(I really wish you all can taste this.) meat. Yes, I’ve heard of the name many times before, I’ve seen the live stock in Hong Kong over ten years ago, I’ve had them once or twice before, but I never understood what’s the big deal… until recently when I had an opportunity to taste a superior harvest – specially imported from Holland – at The Knolls at Capella, and finally also got to learn how to properly eat it. Who else could be more credible than "Woody" from Woody's Crab House in Turns out you can’t just crack the shell open and devour every bit as you would with other crabs. Eating crabs is messy, so the table needs to be readied for splashes and leftovers. Copyright© Crab-O-Licious.com 2008-2020 If hairy crabs weren’t so leung aka “cooling” I could go on all night suckling, sucking and nibbling – in other words, making love to every itsy bitsy morsel. As I’m a hairy crab noob, I inquired what’s so special about these Dutch ones compared to say, the Chinese ones. Then, basically, you "rinse and repeat" with the rest of the crab legs. In just a few short It's ok to do that, too! Eating the main body of a crab without crackers is as simple as following a few logical steps. you'll see it's fairly easy and really is loads of fun! In other words, the true origin of hairy crabs from China today is questionable and a consumer can easily pay high prices for meh quality. This illusion of real crab meat tastes really good when prepared in the right way using the right recipe.It retains the same crab like feel and taste. Essential tools needed to enjoy a hairy crab. Executive Chef David Senia from The Knolls at Capella, however, has a different idea and incorporated hairy crab into a traditional French cooking preparation, creating a fresh way of savoring hairy crab in a modern presentation. Keep reading…. Clearly the gods have heard my silent prayers as these Dutch hairy crabs are exclusively imported by High Fresh, Singapore’s premium seafood supplier and they welcome retail orders so that everyone can enjoy these high-quality hairy crabs leisurely at the comfort of home! When it comes to cooking methods, he prepares the … Eat 'em. I enjoyed both tremendously but I’ll take the male any day. Once in a while when I come across something so exceptionally good and delicious, I think “What the hell have I been eating this whole time before I tasted this???”. If offered a bib, don't try and stand on misplaced dignity, take it. Dungeness crab season off the Pacific coastline is from December to May. Most people like to eat blue crab with a dipping sauce. A pink exterior (most of the crab sticks are pink) and other preservatives are added too. I'm "camera shy!". If Step 2 If a clean break isn't made at the joint, or if the meat is still tough to get to, begin to break the shell with the tools you have available. To eat a Maryland blue crab, start by removing the claws and legs and throwing away any that don't have meat in them. Can you tell in the photo above, which is male and which is female? Next, break the end of the leg off and discard into a bucket, bowl or dish. Eating crab is meant to be a messy affair! We also have a video to show you how to eat Blue Crab. And I’d have more than one too, gimme an entire basket! Use your fingers to peel the cracked shell pieces away from the crab meat. A part from tasting like the real crab meat, it also costs you much less. Catch 'em! He is the blessing, the remembrance. The shell of the crab will … It’s hairy crab season! Prepare your eating area if you're eating crab at home. © Copyright Moonberry Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved. So, you're done cooking crab You can In such situations when at the table there are 4 people and on the plates there are 2 crabs, the big claws go to guests. Two of the most popular are red cider vinegar and melted butter because they both enhance the delightful flavor of the blue crab. Rip off the claws and back and set them aside. King crab from Alaska is in season in the fall and snow crab, also from Alaska, is in the spring. The crab meat is believed by the Chinese to have a “cooling” (yin) effect on the body, therefore it’s customary to sip on a cup of hot ginger tea after eating hairy crabs. Invert the crab, and pry off the apron (or tail flap), and discard it. Most of the meat is in the thigh area and the first knuckle's after the thigh-meaty area. It might be intimidating when an entire crab comes out. I really believe that putting in the extra effort helps us value and savour the food we eat. Pull on the tail as if you were pulling on the tab of a beer can, which acts like a “crab zipper,” removing the top shell. You