How Long Can Steamed Crabs Sit Out?

One popular seafood is crabs cooked at home and even served at restaurants. Steamed crabs is a recipe in which the crabs are prepared after giving them steam with other seasonings. Unlike other seafood, steamed crabs cannot stay out too long and need to be stored properly.

To know all the details about storing your crabs properly, continue reading this article till the end.

How Long Can Steamed Crabs Sit Out?

Steamed crabs do not have a very long shelf life. It means that you store it at room temperature for only a couple of hours. After that, you will have to refrigerate them properly. Even if you want to store your steamed crabs at room temperature, you should store them in an airtight container such as a salad container.

It is recommended that you store your steamed crabs in the refrigerator if you plan not to consume them for longer than 3 hours. A good counter-depth refrigerator will be a good choice for storing it.

What Happens If Steamed Crabs Sits Out Too Long?

The normal shelf life for steamed crabs is 2 – 3 hours. If the steamed crabs sit out for longer than this time, they will ultimately go bad, and you would not want to consume them. If you have left the steamed crabs out for too long, you will have to throw them away as they would have gone bad.

You should always check for the signs of spoilage before consuming the steamed crabs that were left out for longer than 3 hours.

How Long Can Steamed Crabs Be in The Car For?

If you plan to carry the freshly cooked steamed crabs on a long journey, you should think twice. It is because, just like other seafood, it is best if you can consume the cooked crabs within two hours of cooking them. Therefore, you can carry the steamed crabs in the car for a journey of no longer than 2 hours.

You can use a nice food storage glass to carry steamed crabs around in a journey. It will help keep your steamed crabs safe and preserve their seasoning and taste.

What Should You Do If Steamed Crabs Is Left Out Too Long?

If the steamed crabs are left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, you should check for the signs of spoilage. You can check if it smells bad or if the color is not appealing, or if the taste is not good. You should throw the steamed crabs away if you see any of these signs.

However, if you do not find any of these signs, you immediately need to store your steamed crabs in the refrigerator. You can use the guide on reheating the seafood if you want to heat the refrigerated crabs before consuming them.

Do Steamed Crabs Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?

Of course, the steamed crabs will go bad if not the refrigerator. Any protein-based food left out of the refrigerator will go bad instantly. The temperature is not suitable for leaving the steamed crabs out. It is best to consume the steamed crabs within 2 hours of cooking them. If that is not possible, you should store them properly in the refrigerator.  

Do Steamed Crabs Go Bad If You Lose Power?

If the steamed crabs have been kept in the refrigerator for longer than 5 hours, they can stay in there for about 2 – 3 hours more, and you do not need to worry about anything. However, if you have lost the power for longer than 5 hours, your refrigerator will start to lose its temperature, and it can be risky for the steamed crabs.

If you have kept the steamed crabs in an unpowered refrigerator for longer than 5 hours, you should check for the signs of spoilage before consuming them.

What Temperature Is Safe for Steamed Crabs?

The normal room temperature of around 60 – 70 ^oF is best to store the crabs, but the crabs will last for only 2 hours. After this time, you will have to store your steamed crabs in the refrigerator. The right temperature to store them in the refrigerator is 35 – 40 ^oF. All the temperature above these respective ranges is harmful to the steamed crabs.

Also, note that the steamed crabs can stay in the refrigerator for only 2 – 3 days. After this time, even the refrigerator cannot prevent them from spoilage.

Sources

• Better Home Squad
• Epicurious
• Our Everyday Life