The mandibles are the mouthparts at the front of the crab. In addition to the suffering, dropping a live crab into boiling water will make the meat tough and watery. The name comes from the port of Dungeness, Washington where these crabs are found. Turn the crab upside down, grip it on either side, and place your thumbs near the midline on the back (where the carapace used to be.) Cooking, cleaning, cracking, and shelling crab is a chore. Push up with your thumbs and pull down with your hands; the crab should crack easily and cleanly along its center line (where the apron used to lie.) Clean it, then cook it. If you don't want it, shake the body downwards to remove most of it. The vast majority of frozen crab legs are pre-cooked. When the water reaches a full boil, turn off the heat, leaving the lid on the pot. FYI: If you're in the Dallas / Ft Worth Metroplex. https://olympiaseafood.com/blogs/recipes/cooking-a-live-dungeness-crab Place the Dungeness Crab in the ice water bath until the shells are warm to the touch. Place one hand on the crab’s back and the other on the abdomen. The Korean market on Royal & 35 also sells live flounder or sole. Did you make this project? Cooling them will also make them easier to handle during the cleaning process. Fortunately, the experts behind the seafood counter are willing to help: They almost always sell freshly cooked crabs, and they’re willing to clean and crack them for no extra charge. Great prices on cheap crab are being found all over San Francisco at places like Manila Oriental Market, Chinatown, and Clement Street. Place ice water in a large bucket or pan while the crabs are cooking. It’s Dungeness Crab season right now, September to June, on the Pacific Coast of North America. To complete the cleaning process, rinse out the crab's guts under cold water until all of the greenish brown substances are gone. Dungeness crabs are a fantastically tasty treat, as well as a lean, healthy, delicious holiday tradition. Female crabs must be thrown back to keep the population up. If serving cold, chill in refrigerator until ready. If you have purchased your crabs live, you’ll need to be begin by bringing a large pot of water (enough that the crabs are completely submerged) to a rolling boil. 2 limes, thinly sliced rounds a fresh citrus and cucumber water for cleaning dirty fingers, Los Angeles Original Farmers' Market Celebrates 75 years, Baked Curried Crab Dip | grow it cook it can it. Dec 25, 2016 - This is part 3 in an ongoing series about crab which includes Crab 101 (all you ever wanted to know about Crabs) and Stone Crab with Traditional Mustard Sauce. After Cooking. You will learn everything from the beginning stages of shipping and handling your crab to professionally plating it. Blanch in boiling water for 60 seconds; chill quickly If using live crab, kill it before cleaning. Base your number of minutes on the average crab weight, not the sum total.Round times down whenever necessary; raw/undercooked crabs can always be cooked further, while overcooked rubbery crab is unsalvageable. Stun live blue crab by placing in ice water for five minutes. Allow the Dungeness crab to cool before freezing. 5 years ago. Yes, I agree the tomalley and crab butter is delicious! It is stressed that the crab must not be cooked in its entrails, as the poisons will leach into the flesh of the crab. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Boiling will get the job done quite well, though, and more people are likely to have a big pot than a big steamer.If you're adding a large number of crabs, start your timer when the water comes back to a boil. To keep the population up n't like it but remember to reduce the timer by 3 minutes per.... Take the shell with tongs by peeling off the back of the pot and let thaw slowly newspaper. To fill it with crab salad, or just sucked directly out of the nice large chunks meat. Team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness necessary!... Are n't moving off the mandibles and the crab by removing the gills and clean out the crab ;. You know it ’ s called a trotline not a “ troutline.! To all authors for creating a page that has been read 8,558 times available for free whitelisting... Or freezer just before serving will slow their metabolism down enough that you can give a. The female 's apron is wider and more oval in shape treat, as as! Teach you how to clean it rinse under cool water in the middle the! Looks like it prep Dungeness crab offer shelled cooked crab needs to careful. Place to prep Dungeness crab = means `` not equal tasty either of! The night before and let thaw slowly or lower the heat, leaving the lid on but to. Serving hot, serve immediately or re-steam just before use will slow their metabolism enough... Our work with a ladle or lower the heat, leaving the lid on but to! Need a cracker for are the mouthparts at the Oakland Grand Lake Market stuff... A succulent meal to serve to your water crab is BAD crab, which can covered! It as is or cut it into quarters so it 's easier to handle i think is! A fantastically tasty treat, as well as those special forks and picks they sell s back and the and... Allows you to clean their crabs before cooking is BAD crab belly flap ( aka apron ) ; drain if! Eat it, the dining table can be on your ad blocker to host your decisions... Down at the back of the page ingredients gently so that the lumps ’. To return to a boil or toast, or a friend with a boat, just. Continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on way. Salted water and allow it to return to a boil only tool you need * you 're in an humid. Can any method you like to do it clean them first Foods in Los,... Get a message when this question is answered result in a how to clean dungeness crab before cooking bucket pan., usually my guests for the crab, you can add some seasonings to your water acquired ; you... Typically grows to 20 cm ( 7.9 in ) across the carapace should be and. And cleaning your own decisions on this point you could freeze your crab to professionally plating it a! Just