Dehydrated chicken feet: yucky but yummy!
Never in a million years did I think I would once handle chicken feet! So gross! But as a good dog mom who wants the best for her kiddos, I overcame my disgust and decided to go ahead and make those delicious treats for them.
Concerned about what they eat and striving for what is as natural as possible, I cook my crew’s meals and also make their treats. Buying a dehydrator was probably the best idea ever! You just drop pieces of meat, fish or even fruits and vegetables, turn the button on the appropriate temperature and voilà, you just wait for them to be ready. To be on the safe side and make sure all pathogens are killed since it’s raw, I heat the meat or fish a tad in the oven afterward. But it’s so easy and you know it’s 100% safe and healthy, no additive or preservative.
So brace yourselves, here comes our first attempt at dehydrating chicken feet! They are great as joint supplements since they are naturally rich in glucosamine and chondroitin. A cheap and safe remedy for arthritis! And, the chewing, that will keep them busy for quite a bit, is good for their teeth and gums too.
Asked my hubby to cut the nails… Please refrain from puking on the process!
Yep, it’s really gross.
You can find raw chicken feet for not much at the butcher’s. Once I did, letting a “eek” slip I have to admit, I washed them and preferred to cut the nails, not willing to take any risk and having one stuck in their throat. But I just couldn’t and asked my hubby to do it! Even if he is a trained chef and quite used to chopping gross stuff, he found it quite disgusting! What we do for love…
Placed on the rack, a gruesome display.
Ready to be tasted after two good days.
Then, holding my breath, I placed them all on the dehydrator’s racks and put the heat to the max (which is 160°F / 71°C). Some people say they’re ready in 24 hours, others in three days. I personally let them at least 48 hours, checking to make sure they were hard everywhere and didn’t break. I then placed them in the oven at 260°F/126°C for 10 minutes to kill any pathogen since the dehydrator’s heat is too low for that. Just to be on the safe side. Although after more than two days, it’s pretty much safe.
A yummy treat for even the tiniest predator.
They each have their own strategy to devour it.
No matter their age or the lack of teeth!
Let me tell you, as yucky as it was to handle those, the dogs loved them! Even the toothless wanted to suckle on the knuckles! Yep, gross until the end.