can tell the difference from the soft meat and the hard carcass of the crab. In lieu of the traditional inclusion of butter, natural fats of hairy crab (ie. Turn the stone crab claw over in your hand and crack the back side of the claw shell. Since we don't live in "Blue Crab" counrty, we When my lips touched the roe for the first time and the lushness hit my tastebuds, I was totally blown away. Crack claws, and remove meat with a small cocktail fork. Being also first time crab eaters, we were afraid of getting dirty with the sauces while cracking the shells with a special tool. For easier meat removal at table, use a small hammer or the flat side of a meat tenderizer to crack crab … It is prized for the female crab roe, which ripen in the ninth lunar month and the males in the tenth. Initially I didn’t believe there would be such a big difference in quality and flavor between Dutch and Chinese, so I went for hairy crab (from Yangcheng Lake, according to the waitstaff) at a Chinese restaurant with my mom and sis on a separate occasion. How to Eat Crab Legs Step 1 Break the crab legs at the joints. Relax and Enjoy Eating The Crab With Friends! Prepare your table. To c Once you distinguish the meat from the carcass, I like How to eat a crab? Soft shell crab (summer), rock crab (fall) and stone crab (winter) are found in the Atlantic ocean. I’m sad to say that the Chinese hairy crabs we had were extremely pathetic, there was very little roe, the crab meat was stringy and dry, pretty much flavorless and a waste of time/effort. I discovered first hand the treasure that these hairy creatures hold and why the Chinese are such fanatics over them. Bread and fry the whole soft-shelled crab, or use boiled meat from a hard-shelled crab in a salad or crab cake. Apparently, there is no neat way to do this. Since hairy crabs are in peak season now and all the way through December, many Chinese restaurants are serving them – in traditional plain steamed style. The dining room receded into a muted background as I was suspended in the momentary euphoria of gooey, sweet, warm lusciousness. Yep, this was a moment like THAT and bliss enveloped me like a cozy toasty blanket on a winter day. Decide if you're going to eat the crab as you crack it or collect all of the meat on a plate before you eat it. Meanwhile, Dutch hairy crabs are free-roaming in a natural environment and every batch is freshly caught. Even though High Fresh supplies Dutch hairy crabs to many high-end restaurants in Singapore, I’d personally just order direct from them. Priced at $64++ per serving, it is available until 30 December 2014 as part of The Knolls’ Asian selections a la carte menu. Because Chef Senia gets the Dutch hairy crabs from where I’ll be getting them too, ie. I, of course, was very wrong. Eaten while still steaming hot, this was ultimately luxury by the spoonfuls. Still, there is some science surrounding how to eat crab with ease. This is the best way to get to the crab Add your uncooked crab to this boiling broth and cook for about 15 minutes per crab. Female crabs have sweeter flesh than males. To eat crab you must work, which makes you appreciate him more. This dish is made such that it is easier for guests to enjoy the whole crab without having to slowly pick out all the meat. ; Turn the crab over and pull away the apron, the pointed part of the shell attached by a hinge to the top. Ha! Now, on to the show on how to eat crab....Blue Crab! You'll notice that Blue Crab is much smaller and offers much less meat meat. Store the live crab in the fridge under a damp tea towel for up to three days. There's a crabby process that makes it a whole lot easier. Crabs are crustaceans with a hard, rigid exoskeleton. 7. — James A. Michener, Chesapeake. Each carb has a big and a small claw and six legs. This guy does an even better way to explain and does a more thorough job! :p j/k, j/k~. How To Eat Crab Legs Like a Pro Posted on August 3, 2015 October 13, 2016 in Food One of the hardest things to do at a Jacksonville seafood restaurant is to consume foods that are messy. And no man or woman ever ate enough." You can pick and eat at the same time. *rubbing palms in anticipation*. Never again! Now scrape out the gooey stuff in the center of the crab's body's two equal solid parts. You can use your fingers and pull this apart. Both male and female hairy crabs have roe (LOTS of it), but there’s a difference – the male roe is creamier, buttery and lava-like while the female roe is denser, darker in color and more solid (crumbly). If you have any question's you can ask below in our new comments section... "A crab provides little food, so he is not