Steven Rinella and Spencer Neuharth Eat Muskrat | S2E01 | Pardon My Plate

Pardon My Plate is back and bolder than ever! In the first episode of Season 2, Steven Rinella and Spencer Neuharth cook muskrat. They want to see if the muskrat's reputation as a critter that tastes like swamp water is true-or if Americans have it all wrong. This is the kind of culinary experiment you'll only find at MeatEater. What should we cook next?
#meateater #fueledbynature
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[@alexgall3023]

Steve: “here’s the thing…” Haha I can’t give Spencer enough props for putting up with Steve’s critiques and for sticking to his guns

[@coon3869]

That’s what makes them two so great. Especially on the trivia podcast. Spencer’s been giving Rinella shit a lot. But deep down, everyone knows rinellas right, even when he’s wrong 🤣

[@benb2942]

This show would be amazing with just Spencer hosting it by himself. He’s got more than enough talent to pull it off.

[@nothingnewtome1]

steve was right.. cook the shit in a way that it will be good. if someone tells you to boil your meat you should stop talking to them

[@average_joe_krootdude5240]

@@nothingnewtome1 hard agree

[@Denzl2012]

@@nothingnewtome1 100% agree

[@nobodyexceptme7794]

Lol we need Rinella as a judge on a cooking show. The arms crossed "is that water salted?" check was Gordon Ramseyesque in its delivery. 😂

[@toddfarrington19]

Id actually love to see a show with Ramsey and Rinella. Maybe even an episode of meat eater with ramsey as a guest

[@scott2hott854]

"Boil It Til Its Tender" with Steve. I'd watch

[@nothingnewtome1]

id rather have him host so they wont cook things stupid

[@beaubellamy2999]

Underrated comment. Rinella also has some edge to him like his response to the producer. He’s a cool guy but perfectly capable as well!

[@bw4048]

I could see him as a mystery judge on iron Chef on a wild game episode or something

[@angelbueno1124]

Steve is a breath of fresh air. Smart ass always makes me laugh

[@Eric-dr5bj]

You should listen the the trivia podcast. His smart ass is gonna start a fight with Spencer

[@Totmatrix]

Spencer has really been bringing some good segments to Meat Eater. This and trivia are just really great.

[@bedubz87]

Agreed. Everything Spencer does is great and different. But Steve is constantly criticizing and nitpicking that it’s not EXACTLY how he would do it. Such a great team. Meateater rocks.

[@iBon1wheel]

I’m a simple man. I see Steve Rinella, I click the video. Never lets me down

[@corycalkins3211]

The slo-mo muskrat drop was pure cinematic gold. Very Tarantino. Well done!

[@RanHarasaki]

reminded me of that scene from Dredd where they drop the skinless guys into the center of the block from 200 stories up

[@stevedesantolo6794]

Where the F has Rinella been! He is sooooo much fun to listen to. His knowledge is a given, but the entertainment factor is the bonus!

[@HerbMaster13]

hahahaha Steve!! "Well I'm not gonna do shit! Cuz Spencer won't let me cook it, how I wanna cook it!" hahaha hell yeahhh

[@tinysupreme6417]

Steve is such a cranky old man 😂

[@alexvann360]

Steve is turning into such a crotchety old man! I love it 😂

[@tristanfu1055]

Quarter them up, sear them quick in a hot pan, and then toss them into a pressure canner with a can of beer. When it's done let it cool, separate meat from the bone and add your choice of bbq sauce. Make some homemade coleslaw and make some sandwiches. I've done the same with beaver and its great.

[@tylervaneffen8298]

Why does Steve seem so damn annoyed half the time he’s on screen in this? 😂🤣

[@johnmorphy5435]

Because he likes thing's done a certain way and can be quite annoyed at ppl in situations.. He spoke about it in a podcast a while back

[@tylervaneffen8298]

@@johnmorphy5435 Valid point. He does seem a bit particular. Can’t really blame the guy though

[@bluesteel8376]

Because he is a control freak and he did not like that Spencer went with his own recipe instead of the one Steve suggested. He does not like when other's make decisions.

[@benolesen7165]

I agree with Steve I love to learn more about the animal and what they eat where they lodge. As outdoorsman we should be obligated to teach outsiders about the things we love and help them to learn to love it in the same way love the show thanks

[@robertwatson7666]

Can't get enough MeatEater content. The variety of shows is what keeps it interesting.

[@Buck_Fudder]

I love how Steve is giving Spencer a hard time and it's not even trivia!

