I was gifted a $40 can of Australian abalone.

[Croney]

Google tells me this is sea snails. Before I donate it to the food pantry, is there some way of eating it that I might want to try?

[LakeArenal]

1. Nothing wrong with garlic butter.

[Croney]

3. Cut up and fried? I could try. Thanks.

[Ponietz]

2. Better than lobster

[Croney]

4. I do like lobster. Thanks.

[Ponietz]

7. Try it as a ceviche or seafood cocktail

[Croney]

8. Thanks but I'm not a fan of raw.

[fierywoman]

5. Abalone is a real treat --- don't give it away! (Unless you're allergic or something.)

[Croney]

9. Ok I'm leaning toward trying it

[fierywoman]

11. I've never eaten a snail -- last time I ate abalone was in the mid-70's: major treat!

If yours is canned, is it already cooked? Maybe you can eat it like tuna out of a can. I'd be wary about cooking it too much (again?) and making it dry.

[Croney]

12. But abalone is a snail, right? I think mine is raw in the can.

I like the idea of cutting it into cubes and frying it in garlic butter.

[fierywoman]

13. I guess it's technically a snail 'cuz it's meat inside of a shell -- but it's a huge thing, not tiny

like the snails (escargot) I'm thinking of. Read the label to see if you can figure out if it's been cooked yet or not. Or maybe go to the website of the company to get some info.

[Croney]

14. Thanks. If I open this can and see faces with mouths and eyes...

... I guess it's too late, I'll cook it. I am not one to waste food.

[fierywoman]

15. No no no! No eyes or anything. Just a slab of meat. Someone said like lobster.

I ate it too long ago to remember exactly what it tasted like, except that it was amazing. Lobster might be the right comparison!

[dreamland]

6. Oh, lucky you. Overcooking this will render it tough as leather.

The right way is to just to a quick saute in a sauce until brown in color- no more than 3 minutes or so depending on the thickness. The Chinese have this as a specialty dish in celebration dinners because it's so expensive an ingredient. Do it right and it's very tender, although very fishy too.

Here's a suggested link: https://www.cookwithknorr.com/abalone-with-lettuce

[Croney]

10. This is what I was looking for. Thanks!