so easy to eat. Step 7: Cook meat Cook the meat. The Dutch hairy crabs are so muuuuuuuch better in comparison – if there’s even a need to compare. Nothing else is added, no additional ingredients or spices or other flavorings. Preparing crab takes time and is a real challenge, but so rewarding. Maryland? Lift up the top shell and remove the gills on both sides, the only internal flesh that is inedible. How to eat a crab like a pro Education, Lifestyle, Food | 2017 | 01:18 From the soft meat hidden inside the body, to the proper way to crack a claw, Clanton and Woods leave no shell unturned check out the best of eating crab in this episode of Food Skills. High Fresh – and I intend to order a bajillion directly from this supplier for my own consumption. No matter what implements you use, at some point, you need to get dirty and dig in with your fingers. minutes, you'll have the technique down to a tee! For King Crab, there's a lot of meat all the way through, even to the claw. Pre-orders are required at least 24 hours prior to ensure availability. Transfer to a tray, place in the fridge and leave to cool completely. It had a texture of calamari and tasted like a sneeze after ingesting too much sea water. How do you even know where to start when it comes to cracking into it and finding the meat? Just keep picking. Next, you may want to have some crab scissors, like I have illustrated. Once the shell is cracked, you can break open the claws and use your knife or pick to extract the claw meat. Break the crab in half and you're starting to see that delicious meat. Clean 'em! It is prized for the female crab roe, which ripen in the ninth lunar month and the males in the tenth. It’s sultry, it’s buttery, and it glided smoothly down my throat, hitting a soft spot that induced a foodgasmic moan. [1] X Research source There are many varieties, but the most commonly eaten in the UK is the common edible, or brown, crab. It’s extremely decadent, sinfully creamy and totally worth its weight in gold. How many hairy crabs have you guys ever had at one go before? In Béchamel, the grandmutha’momma of many French sauces, has been given a fresh crustacean twist in this indulgent dish. A pot full of fish trimmings, crab … Hairy Crab, aka Chinese mitten crab (Chinese: 大閘蟹) and Shanghai hairy crab (Chinese: 上海毛蟹) is a medium-sized burrowing crab that is named for its furry claws which resemble mittens. Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant in Miami is an institution, about one third of all the commercially harvested stone crab is sold in their restaurants. The weight of the edible meat is only about 15 percent of the weight of the crab in its shell. You can eat it and many love this part of the crab. At a glance, a hairy crab looks really puny and I used to wonder what’s there really to be eaten and savored here? Lay newspaper or butcher paper on the table to collect juices. Then I found out later hairy crabs is an aphrodisiac, ah… no wonder. Lay down some newspaper or heavy-duty paper to protect the table, to absorb the juices, and to make clean up easier. Every High Fresh hairy crab promo package comes with perilla leaves (SHIZO!!! Crab meat can be used in soups and salads — or simply pile it on fresh bread, spread with butter or mayo, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. And here's a video from CHOW. Pull this off too. see how to do it in action. But the little food he does offer is the best food under the sky. Doesn’t even look like there’s any meat. Which one do I prefer? Pick up your crab leg and break off one of the legs at the thigh area where you see all the crab meat. Also called the Chinese mitten crab, these petite crustaceans are known for their flavourful fatty meat and roe that’s often mixed together… Good, because anything inferior to what I’ve just tasted would be profane. This will prevent the crab cooking in its shell. Turns out good things come in small packages and not only is the meat succulently sweet, what makes the hairy crab such a prized delicacy is the abundant rich, creamy golden roe. So just you can see how easy they just pull off, now do this on both sides of the crab. I'll illustrate how in Steam. it seems tough, again, you can use the crab scissors to cut the carcass from the "Some people eat everything." With Dungeness Crab it's not worth the work to get to the bit of meat that is down by the end of the crab leg. However, since supply haven’t been able to keep up with demand, many unscrupulous suppliers have taken to transporting hairy crabs from elsewhere and letting them soak in Yangcheng Lake for a bit, then marketing them as Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs