Getting the guts out of the quail?

[Bettacreek]

Popping the breast off is easy as pie, but, I'd like to do some stuffed quail meals as well once I finally get my quail. How do you make sure that you get all of the junk out? I had issues with smooshing the lungs and not being able to get everything out when I tried to process whole quail. Any secrets that I'm missing?

 

[saddina]

Grapefruit spoon.

 

[AHappychick]

I just scrape with my finger (glove on) and hit with the sprayer on my sink really good while srubbing with my fingers before I freeze them after soaking overnight in brine. I used to be obsessed abot getting everything timm I actually looked inside a store bought chicken and saw how sloppy they were now I know mine are cleaner than those

 

[d73]

The lungs gave me a hard time. I'm also a man and have big hands and fingers so it posed a problem.
I split the the birds in half for frying and then cleaned out the lungs. As for leaving them whole I have not worked that out yet.

 

[farrier!]

My daughter is worried about getting them clean and also splits them. I am hoping to talk her into leaving the next batch whole so I can stuff them. Daughter has nails and I dont. I like the idea of a grapefruit spoon. Not sure if we have one around here or not.

Now I am going to look at any whole chicken I buy now...... Gee thanks AHappychick

 

[becky3086]

I, too, use my fingernail and don't worry if I don't get it all. I did 10 this morning.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
USE THOSE LARGE HANDS/ FINGERS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE-- I DO... I GUT THE CARCASS AND CUT ALL LOOSE SKIN AWAY FROM THE NECK/ CHEST AREA AND THE VENT, OFTEN TIMES ENTRAILS CAN BE "PULLED OUT" WHILE DOING THIS--- FINALLY I POKE MY FINGERS THRU FROM THE HEAD END AND THE LUNGS JUST POKE OUT EASILY FOR ME

 

[AHappychick]

you know I was just finishing up my last group before freezing them and was rinsing out any lungs and stuff that I missed (they had been soaking in fridge for 2 days) anyway I was thinking about it as I started to get obsessive again and it dawned on me.... really as long as most is out and it rinses clean thats all that matters its not like we lick or eat the inside anyway, and anything we stuff with it is gonna cook is all the juces and we wont even notice.

now getting out all of that little tube in the neck area that is a must but again I have seen some left in store bought... sorry farrier!

 

[canter6]

Once you get it skinned and gutted. The lungs and remaining kidneys are no worries.
Just never try to pan fry a heart, because it's a grease fire, or 3rd degree burns at best.
Remove the GI tract, and anything else makes great gravy.