Yes, You Can Eat Cicadas—Here’s What They Taste Like and 5 Ways to Cook Them

The cicadas are coming, and if you're feeling adventurous, you can eat them.

What Do Cicadas Taste Like?

Now, before you freak out, yes, you can eat cicadas. In fact, in some cultures, cicadas are considered a delicacy with their nutty flavor. They are said to have a similar taste and texture to shrimp.

Are Cicadas Safe to Eat?

Cicadas are considered to be low in fat and high in protein, relevant to their size.  According to the University of Georgia, 100 grams of cicadas have 21.5 grams of protein. They say that it is almost 1.6% more than you would find in the same amount of eggs or pork. They also have a crude fat content significantly lower than pork, too.

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How to Harvest Cicadas for Cooking

If you're ready to give them a try, you'll need to collect some cicadas first. It's a good idea to look for them in areas that have not been treated with pesticides, and areas that are less likely to have been exposed to other harmful chemicals and heavy metals.

READ MORE: NEVER Eat Cicadas If You're Allergic to This

Why You Should Look for Teneral Cicadas

Cicadas can be more lethargic in the mornings, making it a great time to collect them. For the best cicada dining experience without the crunch of an exoskeleton, look for what is known as the teneral cicada - this is the name for cicadas that have just molted but have not yet fully developed their wings. Teneral cicadas are often "cleaner" in the sense that they have just shed their outer shell that has been underground.

Once fully winged and matured, their outer shells harden up, but they are still edible in this stage, too. Once you have collected your bounty, you can place your cicada cache into the freezer. This is a painless and humane way to prepare your cicadas to eat.

How to Prepare Cicadas Before Cooking

When it comes to cooking your cicadas, there are still a few steps to take before you reach for a recipe. First, you'll need to remove their wings. Eating too many cicada wings can cause digestive issues due to their chitin content.

Once you have the wings off, your cicadas will need to be blanched in boiling water for 60 seconds. This will both defrost them and ensure that they are clean and free from any harmful pathogens. Once you've done this step, you're ready to start cooking! Keep reading to find four different recipes you can try.

4 Cicada Recipes to Try (Yes, Really)

Spicy Popcorn Cicadas will take you about twenty-five minutes to cook once you've done the other steps mentioned above. You'll need about a dozen or so cicadas, one egg, some flour, oil, and a handful of basic seasonings you probably already have on hand. Find the full recipe here at the Washington Post.

READ MORE: Cicada Brood XIV is Coming to Indiana, Kentucky & Tennessee in 2025

If you like things a little spicy, you might want to try Tempura Battered Cicadas with an Sriracha Aoli. Much like the previous recipe, you're going to need some cicadas, flour, and oil, but this recipe calls for a can of lemon-lime soda. Find the full recipe here at Grilling24x7.

For a less deep-fried flavor, you could try Blackened Cicadas with Charleston Cheese Grits. This recipe is a bit more labor-intensive, as it includes making the grits and your own blackening seasoning. Since cicadas have a shrimp-like taste and texture, it makes sense that they would pair well with grits. Find the full recipe here at Bonappetit.

For a healthier take on cicadas, you could try a delicious stir fry with some broccoli, water chestnuts, snow peas, and bean sprouts. This meal would be served best with a side of rice and perhaps some soy sauce. Find the full recipe here at Ohio State.

Bonus: Where to Find More Edible Insect Recipes

Want even more cicada recipes? Check out Cicada-licious. It's a cookbook created by the University of Maryland's "Cicadamaniacs," and a printable PDF can be found here. Plus, check out the video below featuring Cicada Tacos, and then keep scrolling to see a massive cicada emergence that took place in Illinois!