So weird to see this, as my 8-year-old grandson read a book aloud to me this week--all about alligators. It mentioned that some people eat alligator meat. Better you than I, Janey, but enjoy! :-)

I've only ever had alligator battered & deep fried. It's a pretty mild tasting meat. Have you any idea what seasonings/spices it has in it? I would probably grill it. Or maybe fry it. I think it would help if you knew what 'direction', so to speak, the seasonings were in.

ETA: I hope you will let us know what you do with it and how you liked it. Hope you enjoy it!

Rusty

I want to know.

I'd cook it like any other sausage. Put it in a gumbo? Alligator is quite similar to frog if I remember correctly.

I've had fried and blackened alligator, which I enjoyed. Never had the sausage. Bet it will be tasty.

I've had grilled alligator at cajun restaurants, tasted fine. Please let us know how that sausage is.

I've had alligator a couple of times but not in sausage form. It reminds me of pork with a bit of swamp flavor thrown in. If I were going to prepare alligator sausage, I'd cook it like I would any other sausage - fried in my cast iron skillet.

I'm not sure about alligator, but a lot of meat from animals that are not domesticated for meat (deer, elk, etc.) don't have a lot of fat and can be dry. Sausage makers usually add fat from another source, usually pork. Because of that tendency towards dryness, be careful not to overcook it.

Sounds yummy - I'd try it! Let us know how it turns out.

I've had alligator a few times. It's a blander meat like chicken. It's drier than chicken or at least the ways I've eaten it.

I'm assuming it is probably basically already cooked and all you have to really do is reheat it. If not, I would probably cut it in pieces and fry it in a pan to make sure it gets cooked thoroughly. Someone taught me to make uncooked bratwurst links by covering it with water and microwaving it for ten minutes and then grilling for flavor. The microwaving ensures it gets cooked in the middle. You could try that.

I've only had blackened alligator myself. It was very good but as others said a little on the dry side. Are they breakfast sausage links or more like an Italian sausage? If the later I'd probably grill it if your beach place has a grill for you to use. Maybe wrapped in bacon for a little added fat and flavor.

I have never cooked alligator sausage, but I did make some etouffe from tail meat once. In the end, it wasn't worth the price or effort because as others mentioned, it has little flavor on its own. That dish could have been any white meat haha! Alligator meat will not lend any sort of unique flavor to a dish, as far as I can tell.

I would probably try grilling those sausages.

I agree with Rob that it would be good in gumbo and tastes like frog. I've frequently had it with frogs' legs, and it was hard to tell them apart.

Lucky you to find the sausages. I would probably steam it, as it might be dry, and steaming it might help bring out the alligator flavor, which is extremely mild.

I always order alligator when I see it on a menu, generally in Cajun restaurants, which are much more common in Texas than here.

I was tempted to ask whether it had any "bite" to it, but when some have said that it is quite mild, without strong taste, I guess that, without a lot of "jawing" - I don't need to.

o j

I've had fresh gator a few times when living in the Lowcountry of SC. The swamps, ponds, and flooded rice fields were swarming with alligators.

Properly prepared, it's never dry. I always thought it tasted like a cross between pork loin and a nice chicken thigh. I've never had sausage made from it but it would likely be very nice.

Thank you for all of your replies. We will pick some up on our way home which will be on the 11th. So I have plenty of time to decide what to do with it. I do know it has pork mixed in with it. I will ask about the seasonings when we go back. My husband is really looking forward to trying it.

Just like any sausage. Sliced up and pan fry it in a skillet or put it on the grill.

Alligator is a nice white meat. It taste like pork loin chops. The best way I have had it was marinated over night and put on the grill. The tail meat is like a steak one bone in the center.