Exploring Poultry and Game Animals

Exploring Poultry and Game Animals

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to differentiate between poultry and game animals, identify various game birds and their seasons in the UK, understand the qualities of farm-raised duck, and learn methods to keep game birds moist while cooking and alter the color and tenderness of game meat.

Introduce the learning objective to the students and explain what they will be able to accomplish by the end of the lesson.

What do you already know about the difference between poultry and game animals?

Poultry vs. Game Animals

Poultry refers to domesticated birds raised for meat, eggs, or feathers. Game animals, on the other hand, are wild animals hunted or captured for food or sport.

Explain the basic difference between poultry and game animals. Encourage students to think about examples of each category.

Identifying Game 

Ears that tear easily, have short easily broken claws, best eaten at the age of 7-8 months and weigh 2.5 - 3.5kg, 

What am I ????

consisting of long saddle, legs (haunch), shoulders, neck, breast and offal 

What am I ??????

Identify the following birds by dragging and dropping

Pheasant, woodcock. grouse and quail 

what animals are in season 1st October -1st February ?

1. grouse
2. pheasant
3. quail
4. woodcock

Weight 

weights of game vary here are the ones you need to know 

Pheasant      1-2kg

Grouse             360g  

Woodcock                   260g              

Qualities of Farm-Raised Duck

Farm-raised duck offers consistent quality. 

It has a higher fat content compared to wild ducks.

Plump Breasts 

skin clean and bruise free

fresh smell

feet and bill should be bright yellow 

web feet tear easily 

Explain the benefits of using farm-raised duck in culinary preparations. Discuss the significance of fat content for cooking.

Keeping Game Birds Moist

Two methods to keep game birds moist while cooking are larding and barding.

 Both techniques help retain moisture and enhance flavor.

but which one is which ??? 

Introduce brining and basting as effective methods for moistening and flavoring game birds. Explain the process and benefits of each.

Altering Color of Game Meat

Marinating with ingredients, such wine herbs and garlic, can alter the color of game meat. It adds tanginess and helps tenderize the meat.

 Hanging for a certain amount of time 

Discuss how marinating with acids can change the color of game meat. Emphasize the tenderizing effect and potential flavor enhancement.

Name the five steps of a force meat 

1. Blend/mince meat 

2. Add egg white 

3. Pass through a sieve 

4. Add salt

5. Incorporate cream

Name the preservation methods that maintains taste texture and colour of game and poultry

vacuum packing

marinading

chilling

freezing

hanging

confit

what are the benefits of confit as a preservation method

what are the benefits of vacuum packing as a preservation method

what are the benefits of marinating as a preservation method

what are the benefits of hot smoking as a preservation method

How do you prepare and cook game birds due to the fact that they are very lean

what does heat do to the fat on a duck breast and what happens to the protein 

the fat melts 

proteins remain the same 

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.