[@C00terSp00ner]

Pardon my plate is my favorite thing that meat eater does

[@ronlongwellphoto]

Years ago a friend canned some muskrat that he'd trapped and let me try it. It was spectacular, even cold. Tender and flavorful. I remember being thoroughly impressed.

[@kensoldit105]

Is Steve still mad about Spencer not counting the trivia game stats like he wants? 🤣🤣

[@twillison8824]

He's the representative for whiny trivia contestants.

[@Eric-dr5bj]

Never knew a man pushing 50 would be such a sore loser. This is why you need team sports when young.

[@graemewhalen40]

My first appreciation for muskrat was about the pelt. As a fly tying material it is so versatile. The under fur is one of the best dubbing materials around and the guard hairs sparkle and hold air bubbles under water. I took more trout and Atlantic Salmon on muskrat flies than any others. As a hat as worn by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police it is light and windproof and warm down to minus 30. Professional trappers have always eaten what they trapped. There was no time or energy to be wasted hauling in more than some flour and grease. Beaver is good and so is Muskrat. Better than rabbit in my opinion but almost interchangeable. In my opinion a noble beast and very sustainable. Local, renewable, organic, free range! And a beautiful graceful creature. That tail works just like an alligator or a shark, side to side. .

[@muddyudders]

I love watching these two interact. The the producer chimes in and Steve says edit in your B roll here

[@paulwaterman1322]

Pardon my Plate is my favorite series in the meat eater pantheon. I am thrilled to see its return. Additionally, I find the notion of consuming rodent far less abhorrent since becoming the owner of a python. Certainly, somebody in my household likes them...

[@ralphie14]

I feel like cooking with Steve would be like cooking with a judgmental Mother-In-Law. "You got that water salted? Just flat out boiling it?"

[@carlogonzalez7298]

Nice to be back in action Steven... Feel excited with season hearing the well modulated voice of Steven while narrated behind the scene. And the action on the field with him of course.

[@lukeramirez8060]

Is it just me or is Steve turning more and more into a grumpy old man? 😅

[@snapcrack55]

"Curmudgeon"

[@bluesteel8376]

You see that contract he had his kid sign in order to get a gaming console? He is definitely a grumpy old man lol.

[@barrymckockinner9292]

@@bluesteel8376 what?

[@BrendaBip]

Finally the long awaited return of Pardon my plate

[@skeetermalcolm1655]

I miss watching you Steve, love watching all meat eater episodes, looks to me like your missing some muskrat gravy brother

[@baker276]

I’ve been excited for this season, thanks for all the awesome things you guys create!! 👍🏻🔥

[@nwoomer]

This was fascinating. I suggest you do lampreys in a future episode. There's a long tradition of lamprey eating during Lent. King Henry I is said to have died after eating a "surfeit of lampreys". And they're invasive in the Great Lakes (but I'm not sure if the Great Lakes lampreys are the same enjoyed by medieval nobility).

[@RemcoPetersen]

Finally! Been waiting for season, I love this show. And muskrat... as a trapper this made my day

[@stephaniejaniczekssmugglerscan]

My dad made one once. Not good

[@thewoodsytype7243]

That rat hit the cutting board and I was instantly like no fudging way LOL

[@jimtoots8789]

Awesome show and please have steve come on here more he is great and we love hearing him talk.

[@wildeboy88]

One of my teachers assistants in middle school was a indigenous person and told me she grew up eating muskrat and that it was very common in her community, she was from new Brunswick Canada

[@Lucifurion]

Thanks so much for bringing Pardon My Plate back. Loved the first lot of episodes, can't wait to see what you'll eat next.

[@alpinereviews]

I love the energy between Spencer and Steve. Especially after the last few weeks of trivia.

[@DeineMudda9]

In Germany, muskrat has a reputation for being really good eating, actually. Have never tried it but definetly will when I get the chance.

[@jeroengoetstouwers8574]

We eat them as well in Belgium

[@joeeasterling5652]

A few years ago I had a chance to eat nutria rat in south Louisiana. I have never eaten a muskrat. Nutria is really good in a sauce piquant, I suppose that there are many things we don't eat that are really good if prepared in a way that is palatable.

[@marshallbarr4024]

love the layout of this video. keepin' it real. I'm waiting for boiling until it's tender, house cat.

[@ethanw.outdoors]

I feel like there has to be some sort of cajun recipe that really does muskrat some justice and highlights it in a near luxury fashion. That would be an interesting route to explore,contrasting this episode.

