它是在戰亂時期生存的必要食品，因為是重要的蛋白質來源。鼠肉一般以比較清潔的田鼠肉為主。各地食用田鼠的方法不同：華南地區會把田鼠腊來吃；而美國會把田鼠整隻連骨連內臟一起用刀柄拍碎，再丟進炭火內燒烤，又會用松鼠肉來弄餃子吃；東南亞的越南及柬埔寨有多種烹調方法：直接燒烤、用醬汁來煮或煮成湯。 In some cultures, rats are or have been limited as an acceptable form of food to a particular social or economic class. In the Mishmi culture of India, rats are essential to the traditional diet, as Mishmi women may eat no meat except fish, pork, wild birds and rats. Conversely, the Musahar community in north India has commercialised rat farming as an exotic delicacy. In the traditional cultures of the Hawaiians and the Polynesians, rat was an everyday food for commoners. When feasting, the Polynesian people of Rapa Nui could eat rat meat, but the king was not allowed to, due to the islanders' belief in his "state of sacredness" called tapu. In stu