How to make a Cow Nosed Ray Edible

[mroskam]

Here here...

I did a story about preparing and eating cow nose rays last summer. I used a similar preparation process to what Scott explains, then deep fried it and served with Buffalo sauce. I found it edible, very mild with a slightly odd texture, and not particularly to my liking. That said, I could see them feeding a lot of people and I'd like to see them become both a recreational and commercially pursued species. I don't like the idea of killing them just for the sake of killing though.

don't be a fairy kill em all and throw em back, they mash up all the peelers

[Shawn Kimbro]

You're right, Mroskam. I'm a fairy because I got over killing things for the fun of it when I was 12 years old. Have at it you stud.

[flycatcher]

If you like kidney pie, you'll love ray wings. If the taste of urea is not to your liking, they're not worth messin' with.

[mroskam]

Gettin a lil fired up now are ya?

[crabby and son]

I'm pretty much into eating anything but I think I would rather eat a skunk than a cow nosed ray. We cut one up with intent to eat it but that's as far as we got............Gary

[rocksteady]

don't be a fairy kill em all and throw em back, they mash up all the peelers

[rocksteady]

I'm pretty much into eating anything but I think I would rather eat a skunk than a cow nosed ray. We cut one up with intent to eat it but that's as far as we got............Gary

[talley2191]

Good Points and well said. No need to perform the removal while they are alive.

Scott: with respect,-- It would seem that if you can hold them well enough to cut off the wings, than a couple licks with a club would be doable.

night nurse: I disagree, Respectffuly, A couple strokes with the Billy, followed immediately by removal of the wings and icing were all that was needed for those that I have eaten, and others I knew in the fish business thought the same. Although it has been a while since I studied the physiology and biology of Chrondraicthes I do not wish to believe that my advanced age has made me forget everything so here goes.

The metabolites are already in the muscle tissue, if the animal lived they would be gradually taken up by the bloodstream and removed in the kidney/liver.
Draining the blood while the animal is still alive does not remove the accumulated metabolites from the tissue. Immediate cooling will prevent those from degrading, or flavoring the meat.
At any rate in our pursuit of our own pleasure, recreation,and supper, we do not have to allow our quarry to suffer any more than needed to come home with us.

Herein endeth this sermon
with apologies
Piscophile

[plasticfish93]

Throw the ray away and put a good steak on the grill.

[dasher]

I've read all the suggestions and can tell you from experience they can be excellent if prepared properly.
I have eaten EVERY one I have ever caught or had given to me. ( DOZENS!)
I have a sure fire way that will make them taste AWESOME!.

Cut the wings off and there will be blood. LOTS of it
fillet the meat off the top and bottom of the wings by cutting along the cartilaginous wing ray
Fillet off the skin of each wing

cut the 4 triangles into small 1 X 1 chunks and rinse the meat with a lot of water ( a garden hose and out side is perfect) Small chunks aloow more of the blood and uric acid to leave.

rinse until water runs clear. it make take rinsing for 30 minutes or longer.

You can then freeze and prepare later.

take the 1 x 1 chunks and place in boiling water for 3 minutes. (Parboiling)
drain meat well

Mix flour & old bay 2/3 flour to 1/3 old bay

coat the chunks in the mix and deep fry for 15 minutes

a couple of notes. the meat could be tough without the parboiling

A naturalist/fantastic cook at Point Lookout State Park gave me this recipe 30 years ago.