What Does Crab Taste Like?

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Crabs are delicious and are eaten all over the world.

However, if you have never had crab, there is nothing to worry about because we are here to help you.

This article will discuss what a crab tastes like, how it is cooked, its health benefits, and much more.

What Is A Crab?

Crabs are Decapod Crustaceans and belong to the infraorder Brachyura.

Crabs typically have a very small tail, which is hidden under the thorax.

Crabs live in the world’s oceans, on land, and in freshwater.

These animals have single pair of pincers and a thick exoskeleton.

What Does Crab Taste Like?

Crab meat is a mixture of salty and sweet flavors.

However, the sweetness is very slight and is more like an aftertaste.

Depending on the type of crab you’re eating, it can also have a fishy taste.

Crabs have a mild taste, but the taste is tough to describe it.

The taste differs from other kinds of seafood, and fresh crab meat tastes better than other varieties.

How Is Crab Made?

Here is how a Crab is prepared for consumption:

Remove The Apron

The apron is a triangular shell located at the bottom of the Crab shell.

In males, the apron is narrower, pointy, and smaller.

On female crabs, the apron is round, bigger, and broader.

You can easily remove the apron from the crab’s body by pulling it off.

Remove The Carapace

Once you are done removing the apron, you should move on to the carapace.

Observe the body of the crab; you will see a tiny hole between the top shell and body or the back of the crab.

Hold the crab’s body meat with one hand, and pull off the top shell by firmly holding the shell near the small hole.

The liquid that will come out of the crab is called Crab butter and is a type of fat.

Many people save the butter and use it to make dipping sauces or add it to a soup.

If you want to save the Crab butter, hold the Crab upside-down, pull the body upwards, out from the top shell, and collect the Crab butter in a large bowl or container.

While most individuals will throw the carapace away, some people like to clean the carapace and use the shell as a serving platter for Crab salad or other dishes.

Remove The Mandibles And Claws

Once you have taken care of the top shell, you will need to remove the mandible and the claws of the Crab.

Along the top are two opaque rows, which are feathery gills.

These gills don’t have a good taste, so just tear them off from the carcass and eliminate them.

The mandibles are in the front, and to remove them, snap the two pointy ends, break them away from the flesh, and eliminate them.

Thoroughly Clean The Crab

The remaining body parts of the creature that don’t taste good are the guts.

Crab guts are innocuous, so rinse them under cold water.

Now, your crab is clean.

While you can serve whole Crabs, you will need to break up the large-sized crabs and then serve them.

This way, the crabs will be easier to eat.

You can also serve your favorite dipping sauce along with the crabs.

While it is easy to break Crabs by hand, you can also use a knife and cut through the flesh.

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How Do You Cook Crab?

Here is how you can cook Crab:

Boiling

The most common way of cooking crabs is boiling; to boil the crab, you first need to get a large pot.

Then fill the pot with water, and let the water come to a boil.

Ensure you add salt to the water to taste like salt water or ocean water.

Some people also like to add white wine or beer to the water.

You can add seasonings to the boiling water and the Crabs.

Once you add the crabs to the pot, cook until the crabs begin to float.

This cooking process can take around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how large or small the crabs are.

When the crabs are cooked, grab a pair of tongs, and remove them from the boiling water.

Let the crabs cool down for a bit or until they are easy to handle.

Steaming

This is a great method because it enables the Crabs to retain the delicious juices and prevents water-logging, which can happen when you boil the Crabs.

First, bring an inch of salted water to boil in a large-sized pot.

Pile the crabs in a pot or put them in a steamer basket.

Let the crabs boil slowly, and use the steamer to steam other crabs.

Cover and let the crabs cook for about 20 minutes.

Again, the cooking time depends on how large or small the Crabs are.

Pull the crabs from the pot with a pair of tongs or remove the steamer.

Let the crabs cool down, then clean and serve them.

To speed up the process, you can also quickly rinse the Crab under cold water.

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Grilling

Before you grill Crabs, you will need to clean them thoroughly.

However, grilling is less time-consuming than steaming or boiling.

To grill the Crabs, toss them with minced garlic and olive oil and chopped thyme or parsley.

Set the Crabs on a hot grill, and let them be on the grill until they brown and are cooked thoroughly.

This process should not take more than 4 or 5 minutes.

Please don’t keep the crabs on the grill for long, as that will burn them.

What Do You Eat Crab With?

Here is what you can eat Crab with:

Potatoes

Whether mashed, roasted, fried, or baked, potatoes pair well with Crabs, especially with leg meat.

Coleslaw

While coleslaw is typically served with BBQ dishes, it does perfectly well with succulent Crab meat.

Corn On The Cob

The most common side that goes with Crabs is Corn on the Cob.

While we don’t know why these two pair so well, we cannot complain because the combos taste delicious.

Salad

Sometimes it is best to keep things simple.

Just pair the Crab with your favorite salad.

Is Crab Good For You?

Here are some health benefits of Crab:

Can Prevent Anemia

Most nutrients found in Crab meat, such as Folate and Vitamin B12, can reduce Anemia, a Vitamin deficiency.

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People with Anemia have insufficient red blood cells in their bodies and can experience weakness or fatigue as a result.

Improves Heart Health

Crab meat is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, offering benefits that can improve heart health.

The fatty acids can also lower triglycerides and reduce blood clotting in the body.

Maintains Brain Health

Studies indicate that individuals that consume seafood regularly, especially crab, have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

Conclusion

This article thoroughly discusses everything you need to know about crabs and proves that it is healthy food.

We have also mentioned several cooking methods that you can use to cook crabs in no time.

Hopefully, this article will clarify and motivate you to eat Crab.

Sources:

Recommended Reading:

What Does Crab Taste Like?

What Is A Crab?

What Does Crab Taste Like?