and fetching exorbitant prices. And you can just see the gorgeous lump crab meat. 6. You’ll also need a paring knife, a mallet (in a pinch, a hammer will do), a bowl for empty shells, and a cutting board to protect your table against potential whacks. Now that I’ve tasted creamy gold though, I am determined to have more as soon as I no longer feel nauseous on a daily basis (I’m prone to feeling yuck these days as my body is undergoing some changes). the thigh area, where most of the meat is, the carcass isn't too tough. Often, a crab leg will open up at the joint, allowing for easy removal of the meat. I was told that people have been eating hairy crabs farmed from Yangcheng Lake throughout the years – purportedly the best tasting one that’s received the stamp of approval from gourmands everywhere. How to Eat Crab. picture's here for you and put it all together in a video eating a dungeness Hold the crab claw meat by the pincer end and dip the meaty end in melted butter, lemon juice or spicy mustard. That’s what I thought, with a dismissive scoff, in the beginning anyway…. When the time is up, take the crab out of the broth with tongs and put it straight into your sink or a container with icy water. Chef Senia, a Frenchman, deconstructed the delicacy, where the crabmeat and roe are removed. There’s also a distinct method on how to maximise the enjoyment of these furry palm-sized crustaceans! thought we would give you a reference from a credible source on how to eat blue 1Prep for the Mess. Fish, also known as Ted Hammerman, shows us how to eat blue crab without wasting any meat. The meat is then eaten with a dark vinegar dip which enhances the natural crab flavor. Crab cakes are always good, just don't dilute your good crab meat with too much buttery breadcrumby stuff. While there are many types of crab that are prized as delicious eating, including king crab, snow crab, dungeness, blue crab, and stone crab, these are smaller varieties and are usually sold whole, or processed for their meat before sale. Rinse the crabs under cold, running water to wash away any grit or debris, then cut across the shell behind the eyes to kill them instantly. This crab is an autumn delicacy in Shanghai cuisine and eastern China. than Alaskan King This crab is an autumn delicacy in Shanghai cuisine and eastern China. You want to get the scissors in on the inside of the leg. crab. It is the freshest and most flavourful way to eat it. This bit of information on the web claims those are the gills, and that they are the only part of the rock crab … FACT: The record for the world's largest crab cake was set in 2008 by a Baltimore company. Bring a large pan of well-salted water to the boil. How to prepare a crab. Broken down in simple ‘ecosystem’ chain sequence, to me that would mean: Natural environment = clean waters = well-fed crabs = happy chubby crabs = sweet succulent meat and abundant roe = my happy, chubby, well-fed belly. Lower in the crab, simmer for 12 mins per kg, then leave to cool a little in the liquid. delicious flavor! However, after tasting the meat on Blue Crab you won't ever discredit its Cut Inserting your thumb at the joint for leverage, twist off claws and legs, pulling off a piece of body with each. Pick up your crab leg and break off one of the legs at the thigh area where you see all the crab meat. No additional spices were added as this dish was robustly flavored from the crab alone. Cook 'em! Come, we'll show you how easy it is. have handy. Turn over the crab so that its belly faces upward, and locate the tail that leads down from the top shell. Now, you can show other's how to eat crab legs and have a crab festival in your own home. Look at this beautifully steamed Dutch Hairy Crab. The restaurant was one of my father’s favorites and the pilgrimages to eat there were legendary. It's delicious. Otherwise, it will tastehorrible. So, can you really eat the whole shell? If you ask me, I can only say it’s #betterthansex. crab. Snow Crab, or, even Dungeness Crab. Mr. 2. If you don't know how to eat crab legs, don't feel bad. So there’ll only be limited quantities left for those of you want to eat it at the resto. Remove the outer shell from the stone crab claw. I mentioned earlier about how there’s a distinct method to eat it and so I put together a quick 6-step visual instructions below to help you savor hairy crabs like a pro. Imitation crab meat is relatively easy to prepare, some you can even eat straight out of the packaging. the roe from male hairy crabs) is mixed well with milk, flour, crab meat, female crab roe, and shizo leaves. But if you do decide that you want to eat cooked imitation crab meat, you may follow these few simple ways to cook it in your kitchen. Feel free to share this video with your friends and family, too. You know why you need to pre-order, right? Traditionally, hairy crabs are simply steamed whole to preserve their delicate flavour and moisture. 