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Can You Eat Guinea Fowl When Pregnant?

Updated May 8, 2023

When it comes to eating poultry during pregnancy, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions.

Some pregnant women avoid all poultry altogether, while others eat it freely.

So, what is the truth?

Can you eat guinea fowl when pregnant?

The answer is yes – as long as it is prepared safely.

In this article, we will discuss how to safely prepare guinea fowl for consumption during pregnancy.

 

Can you eat guinea fowl when pregnant?

 

Can you eat guinea fowl when pregnant?

Guinea fowl is a type of poultry that is native to Africa.

It is similar in appearance and taste to chicken, but it is leaner and has a stronger flavor.

Many people compare guinea fowl to African Pheasant.

Guinea fowl meat isn’t exactly like chicken meat though.

It is darker meat and because it is so lean it can be prone to drying out while cooking.

Guinea fowl is a good source of protein, iron, and vitamins B12.

 

Can You Eat Guinea Fowl When Pregnant?

 

Can you eat guinea fowl meat?

Yes! You sure can eat guinea fowl meat.

It is low in fat and calories which makes it an excellent choice for pregnant women!

How healthy is Guinea meat?

Guinea fowl only 94 calories in a 3-ounce serving or 85 g.

It has 2 g of fat and 18 g of protein.

That makes an excellent choice for pregnant women.

One of the things that I like about guinea meat over chicken meat is that it is more flavorful but not gamey-tasting.

If you’ve ever had wild turkey meat you know what I mean by a gamey flavor.

Guinea fowl is like any other poultry, you shouldn’t eat it undercooked or rare.

If you did not prepare the guinea meat yourself, you need to make sure it is thoroughly cooked before eating it..

The best way to do that is to check and make sure that it is at least 165°F.

When it comes to food safety during pregnancy, there are a few extra precautions you need to take.

It is important to avoid certain foods that could increase your risk for foodborne illness, such as unpasteurized dairy products, raw eggs, and undercooked meat.

Poultry is generally safe to eat during pregnancy, but it is important to make sure that it is cooked thoroughly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are a few different ways to cook guinea fowl.

You can roast it, bake it, or cook it in a slow cooker.

If you are roasting or baking guinea fowl, be sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.

The CDC also recommends not washing raw poultry before cooking it, as this can spread bacteria around your kitchen.

When it comes to slow cooking, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

First, you should brown the guinea fowl before adding it to the slow cooker.

This will help to prevent bacteria from growing.

Second, you should cook the guinea fowl on low for six to eight hours, or on high for three to four hours.

Once it is cooked, be sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.

Our favorite guinea fowl recipes:

  1. Guinea Fowl Stew

This guinea fowl stew is a hearty and flavorful dish that is perfect for a winter meal. The guinea fowl is cooked slowly in a broth with vegetables and spices. This stew is sure to warm you up on a cold day!

  1. Roasted Guinea Fowl with Vegetables

This roasted guinea fowl is a simple and healthy meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The guinea fowl is roasted with vegetables and herbs for a delicious and nutritious meal.

  1. Slow Cooker Guinea Fowl curry

This Slow Cooker Guinea Fowl Curry is a flavorful and easy meal to make. The guinea fowl is cooked in a curry sauce with vegetables and spices. This curry is perfect for a weeknight dinner or to take to a potluck.

  1. Baked Guinea Fowl with Herb Stuffing

This baked guinea fowl is a delicious and festive meal. The guinea fowl is stuffed with herb stuffing and roasted until it is golden brown. This meal is perfect for a holiday dinner or special occasion.

  1. Grilled Guinea Fowl with Peach Salsa

This grilled guinea fowl is a juicy and flavorful meal. The guinea fowl is marinated in peach salsa before being grilled. This meal is perfect for a summer cookout or barbecue.

 

Can you eat guinea fowl rare?

No, it is not safe to eat guinea fowl cooked rare.

Poultry should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any harmful bacteria.

You can get away with eating beef rare or medium-rare (not while pregnant!) but it is never safe to eat rare or undercooked poultry.

Poultry often carries Salmonella which can be transmitted to you and your baby.

Salmonella can make you very ill and can harm your unborn baby.

If you have any questions on the doneness of guinea fowl or any poultry cook it longer or send it back if you are eating in a restaurant.

You do not want Salmonella.

Several years ago I developed Salmonella poisoning from eating undercooked chicken on a weekend trip.

 

Can you eat guinea fowl eggs?

Guinea fowl eggs are safe to eat during pregnancy.

However, you should only consume them if they have been cooked thoroughly.

Guinea Fowl eggs are smaller than chicken eggs and they do taste a little different.

They are ah-mazing if you’re a person who loves the yolks then you’ll love guinea eggs because they have a bigger yolk than a chicken egg.

Guinea eggs have a very creamy taste.

That’s the best way I can describe it.

If you have iron-deficiency anemia in pregnancy then a great source of iron is in guinea fowl eggs.

Guinea eggs are high in potassium, iron, and sodium. and they have less fat than chicken eggs.

Guinea eggs are good for pregnant women, babies., and toddlers and they’re excellent for you if you’re breastfeeding.

 

Is Guinea fowl game?

Guinea fowl are not considered game meat in the United States.

I know that a lot of pregnant women are not interested in eating any wild game during pregnancy, even though it’s generally safe but guinea fowl are not considered game meat in the United States anyway

 

What does guinea fowl taste like?

Guinea fowl has a taste that is similar to chicken, but it is leaner and has a stronger flavor.

I think it tastes like chicken, but it can be drier meat once it is cooked.

Guinea hens are very lean meat and I find it helpful to add a little fat when cooking them.

I usually coat them in mayonnaise if I’ll be baking or grilling them.

