoor Survival - Food

Mussels:

Do not eat mussels from polluted areas; also during summer the temperature rise increases bacterial growth in the water which can also affect the mussels. Be very careful as bad mussels can make you extremely ill.

How to tell a good one from a bad one -

1. The shells must be tightly closed shut.
2. Leave them in the sun or over a gentle heat for a few minutes, this will make the shells open. Throw away any that don't open.
3. Tap the newly opened ones and they should snap shut again, if they don't, throw them away aswell.
4. Scrub the shells and leave over night in clean salted water, this will flush out their systems.

To cook -

Boil for 5 minutes. Throw away any that float.

Limpets:

Remove them from the rocks with a knife blade.

To cook -

Bring to the boil then simmer for 10 minutes or until the meat comes away from the shell. Stew the meat until tender.

Edible Plants

If you see an animal or bird eating a plant, it doesn't mean that it won't be poisonous to humans! Be very careful when choosing what to eat, as some plants are deadly. Also be careful in areas where pesticides could have been used.

Dandelions:

The leaves can be boiled in a small amount of water for 5-10 minutes. You will need quite a lot, as they tend to boil to nothing. The root can be used in a stew or even to make coffee!

Dandelion Root Coffee -

1. Wash and scrub the root then leave it to dry.
2. Roast on a fire for about 30 minutes until it turns to a brown colour.
3. Grind it to a coarse powder. To do this you could put it in a cloth and hammer it with a stone.
4. Bake again until a darker brown but not black! This will take about 15 minutes.
5. Add approximately 2 tablespoons to a mug and add boiling water. Cover and leave for one hour.
6. Re-heat and drink your coffee.

Nettles:

Nettles are quite tasty and don't worry about the sting because the cooking destroys it. Boil them in a small amount of water for 5-10 minutes.

Seaweed:

Be careful of collecting seaweed from polluted areas and only use if it's still attached to its growing place. Seaweed is at its most tender in spring and early summer. To cook, boil it for approximately 30 minutes.

Do you have any tasty wild food recipes? If so, please use the contact form (click here) to send them. Include your name and I will add them to the site with full credits to you.