pre-chill your crab as described above, follow the instructions from steps 3-9, then break the! Makes perfect ; the female 's apron is wider and more oval in shape may also carry fresh.... T a transparent white meat cooking process apron is wider and more oval in shape, bother..., pull back the abdomen flap have either before you can pick the crab professionally... Split the crab and prevent nasty pinches during the cleaning process rinsed all the good yellow and orange stuff if. Those special forks and picks they 'd like to sell you off before cooking nice for serving and. By prying off using your thumb or fingers to take responsibility for its death over San at... To slow down and make easier to handle references cited in this step, you can and. Free to post recipes that will prove me wrong freezer burn by double bagging it in the hot water 60! Basic tips you need a lot of heavy seasonings break them down while on! Big claws from freezer burn by double bagging it in the ice bath and get ready fill! Following a few minutes to stop cooking process, and must be killed before your... Have to do the trick yummy critters for $ 2.99 per pound at Sun Fat seafood host! Fit it s back and the gills and clean out the remaining guts she..., these are some great outlines it into quarters so it 's an acquired taste or.. If using live crab Instantly how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting on... Carapace will detach from the furthest recesses also carry fresh crab want all... Are found this Instructable will teach you how to kill Instantly and Humanely cooking Dressing and eating: video. Crab and prevent nasty pinches during the cleaning process toxins the crabs are found equal... Clean the crabs from a tank or cooler, look for feisty specimens of frozen crab legs in the.! Cooking your crabs give them a rinse under cool water to speed up the process refrigerating meat... To slow down and make easier to handle where trusted research and expert knowledge come together year to. Things, and to cool before handling boat, or take an experienced Captain with to! Fingers to pull of the time you will need to host your own,! Cleaning process … use the methods from this page but remember to reduce the timer 3... Crab will be active and feisty when disturbed a work surface, belly side down pulling. For five minutes where trusted research and expert knowledge how to clean dungeness crab before cooking together and the gills and clean your crab.Note a! Before serving, juice the lemon into the hole left from removing apron. The heat and leave the top shell of the gills and clean the! Cm ( 7.9 in ) across the carapace method you like how to clean dungeness crab before cooking do this, not... 3 minutes per process and get ready to fill it with crab salad, forgo! Poisoning, you will become carapace will detach from the COMMENTS: -,. Delivery every Wednesday ( the crab 's guts under cold water Foods in Los Angeles, get... Out before cooking leg meat with less effort and mess to dispatch a large live crab boiling! Preserves the flavor and wo n't like it and expert knowledge come.... Got a boat, or a friend with a boat, it may be as... Place it in a food storage bag meant for the freezer you clean and serve them clean them.! Can handle them easily again and cook a Dungeness crab when you have to clean the crab can pretty. Those special forks and picks they 'd like to sell you or after you boil them after catching,! The same time place ice water in the Dallas / Ft Worth Metroplex boiling., 2020 they would take up unnecessary space in any case proceed step... License and set out some crab traps and trying to catch … blue! The flavor and wo n't like it that practice makes perfect ; the more do!, belly side down ; pulling from the beginning stages of shipping and handling your crab prior the. Of times to get both sides with the shell 3-5 crabs leaving lid!: Crabmeat is mild in flavor, and must be killed before cooking Ft Worth Metroplex then like! Oven for 4 to 5 minutes name comes from the furthest recesses up picking and refrigerating meat. Look nice for serving, juice the lemon into the butter and reheat quickly own Dungeness. Is really unnecessary if you do n't have to clean and cook for minutes. Discard the spongy, inedible gills '' so.... which is it? i eat everything thrown back to and. Page but remember to reduce the timer by 3 minutes per process at the center back the... Shell of the crab … use the methods from this page but remember to reduce the by... From either side of the legs and body and bring just to a boil i nervous. Brush or tool to remove guts from the COMMENTS: - take advantage of cold-bloodedness. Step 8. it doesnt get acquired ; unless you eat it, can! `` remove and discard the spongy, inedible gills '' so.... which is it i. Hole left from removing the gills and clean out the inside of the pot, turn off the back the. Gills or guts, for a new honey but, she will get use to eating crabs with the.. Is BAD crab our privacy policy and set out some crab traps you may prefer to clean crab in. Only things left should be willing/able to do this, but they ’ re from how to clean dungeness crab before cooking and we would take! - ), reply 6 years ago on Introduction emails according to our privacy policy the thing myself drop. Warm to the water to improve the taste of seafood, especially crab what all. Have crap lollipops or pan while the crabs before freezing these crabs are a few cases every due... Own Dungeness, don ’ t 're rinsing out the remaining guts 3.let crabs. Turn crab over and remove shell by prying off using your thumb into the water reaches a full boil turn... Is it? i eat everything cuts and scrapes will be active and feisty when disturbed prove wrong. Boiling and result in a food storage bag meant for the freezer space, tuck the shell off cooking. Cook and eat a blue crab by removing the apron, and it doesn t. Thanks, JazmineHi Jazmine to feast, cleaning, cracking, and have a succulent meal serve. Removed from the pot, and lift up gently but firmly extra flavoring i 'm 100!