[@williameagle2406]

I'm been eating them my whole life. one of favorite things growing up was having my Koko(grandma) call me and say come have some muskrat.

[@toddsachs6531]

As someone who grew up going to St. Charles and had family going to the dinners every year, its pretty wild to see the area mentioned by name in this video.

[@nathanielbetteridge4978]

I ate the only muskrat I ever trapped. I cleaned it like a squirrel and brined it overnight in salt water. I then slow cooked it with various veggies to make a vegetable beef alternative. Very good meat.

[@wesn573]

I am so glad this is back! I really like this series, keep them coming!

[@RichardCranium321]

i kinda enjoy seeing Rinella in uncomfortable unfamiliar situations like this where he's just along for the ride. props to the editor on this one. he's not wrong about ppl wanting to learn tho

[@dhooter]

Muskrat are big time eaten in southern New Jersey. Especially in Hancocks Bridge and Canton. Little towns at the mouth of the Delaware Bay. Blue Crabs and MuskRats

[@aliakmal945]

nice to see you again. i was really missing you steve

[@David_Quinn_Photography]

my grandfather tells us about the days of trapping muskrats in NewYork and having to keep the tail attached because there were cons trying to selling cat's skin because muskrats were big money even in the mid 50s.

[@frankwaldeck2359]

I didn’t know they could swim backwards. You’re the bomb Steve.

[@HalfTimeLazer]

Glad to see this show back!

[@ecoutdoors2004]

I LOVE this show!! Keep up the good work! Awesome video!

[@peytonaubin2532]

Good to know Steve always gives Spencer a hard time even outside of trivia!

[@josiahmenako2484]

When that raw Muskrat dropped all bloody I spit my drink out laughing.

[@johnnym8717]

From that Michigan area and my childhood memories are filled with going to muskrat Fridays at St John's and st Charles church on lent Fridays and playing euchre

[@davemeise2192]

My dad was a child during the hungry 30's and according to him they ate everything they could find including Muskrat, skunk, beaver, porcupine etc.

[@BT.MediaCT]

I absolutely love how you broke the 4th wall here hahah! As someone who dables in film I found this hilarious and entertaining!

[@bushmeatbandit4261]

love this series please make more!

[@jjreno7843]

As a kid in a small town northeast of Detroit, in the early 60's called Algonac there was a grocery store called Poole's ( long gone) that had Muskrat in there meat counter in the fall and winter. We ate it on a regular bases and didn't think anything of it.

[@lucasdog1]

I live in S.E. Michigan and have gone to St. Charles rat dinners in Newport for years. Another good way to prepare them, Boil with onions and some red pepper flakes, then roast in the oven with creamed corn and a few strips of bacon. Also, leave the heads on. The cheeks, tongue and brains are a delicacy.

[@yellowccake]

Daaaamn Steve was a prissy missy! Called out his staff as lazy and then kept it in the video....

[@luigi11yt]

yeah steve is back, we need him in the woods

[@sethheijermans3605]

Steve's constant smirk makes me chuckle. Reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld, he ways had a smirk before he told a good joke or said something funny on the show. Good stuff fellas!

[@kutschenreut]

This is my favorite Meateater series.

[@iBon1wheel]

WE LOVE STEVE!!❤️

[@williamstormoen140]

I would have breaded like squirrel before frying. That was just 2/3 of a simple squirrel recipe. Still enjoyed the show, need more of them. Maybe snapping turtle? Its a lost art, like sucker fishing. People just don't do it much anymore.

[@Vanbrusa]

Love the editing on this series.

[@average_joe_krootdude5240]

my grandpa swears that he grew up eating these on a weekly basis. they were extremely poor and it was something his dad would have him and his brothers go out and gather for the family. haven't tried it myself but i would for sure!

[@jackfiercetree5205]

I really like this adversarial aire Steve came in with. The tension makes for great TV.

[@ryanjones3043]

Hahahaha 🤣 Steve’s like “do I have to do everyone’s job!”

[@UmamiPapi]

Steve producing the show is a gem.

[@kolbie6909]

I was just rewatching the pardon my plates last night thinking damn they need to make more of these

[@BryonGus]

Gopher/prairie dog next!! This is one of my favorite shows on this channel. Nice work!

[@zackruhland250]

I love the behind the scenes stuff 😂😂

[@30adamh]

we brown them in bacon grease along with rabbit, squirrel, pheasant whatever small game is left in the freezer. then cook it all in a pot of beef stroganoff gravy til it falls off the bone. serve it over a brown rice with morel mushrooms

[@tonioortiz]

Such a good series

[@mattcormier983]

I live just down the creek from St. Charles in Newport. I can confirm, they are boiled here.

