Crab is delicious, but quite messy when eaten. People who eat it for the first time are usually confused. Here you will unravel the mystery and discover a quick and easy way to eat crab.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Preparation
Step 1. Prepare the table
Eating crabs is such a mess that the table has to be set up for the splashes and shell scraps. Cover the table with newspaper or a rag to protect it, absorb any splashed liquid, and make cleaning easier later.
Step 2. Prepare a crab hammer, blunt knife, and crab cleaver if desired
Step 3. If you haven't cooked the crab yet, cook it now
Steam the crab. Blue crabs will usually turn dark red. Generally, crabs are steamed after being seasoned.
For ideas on how to cook crab, see the following link: Preparing the Crab
Method 2 of 2: Eating Crab
Step 1. Pull all the legs and pinch the crab in a circular motion
Using a dull knife, pierce the joints to break the crab legs more easily. Sometimes a bit of flesh is pulled out of the leg. Eat it.
Step 2. Break the crab's legs (fins) and keep the claws
(We'll get to that in a moment.)
Step 3. Turn the crab upside down
Take off the crab apron-that is, the tail cover.
Step 4. Grasp the top and bottom of the crab with each hand, as if you were opening a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Pull the top shell. Be careful and do it slowly. Remove the shell.
You'll have to clean the crab and remove the gills to see what's inside
Step 5. Hold the crab and divide it in half
- Take one of these pieces and cut it in half with a knife (or hand).
- If you're using your hands, squeeze the crab to break it then pull it apart.
- Now the crab meat is clearly visible. Use your finger to pull the meat and enjoy. Take a knife to scrape the meat out of the smaller cracks in the shell.
Step 6. Gather all the chunks of meat on the crab's body
Start with tongs.
Step 7. Crack the claws with a hinged breaker, strike the claws with a crab hammer, or use a knife
The most efficient ways to open crab claws are:
- Position the sharp edge of the knife in the center of the red claw.
- Then use a crab hammer to gently hit the knife until the knife is halfway through the pincers.
- Finally, turn the knife sideways to open the claws and make it easier for you to pick up the contents. Open the crab shell and eat the meat. Avoid sharp shell fragments.
Tips
Check all the parts of the crab because you definitely don't want to waste this delicious meat
Warning
- Do not try to eat live crabs straight from the sea. You could get hurt.
- Like other marine animals, there are many small parts in crabs. You have to be careful.
- Crabs have many small and large spines. Be careful when handling crabs so you don't get hurt.
- Crab claws have "bones" (actually cartilage). So, be careful and set this part aside when you want to eat it.