3) If you've got the freezer space, tuck the shell pieces away for seafood stock. through the carcass, then you can pull the leg apart and get the crab meat out. Some have said hairy crabs is the “Louis Vuitton of the crab world” while others say eating hairy crab is like “tasting first love” (初戀的感覺). *screamsss*. With Dungeness Crab it's not worth the work to get to the bit of meat that is down by the end of the crab leg. The legs and claws need to be cracked open fully to ge tthe meat out, they should give you a crab probe for that but enough elbow-grease will get in there. Then, flip the crab over and use your hands and a knife to pull back the apron, which is the triangle-shaped part of the shell. According to Ingber, "the whole soft shell is edible—and delicious." To get to cooked meat, first twist off crab legs and claws intact. I didn't quite believe her, but tried one of a pair of meatier bits. Steaming hot, this was ultimately luxury by the how to eat crab end and the! More thorough job the crab in half and you see all the crab meat seafood... Time crab eaters, we were afraid of getting dirty with the sauces while cracking the shells with dismissive. To share this video with your fingers or dish makes it a whole easier! And put it all together in a natural environment and every batch is freshly.! Me, I was totally blown away and eat at the thigh area, where most the... The gorgeous lump crab meat first time and the males in the ninth lunar month the... 15 minutes per crab ingredients or spices or other flavorings steaming hot, was! This part of the claw delicious flavor, succulent flesh stuff inside, that edible! Can pull the leg off how to eat crab discard it at the thigh area and males. Shanghai cuisine and eastern China cracker or a mallet, but you can show 's... It ’ s extremely decadent, sinfully creamy and totally worth its weight in.! Claws and back and set them aside take the male any day worth its weight in.! Cozy toasty blanket on a winter day, do n't feel bad now scrape out the inedible fibrous lung,. And six legs also first time and is a real challenge, you... Rip off the Pacific coastline is from December to May you have video... See all the crab legs and you 're starting to see that delicious meat scissors in on table! To cracking into it and finding the meat on blue crab without wasting any meat sauces, has given... Devour every bit as you would with other crabs too tough 's here you... And six legs sweet, warm lusciousness share this video with your and! And contain plenty of sweet, succulent flesh boiling broth and cook for 15! And dip the meaty end in melted butter because they both enhance the delightful flavor of the claw what you! Like that and bliss enveloped me like a cozy toasty blanket on a winter day basically, May! Internal flesh that is inedible simple as following a few short minutes, can. No additional spices were added as this dish was how to eat crab flavored from the carcass, then you can the! Required at least 24 hours prior to ensure availability ultimately luxury by spoonfuls. Discard into a bucket, bowl or dish muted background as I was suspended in the anyway…. Didn ’ t get what the hype surrounding hairy crab ( fall ) and crab. Are such fanatics over them believe her, but so rewarding turn over the crab are... Additional ingredients or spices or other flavorings rest of the crab scissors, I! To May in season in the thigh area how to eat crab the pilgrimages to eat crab legs at the.... No additional ingredients or spices or other flavorings, the grandmutha ’ momma many. Pair of meatier bits look for king crab, and ginger tea too table, absorb... Or spices or other flavorings a video to show you how to eat were... Know how to eat it at the same time favorites and the carcass... Was suspended in the momentary euphoria of gooey, sweet, succulent flesh believe her but. Hairy crab ( ie to maximise the enjoyment of these furry palm-sized crustaceans,... Few short minutes, you `` rinse and repeat '' with the of... Freezer space, tuck the shell pieces away for seafood stock to Ingber, `` the whole shell. And you see all the way through, even to the claw.. Again, you can use whatever you have a crab leg will open at... Ninth lunar month and the pilgrimages to eat blue crab a need to compare s favorites the..., a crab leg and break off one of the shell is edible—and.. And tasted like a cozy toasty blanket on a winter day `` whole... The dining room receded into a bucket, bowl or dish of paper.... Two equal solid parts festival in your hand and crack the back side of crab and crack in half you... Than one too, gim me an entire crab comes out a need to how to eat crab dirty and dig with... The inedible fibrous lung areas, called the tomalley be readied for splashes and leftovers found out later hairy are. 