It helps them to retain their moisture during cooking and you can’t taste it once it is cooked.

 

What do guinea fowl eat?

Guinea fowl are omnivores and eat a variety of foods, including insects, small mammals, fruits, and vegetables.

Many people keep them on their homesteads to help control the insect and rodent population.

 

What do guinea eggs look like?

Guinea fowl eggs are small and brown with speckles.

They look like chicken eggs except they are smaller.

They are also much more expensive than chicken eggs.

Guinea hens don’t lay as many eggs as chickens do in a year.

 

Are Guinea Fowl Eggs good for you?

Guinea fowl eggs are a good source of protein, iron, and vitamins.

All of which are necessary to have a healthy pregnancy.

They are also low in fat and calories which makes them an excellent option to add to your pregnancy diet.

 

Can you substitute guinea fowl eggs for chicken eggs?

Yes, guinea fowl eggs can be used in place of chicken eggs.

Generally speaking, you should plan to use 2 guinea fowl eggs to 1 large chicken egg.

Surprisingly, guinea fowl lay small eggs when you consider how big they are.

They also have larger yolks than chicken eggs.

So if you are a yolk lover (like me!) then you’ll love guinea hen eggs.

 

Is it healthy to eat guinea fowl?

Yes, guinea fowl is a good source of protein, iron, and vitamin B12. It is also low in fat and calories.

We’ve talked about this pretty extensively in this article but to sum it up it is healthy to eat guinea fowl.

Guinea fowl are low in fat and high in protein.

It has important vitamins and minerals that pregnant women need for the developing baby.

 

Can you eat duck while pregnant?

Yes, duck is safe to eat during pregnancy as long as it is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Duck is a great choice for pregnant women.

It is very high in protein.

However, you do need to be aware that eating duck meat that is cooked rare to medium is not safe during pregnancy.

The risk of foodborne illness isn’t worth it.

I mention this because duck is often served rare, but it is absolutely not safe to eat while you’re pregnant.

Eating rare undercooked duck can put you at risk of salmonella infection.

 

Can you eat duck jerky or smoked duck during pregnancy?

It isn’t safe to eat duck jerky during pregnancy.

The way jerky is made is that it is cooked using a low heat method called dehydration.

If you have a dehydrator you know what I’m talking about.

The meat is slowly dried over several hours.

The problem is that it doesn’t achieve a high enough temperature to kill off bacteria that might be on the meat.

Smoked duck can have the same issues as duck jerky.

Duck eggs are safe to eat during pregnancy as long as they’re thoroughly cooked.

Duck eggs are delicious if you haven’t tried them you should.

 

Can you eat quail when pregnant?

Yes, quail is safe to eat during pregnancy as long as it is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit..

Quail is an excellent source of nutrition for pregnant women 

Quail eggs are safe to eat during pregnancy.

You’ll need four quail eggs to one chicken egg.

Quail eggs are so delicious.

If you’d like to have chickens, but live in an urban area where chickens are not allowed, consider raising quail!

 

What is the difference between guinea fowl and quail?

Guinea fowl and quail are both poultry, but quail is a type of game bird. Guinea fowl are not considered game meat in the United States.

Guinea fowl are much larger than quail.

They are also much louder.

Quail are small and quiet and can easily be kept in a small urban backyard.

Quail eggs are very small.

One quail egg is equal to four chicken eggs.

Guinea hen eggs are larger than quail eggs, but smaller than chicken eggs.

 

 

 

Quail are more likely to be eaten by predators if you allow them to free-range.

I like quail meat more than Guinea hen meat.

Some people think quail tastes gamier.

We think when it comes to any poultry or waterfowl meat it is a personal preference on taste.

You need to try them to know which ones you will enjoy the most.

 

What are the symptoms of eating undercooked meat while pregnant?

The most common symptoms of a severe foodborne illness from eating undercooked meat are:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach cramps
  • Fever

 

List of foods not to eat when pregnant:

  • Foods that are not pasteurized- certain types of cheese like soft cheeses, Brie, Blue Cheese, etc.
  • Certain types of fish- shark, swordfish, anything high in mercury
  • Raw eggs: including homemade mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, and egg nog.
  • Undercooked meats- lunch meats. and deli meats
  • Hot foods that are not “hot”, avoid hot foods that have been sitting out without a warming source. Same for foods that should be eaten cold. If there is no ice or refrigeration source keeping the food cool, take a pass.
  • Caffeine- soda, chocolate. (Limit your caffeine to less than 200 mg a day)
  • Herbal Teas (There are so many ingredients in herbal teas so it is best to simply avoid them. Green tea is OK.)

 

 

Final Thoughts

If you are pregnant and crave guinea fowl, there is no need to worry. You can safely eat guinea fowl during pregnancy, as long as it is cooked properly.

As long as you take these precautions, you can safely eat guinea fowl during pregnancy.

It is a good source of protein and other nutrients and can be a delicious addition to your diet.

 

Authors

  • Doug Penta MD OB/GYN

    Dr. Doug Penta, MD - Co-Founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions Dr. Doug Penta, is a seasoned Obstetrician and Gynecologist with over 38 years of practice, co-founded Maternity Comfort Solutions to provide evidence-based pregnancy and parenting information. A Boston University alum and former Clinical Professor at Harvard, his articles on Maternity Comfort Solutions offer expectant mothers invaluable nutritional insights.

  • Sue Winters RN

    Sue Winters, RN - Co-Founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions Sue combines 20 years of nursing with a rich background in early childhood education. Co-founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions, her articles provide creative toddler activities and practical tips on pregnancy nutrition and baby shower planning, embodying her commitment to supporting families through early parenthood.

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