How to Eat Crabs

[BOP]

Crabs next to the road on 235 by Blue Wind. $35 for a dozen large males. Pass.

You don't eat male meat?

 

[BadGirl]

Anyone who uses a mallet to eat crabs is an amateur, and is someone who should be mocked and scorned for their ridiculous behavior.

No one should be using a mallet to eat crabs. No one.

 

[desertrat]

You don't eat male meat?

Sure.

 

[desertrat]

For the sissies that are afraid to use a knife point to pick the cavities.

I cut the body in half with the knife from front to back and then cut each half horizontally. If you make a cut through the claw shell slightly behind the joint, you can snap off the back part of the shell and expose a nice big chunk of claw meat.

I like to use my nice heavy folding Buck knife

Ah, works for me.
The one beside my Buck was my Dads S/N # 46. He sharpened it a lot.

 

[Lurk]

The bestest way to eat crab, if you absolutely have to, is in an extremely small quantity from a can.

 

[BadGirl]

The bestest way to eat crab, if you absolutely have to, is in an extremely small quantity from a can.

If you have to resort to eating crab meat from a can, the best thing to do is to throw the can against a tree, then make yourself a ham and cheese sammich and eat that instead.

 

[desertrat]

If you have to resort to eating crab meat from a can, the best thing to do is to throw the can against a tree, then make yourself a ham and cheese sammich and eat that instead.

 

[ItalianScallion]

Got a question --

I've been eating crabs in Maryland for about 20 years. It's generally been my feeling that *real* Marylanders don't use mallets or knives to eat crabs. With experience, you already know how to do just about everything with your fingers. Snap off the shell, crack the legs, pull out the meat, break apart the chambers with your fingers. About the only thing you MIGHT need is the little fork, but I usually just use my teeth.

How about it? Am I wrong?

All one needs is a small knife, Old Bay, vinegar & beer. I remove the legs, then the shell, crack the body in half, then use the knife to cut the body halves in half again, then pick out the meat.

No matter where I sit, there's always someone using a mallet nearby that causes a shell fragment to find me.

 

[desertrat]

Crabs are great, but I just cannot see paying that much for them. I like the sitting around and picking while chatting and drinking a few brews, but that is about it. It is a social/family thing to me. Would not even consider it for an actual meal.

 

[thatguy]

Wirelessly posted

Cracking claws with a mallet or butter knife handle splinters the shell. The method using the knife blade pushed through the shell with the palm allows you to snap the claw and expose the meat without mixing in shards of shell.

The only way to go.....

 

[aps45819]

Ah, works for me.
The one beside my Buck was my Dads S/N # 46. He sharpened it a lot.

I like my 112

 

[kom526]

Like IS said, beer, old bay and apple cider vinegar. I'll pick a dozen or so, dump them in my bowl of vinegar and old bay mix well and slop that on a saltine.

I might have to put my pots over next week.

 

[TPD]

My daughter is going trotlining tomorrow - I am getting my knife and melted butter prepared!

 

[BadGirl]

My daughter is going trotlining tomorrow - I am getting my knife and melted butter prepared!

 

[vraiblonde]

My favorite trick is to pull the backfin with that huge chunk of meat still attached. Impresses the newbies.

 

[TPD]

The real question is - how many people suck the meat out of the 'legs' of the crabs, not the claws?

 

[vraiblonde]

The real question is - how many people suck the meat out of the 'legs' of the crabs, not the claws?

I don't - it's a waste of time.

 

[Sweet 16]

For the sissies that are afraid to use a knife point to pick the cavities.

I cut the body in half with the knife from front to back and then cut each half horizontally. If you make a cut through the claw shell slightly behind the joint, you can snap off the back part of the shell and expose a nice big chunk of claw meat.

I like to use my nice heavy folding Buck knife

Pull the front legs off, bend the bendy claw back and *carefully* pull out the big chunk of meat attached to the claw and pull it off with your teeth. They're great dipped in cornmeal batter and fried too!

 

[Lurk]

If you have to resort to eating crab meat from a can, the best thing to do is to throw the can against a tree, then make yourself a ham and cheese sammich and eat that instead.

That was actually my point about eating crab, period. No, not crab period. Crab, period!

 

[Crewdawg141]

The real question is - how many people suck the meat out of the 'legs' of the crabs, not the claws?

Heck yes, never waste anything from those delicious critters!