Farm 432 • Hacker News Board

Re: Farm 432

#111

Post by ilitirit » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 11:50 AM UTC

Recoil42 wrote: post #57

warble wrote: post #3

I talked to my kids about eating insects the other day with the expected results in the form of 'ew' and such. We've spent so much time in modern society associating insects with disease it's hard to dissassociate. For some reason shrimp which are essentially bugs are no problem because (I think) they come from the ocean, so there's an obvious mental line that can dissassociate them from other bugs. This is a great i…

>For some reason shrimp which are essentially bugs are no problem because (I think) they come from the ocean, so there's an obvious mental line that can dissassociate them from other bugs. Generally, we eat the innards, not the exoskeleton.

I've eaten whole prawns on several occasions with no complaints. If they're prepared properly (fried in a batter) then they're quite tasty.

Re: Farm 432

#112

Post by ilitirit » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 11:55 AM UTC

suvelx wrote: post #19

What about taste? While bugs are a great source of protein, we don't eat foods primarily based on nutrition, we eat food based on taste. I know Huhu or Witchetty grubs taste similar to peanut butter. And while peanut butter is nice and all, I want me some rich (but sustainable) beefy taste.

Mopane worms (which are caterpillars) taste like barbecued meat. Honestly, if you added Mopane meat to sausages I doubt many people would know the difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonimbrasia_belina

Re: Farm 432

#113

Post by barrkel » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 11:55 AM UTC

warble wrote: post #3

I talked to my kids about eating insects the other day with the expected results in the form of 'ew' and such. We've spent so much time in modern society associating insects with disease it's hard to dissassociate. For some reason shrimp which are essentially bugs are no problem because (I think) they come from the ocean, so there's an obvious mental line that can dissassociate them from other bugs. This is a great i…

I have great difficulty eating shrimp and have zero desire to eat lobster or crab, precisely because of the insect-like association.

Re: Farm 432

#114

Post by Aqwis » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 11:57 AM UTC

ch wrote: post #18

At first I was totally grossed out by the though of the entire process. It's tough to see how the sausage is made, tougher still with the cultural aversion to eating bugs. Then I watched the video where they are frying up the bugs in the pan, and though "How can they be so thoughtless to use metal on a non-stick pan"! So perhaps I'm past my aversion to eating bugs! Maybe not.

If those are anodized non-stick pans, using metal utensils is perfectly fine.

Re: Farm 432

#115

Post by Aqwis » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 12:01 PM UTC

joshuaheard wrote: post #56

code_duck wrote: post #47

I love that this is being discussed. I've often spoken to friends of the cultural cognitive dissonance Americans exhibit in being repulsed by eating terrestrial bugs, but loving shrimp, crab and lobster. Many Americans never see a whole shrimp and don't even realize that they have a bunch of antennae, legs, a head and would be considered completely horrifying to eat if they lived on land. Eating insects such as crick…

I think it may be because we don't eat the crab or lobster shell and all (although some eat shrimp shell). It may help widespread acceptance if there was a process where the meat was separated and made into some type of insect hamburger that could be texturized and flavored.

Eating crab out of its shell (sometimes they even take crab meat and put it in another crab's shell before selling it) is very common where I live. Is that really not done in the US?

Re: Farm 432

#116

Post by ilitirit » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 12:05 PM UTC

One thing people often miss is that besides not looking very appetizing, some bugs don't really taste that great either. Well, it's more to do with the fact that they're just very bland or bitter. But, some animals are exactly the same. The reason that lamb, beef and chicken tastes "good" to us is because a: we've grown accustomed to the taste, and b: they've been farmed to be palatable (breeding, diets etc).

In Japan, some fish are given special diets to alter their flavour. I don't see why we can't do the same with insects and worms.

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/10/28/a-little-citrus-for-yo...

Re: Farm 432

#117

Post by Aqwis » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 12:05 PM UTC

"Farm 432" would be a great title for a dystopian science fiction novel. I'm imagining a fictional future Soviet Union where the citizens are fed with insect products from collective farms simply named "Farm #".

Re: Farm 432

#118

Post by kpmah » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 12:18 PM UTC

If you're concerned about your CO2 footprint, one thing you can do without going as far as eating bugs is eliminating beef from your diet and eating only poultry. Minimal impact on your diet and about twice as efficient.

Re: Farm 432

#119

Post by Kiro » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 12:26 PM UTC

azinman2 wrote: post #98

jpatokal wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Calling Phnom Penh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_spider

I just threw up a little. That's pretty much my nightmare.

Really? I think it looks delicious.

Re: Farm 432

#120

Post by kowdermeister » Fri, Jan 09, 2015, 12:55 PM UTC

Aqwis wrote: post #117

"Farm 432" would be a great title for a dystopian science fiction novel. I'm imagining a fictional future Soviet Union where the citizens are fed with insect products from collective farms simply named "Farm #".

Maybe because of Fahrenheit 451?