left over crabs

[Suz]

When you are steaming live crabs in full steam - how long do you keep them on if you are steaming about 4 or 5 at a time... they turn red, but how much longer after that? Is there a set time per/crab amount?

Don't hold me to it but I think it's about 15 min after the water boils. I am so glad my gf's party is this Saturday. I have been craving crabs something awful!

 

[kwillia]

hello? :shrug:

Ask dems... she has her own boat and has been catching and cooking crabs for years...

 

[Suz]

The most important thing to remember about freezing and storing crab meat is that it is very perishable. Since the meat spoils quickly it should be used immediately after it is cooked. Do not let crab meat stand at room temperature longer than necessary. Whole crabs or solid meat will only last two or three days, at most, under refrigeration; however, if properly wrapped and frozen, it will keep up to three months in the freezer.

IF we have left over crabs I have:

Cleaned them and frozen them whole to either pick at a later date or to throw in a pot of soup and let them 'cook out' of the shell. You also get more crab flavor from the shell.

or

Pick them, and freeze the meat in milk. Yes Milk. I don't know all the reasons why, but my MIL told me too. Suppose to keep it fresher tasting..... It seems to work. So I do it. Then just rinse well and use as you normally would. When freezing in this manner I have kept it a year. :shrug: I'm still living and breathing and never gotten sick from it.

 

[DoWhat]

my gf's party is this Saturday.

Must be nice.

 

[dems4me]

Ask dems... she has her own boat and has been catching and cooking crabs for years...

Dems who??? huh???

 

[dems4me]

Don't hold me to it but I think it's about 15 min after the water boils. I am so glad my gf's party is this Saturday. I have been craving crabs something awful!

that's what I thought, I waited until the water had been boiling and was very steamy, then put the crabs in, held the lid tight bawl and then waited about 10-15 minutes, put the next batch on... I don't think they cooked all the way through though on some :shrug: I've always done it this way and thought maybe I just shortchanged them and didn't realize it or maybe it was something else so it got me thinking... what is the average time to cook a crab from crawling to red to edible.

 

[jazz lady]

Twenty to thirty minutes is what I usually cook them. Ten to fifteen minutes is NOT long enough to cook them and kill all the bacteria they harbor.

 

[Suz]

Twenty to thirty minutes is what I usually cook them. Ten to fifteen minutes is NOT long enough to cook them and kill all the bacteria they harbor.

well I said not to hold me to it--I always have to look in my cookbook--thank you Jazz!

 

[dems4me]

Twenty to thirty minutes is what I usually cook them. Ten to fifteen minutes is NOT long enough to cook them and kill all the bacteria they harbor.

Aha!!! Thanks Jazz... so its not 15 min. its 20-30 per clump of 4-5 crabs at full steam... thanks!!!! I could have sworn I did 15 saturday night.

 

[Midnightrider]

Aha!!! Thanks Jazz... so its not 15 min. its 20-30 per clump of 4-5 crabs at full steam... thanks!!!! I could have sworn I did 15 saturday night.

i've always gone with 25 mins, and it doesn't matter how many as long as you have good steam

 

[Anvil]

Aha!!! Thanks Jazz... so its not 15 min. its 20-30 per clump of 4-5 crabs at full steam... thanks!!!! I could have sworn I did 15 saturday night.

The apron on the bottom of the crab will pop open also. if in doubt ,try a claw from one of them.

 

[dems4me]

The apron on the bottom of the crab will pop open also. if in doubt ,try a claw from one of them.

Thanks... the meat looked funny and was very mushy inside the body cavities... at least it wasn't still walking on the plate... I guess you can always oversteam but you should never understeam. Thanks!

 

[Sugarhill]

You can keep cooked crabs, still in their shells and eat them up to 7 or 8 days later. As long as the stay in the cold in the refrigator. They are prefectly fine. Enjoy them!

 

[jazz lady]

You can keep cooked crabs, still in their shells and eat them up to 7 or 8 days later. As long as the stay in the cold in the refrigator. They are prefectly fine. Enjoy them!

I never, EVER eat seafood that has been in the fridge for longer than 3 days. Eat crabs that have been sitting in the fridge for 7 to 8 DAYS??? Sorry, you are asking for trouble.

 

[404]

You can keep cooked crabs, still in their shells and eat them up to 7 or 8 days later. As long as the stay in the cold in the refrigator. They are prefectly fine. Enjoy them!

you must not mind chronic diarrhea

 

[dems4me]

you must not mind chronic diarrhea

I don't eat cooked crabs refrigerated beyond 2 days... I think someone's trying to kill me...

 

[DoWhat]

As long as the stay in the cold in the refrigator.

Where is the best place in the fridge to stay cold?

 

[dems4me]

Where is the best place in the fridge to stay cold?

Where ever you plan on stacking the beer.

 

[Anvil]

you must not mind chronic diarrhea

yu got weak belly?

 

[foxfire8804]

When it comes to seafood my limit is 3 days max. After that its the trashcan!