[@nickcraanen1886]

Just missing the garlic powder and pepper after frying... and of course mashed potatoes and cream corn on the side....

[@ianr4654]

Please do more of these I love these

[@lewismooney3941]

I love this series!

[@graemegreen7682]

Really popular in the Windsor to Tilbury area on the Canadian side of the border. Boil and fry is the way its done here.

[@brianbriones5309]

Man seeing Rinella agaim is for sure a fresh breath of air

[@erird514]

Here in princess Anne, MD the only reason we keep trapping muskrat is for the meat, They where going for $8 a pair just for the meat, they are amazing. We even have a muskrat drop for new year’s. Lol

[@Night-Jester]

I never get tired of Steve I love every video he's in :)

[@taylorblake5867]

My uncle use to make a muskrat chili that was just the right spice and had the nice bite sized deboned chunks of meat

[@Longtrailside]

Ya that sounds good just right about now for me. It's rainin outside and a good chilli and buttered bread would hit the spot!

[@freehat2722]

Wow Steve actually showed up. Nice to see him finally.

[@tomwheeler9244]

Surprised Steve didn't mention the musk glands..I've ate muskrat..obviously the meat is really red..I was told a soak in vinegar will take care of that.Love the channel!

[@jamesjones5451]

Man Steve is such a control freak 😂😂😂😂

[@Tic-Tic.Kaboom]

I'm from the Eastern Shore of Maryland and it's a tradition to eat and/or trap Muskrat during the winter holiday's like Christmas and New Year's. Also i've eating and/or purchased Muskrat in (Kenton) Delaware and (Millville) New Jersey.

[@jaredknapp8886]

I need more Steve cornering the cook into making better decisions. And the producer and the editor. Lead from the front my man. (You guys are all doing a great job - don't take that the wrong way)

[@Carowick]

Can’t wait to see the crow episode. As someone who has eaten both crow and muskrat, I believe the crow is MUCH better and actually enjoys it. Would be interesting to see how you guys prepare it. As far as muskrat goes, making it into a cracker spread is a really good alternative as well.

[@joebrown1461]

Love these. Keep on cooking the unpopular. Makes me want to try just about anything.

[@michaelmann101]

If it FLIES, SWIMS OR CRAWLS I've hunted and cooked it. My favorite way to prepare muskrat is just simply roll it into flour (salt and pepper) and slow fry like a rabbit. Steve, as always you made the video.

[@johnwanderin3872]

Muskrats are a common visitors in one of my local fishing spots. Thought never crossed my mind to eat one of the little guys.

[@autryj4013]

I love this show! Also, Steve’s face is giving me judgmental grandpa vibes.😂

[@patrickotte5982]

They are so funny together I think we need more Steven on pardon my plate

[@kevinmeeske3412]

Muskrat is very clean and delicious table fare. Soak on soy sauce over night. Rince flour fry til brown simmer or bake til tender. One of my Favs

[@chrismckinney1135]

I've made muskrat chili, pot roasted muskrat, I think some has gotten ground into sausage and who knows what else. Pennsylvania boy here

[@shaneedwards367]

House cat!! ah Steve I’m still giggling

[@seanbarron13]

If you’re gonna cook it the “Michigan way”. You need creamed corn

[@ronblackburn3683]

Muskrat stew is a delicious lunch special served on the Delmarva Eastern Shore (Delaware, Maryland & Virginia) English’s restaurant chain. It’s a sweet meat that can identified by its triangular shaped leg bones.

[@davehood2534]

How did Steve miss that factoid?

[@ronblackburn3683]

@@davehood2534 it’s not very well advertised. “We are serving ‘rat stew today”., doesn’t appeal to most folks. You can still buy ‘rats and ‘coons at Mom and Pop Pop stores and some gas stations located at crossroads and small tidal water towns like Pungoteague and Nanticoke.

[@davehood2534]

I meant the triangular bones part,that’s fascinating

[@jeroengoetstouwers8574]

We actually have these on restaurant menu's. Its sold as water rabbit and is been seen as quite a good food to eat. Which is handy cause they make issue's building their tunnels and so water escapes the moats

[@jeroenschoondergang5923]

In Belgium muskrat is on the menu of some restaurants, called 'water rabbit'.

[@1radarghost]

This sounds good. Makes me want to boil some, shred the meat and put it into an enchilada.