Question about crabs

[dems4me (Premo)]

How come some crabs have the yellow mustard and others have green or gray .... the green or gray smells different... is it still healthy to eat? also I notice this on the crabs that have the underside where it should be white, its red scorched or something

[sifl]

Sometimes they die before they get cooked. Days before.

[dems4me (Premo)]

Originally posted by sifl
Sometimes they die before they get cooked. Days before.

I had ordered them to be live and made it clear twice... they steamed them anyways... I paid 2.00 per crab and asked for large males... these crabs were no more than 4 1/2 inches from point to point which is illegal to catch for your average recreational crabber... is it the same for commercial crabbers? I was really mad and then to find out some of the crabs were green, or grey... does that mean that they have been dead for several days? The ones with the bright yellow (not that I eat it) taste better and are more sweet, the ones with green and gray smell a little funky or something and tastes really powdery or papery Thanks for you response !!!!

[Kain99]

I aways thought the green or gray mustard was a sign of overcooking but I really am not totally certain.

[CMC122]

MMMMMM Crabs

[Kain99]

Something yummy....


Hot Crab Dip

1 lb. crabmeat
1/2 pint sour cream
3 Tblsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated (use 1/4 in mix and 1/4 on top)
2 ( 8 0z. ) pkg. cream cheese (at room temp.)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Old Bay
2 Tblsp. horseradish

Mix all ingredients together. Sprinkle cheese on top. Cover with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees until crusty and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

[CMC122]

Originally posted by Kain99
Something yummy....


Hot Crab Dip

My crab dip is quite similiar to that. The friends tear it up in no time.

It goes great with homemade tortilla chips

[pixiegirl (Premo)]

We got crabs last weekend from Grinders in Indian Head. Regular males, cooked. they were only $44 for 2 dozen and they were Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm good. Good sized, good service and close to home. We're going back this weekend.

[CMC122]

We're gonna pick some crabs up this weekend too. Only the Drift Inn crabs for me though. I love their seasoning.

[Kain99]

What is the yellow stuff inside a cooked crab? Some people call it "mustard." Is it fat?

A: Contrary to popular belief, the "mustard" (or the "green gland" or "tomalley") is not fat, it's actually the crab's hepatopancreas, a main component of the crab's digestive system.

The hepatopancreas is a gland made up of very small branched tubes (ramified tubules) located on both sides of the mid-gut in the main body cavity directly under the top shell and functions as both liver and pancreas. It is involved in producing digestive enzymes and is responsible for filtering impurities from the crab's blood.

The "mustard" has a strong taste and is eaten by many people who consider it a delicacy.

Caution: Research shows that chemical contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin, mercury, and poison-inhalation hazards (PIHs) accumulate in the crab's fatty tissues and concentrate in the hepatopancreas. The contaminants, which are colorless, odorless and tasteless, and can increase one's chance of developing cancer, neurological impairments and miscarriage. Women of child-bearing age and children under the age of 5 are at particular risk.

http://www.blue-crab.org/cooking_faq.htm