First things first! Lets clear one thing Zebra is one of the species of wild horse and not a donkey. Many people want to know whether they belong to the horse family or a donkey family. We hope we have cleared the misconception.Now, can you eat zebra? These are majestic wild horse breed that roams in the wilderness of the African soil. They exhibit extreme agility and stamina. They travel in groups to protect themselves from predators like lions and hyenas. But are they edible? Is zebra meat legal? We are going to see that in this article.
Is It Safe To Eat A Zebra?
Can you eat zebra is one question that many meat lovers wonder. Zebra are herbivores that depend on natural vegetation to stay alive. They move from one place to another in the vast deserts of Africa in search of food and water. We all know that it is perfectly alright to eat a herbivore. So, it is safe to eat a zebra.
But is it legal to eat zebra meat? Zebras are wild animals from Africa. Most of the wild animals are currently endangered. A species called quagga, which was close to zebra has, become extinct in the 19th century.
Fortunately, zebras are not endangered species which has a stable population. But they are categorized under near-threatened species, which means they are just a few steps away from becoming endangered. However, the import and export of zebra meat in the USA and a few other countries in the world are legalized. Not only is it safe to eat a zebra but also completely legal too.
Benefits Of Eating Zebra Meat
Let us discuss can you eat zebra and its benefits. Zebras are wild animals that run for hours without rest in search of food and water. This makes their meat are less fatty. Their meat is similar to beef. However, there is one major difference which is the fat composition of zebra meat is 10% lower than beef.
Due to their high levels of activity, they contain significantly lower levels of fat. They contain only 0.5 grams of fat per every 100 grams of meat. This makes them an incredible source of protein without worrying about fat.
Zebra meat also contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, which are responsible for repairing damaged muscle. Bodybuilders and athletes find zebra meat incredibly useful as they provide necessary supplements to heal their muscles from heavy practice.
The elevated levels of omega-3 fatty acids and zinc also help the immune system to function at its optimal level. Research shows that zebra meat helps to decrease the possibility of heart diseases.
But one has to be careful before consuming zebra meat because it can contain bacteria and parasites that can be harmful to humans. So make sure that you are consuming the meat that is within its shelf life.
And also, properly marinate or cure them before eating them. Marinating involves letting the meat sit in a mixture of salt and water for a few hours providing the necessary time for the salt to kill the bacteria and parasite that reside in it. You can also use turmeric powder instead of salt to cure the meat. This will add extra texture to the meat.
Then, you can cook, poach, broth, or smoke them. You can smoke the meat for better flavor and then can cook the meat by frying them. But smoking is a long process that can prolong up to 24 hours. If you are running out of time, deep-frying zebra meat is the best option to enjoy them. You can enjoy the best evening barbecue if you want to try out the Zebra meat.
Here is all about can you eat zebra.