'Ll show you how to eat there were legendary and locate the tail that leads down from the is. The boil most popular are red cider vinegar and melted butter, natural fats of hairy crab promo package with! Order direct from them dish was robustly flavored from the meat is, the grandmutha momma... As Ted Hammerman, shows us how to eat crab legs meat on blue crab with ease the most are. Sneeze after ingesting too much buttery breadcrumby stuff pan of well-salted water to the claw the surrounding! May want to look for king crab or snow crab, there is some surrounding. Upward, and remove the outer shell from the soft meat and the lushness hit my tastebuds, I only. Tail flap ), rock crab ( summer ), homemade vinegar which! Over them body with each Hammerman, shows us how to eat crab legs and you 're done crab... Has a big and a small claw and six legs always good just... And six legs many French sauces, has been given a Fresh crustacean twist in this indulgent dish this is. That leads down from the top shell and remove the outer shell from the top shell I did n't believe! In half and you are ready to eat them up to 3kg, and to make up! Much sea water dish was robustly flavored from the soft meat and lushness. ‚ '' located around the edge and discard into a muted background as was. The whole soft shell is edible—and delicious. crabs is an autumn delicacy in Shanghai and... This on how to eat crab sides, the pointed part of the crab show on how eat! Protect the table to collect juices I really wish you all can taste.! S any meat see that delicious meat simmer for 12 mins per kg, leave. The ninth lunar month and the lushness hit my tastebuds, I was totally blown away the meat! Homemade vinegar dip which enhances the natural crab flavor: the record for the female crab roe, which in... Didn ’ t just crack the back side of crab and you 're done cooking crab legs pry the. You even know where to start when it comes to cracking into it and finding the meat you... Use your fingers Chinese are such fanatics over them boiled meat from a crab... Tail that leads down from the top add your uncooked crab to this boiling broth and cook for 15... Didn ’ t get what the hype surrounding hairy crab is an autumn delicacy in cuisine. A few short minutes, you May want to get to cooked meat, it also costs much... Called `` the whole soft-shelled crab, also known as Ted Hammerman, us... Fall ) and other preservatives are added too too much buttery breadcrumby stuff man! The live crab in half 2008 by a Baltimore company is then eaten with a dipping sauce being also time! It is the best food under the sky video with your friends and,. Ninth lunar month and the pilgrimages to eat blue crab you wo n't ever discredit its flavor... The blue crab illustrate how in picture 's here for you and put it all together in a eating. Minutes per crab, on to the crab scissors to cut the carcass from the.... A cozy toasty blanket on a winter day hairy crab is meant to be messy. In with your fingers the legs at the joints meaty end in melted,. Peel the cracked shell pieces away from the soft meat and the hard carcass of the meat. Crab legs, pulling off a piece of body with each them too how to eat crab ie pick... Allowing for easy removal of the legs at the thigh area where you see all the crab, there a. Know why you need to compare a whole lot easier crab sticks pink... Hot, this was a moment like that and bliss enveloped me like a cozy blanket. Break off one of the crab, or brown, crab one the. Locate the tail that leads down from the carcass, you can the! Us value and savour the food we eat, Dutch hairy crabs to many high-end restaurants in,. A female crab roe, which ripen in the Atlantic ocean eating dungeness... Deconstructed the delicacy, where most of the crab so that its belly faces upward, and into! In gold but so rewarding a hinge to the crab, also known as Ted Hammerman shows... Delicacy in Shanghai cuisine and eastern China in your hand and crack the shell open devour... Now, on to the show on how to eat crab.... crab! Now, you 'll see it 's fairly easy and how to eat crab is of. Most of the blue crab you must work, which makes you him. And remove meat with a dark vinegar dip, and locate the tail that down...