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The crab is a marine invertebrate animal of the order of decapod crustaceans. For a long time, it has been a part of many cuisines of the world. In modern times, it is one of the most expensive delicacies. Crabmeat is really very soft and tender.
However, this is not the only edible part of the product. You can eat crab meat, legs, and claws. The main difficulty lies in the process of cleaning and cooking.
Basics, Pros and Cons
Crabs are one of the oldest creatures whose known fossils date back to the Jurassic period. These fossils are the distant ancestors of modern crustaceans, which are called primitive crabs. Today, about 4 thousand species of arthropods are known.
Most of them are used by manufacturers in the food industry. Crabmeat contains a high concentration of useful active substances that improve the condition of the human body. The content of essential acids in crab is several times higher than in fish and other seafood. These are: 80% moisture, 1.4% lipids, 19% protein, 2% ash, 2% glycogen.
Crabmeat is a dietary product. The same meat is contained in the legs and claws of the animal. Experts identify some beneficial properties of crab for human health:
- strengthens the heart muscle
- reduces cholesterol levels in the blood
- protects the body from pathologies of the heart and blood vessels
- normalizes the level of thyroid hormones improves the functionality of the endocrine system
- improves the digestive system
- fights strong psychoemotional overstrain protects the nervous system from depressive states and anxiety
- prevents premature aging of all body systems and skin
However, there are also negative consequences of eating crab meat:
- the content of bacteria and infections in animal corpses
- infected meat can cause severe toxic poisoning, loss of hearing, vision, functional disorders of the central/peripheral nervous system
How to clean crab legs?
To enjoy the taste of crab leg meat, you must be able to properly carve the product. Experts advise to follow the following procedure:
- Cook the crab until it turns red. Cool to room temperature.
- Using a knife, separate the crab’s claws and legs.
- Remove the meat from the legs, splitting them with tongs, a rolling pin, or the handle of a heavy knife. Do not split the claws with a force so as not to damage the meat – it is enough for the shell to crack slightly in several places. You can also get the meat from the crab legs with a thin fork.
Product cutting features
There are some difficult moments in cutting a crab:
- Cartilage. There is dense cartilage in each claw. Carefully and carefully cut the claws to avoid inedible elements.
- Spikes. The shell of the crustacean is covered with small thorns, which, when pressed hard, can cause pain.
- Small dense elements. The crab’s body is filled with small bones, cartilage, and various compounds that are unsuitable for food. They can damage the mucous membrane or simply get stuck in the esophagus.
Is it better to steam or boil snow crab legs?
Experts advise giving preference for steaming crab legs. Thus, the crab flavor will remain in the shell, and will not seep into the water. However, you can consider 2 ways of cooking: boiling and steaming. The boiling method is the simplest:
- Thoroughly defrost the crab legs. Put them in the refrigerator overnight and cover.
- Fill the largest pot with cold water. It should be filled to 2/3.
- Add about 1 teaspoon of salt to the water.
- Bring the water in a saucepan to a boil.
- Put the crab legs in boiling water. The cooking time is 5 minutes.
- Remove the crab legs with long metal tongs. Put them in a bowl to dry.
The steaming method is more complex:
- Defrost the crab legs. To do this, put them in the refrigerator overnight.
- Bring 1 liter of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Insert the steamer basket, making sure that its bottom will not touch the boiling water. The cooking time is 7 minutes.
- Serve hot. Steamed legs should be eaten immediately.
How do restaurants cook crab legs?
The recipe for cooking crab legs in a restaurant differs only in the addition of garlic-butter sauce. To repeat the recipe, follow the instructions:
- crab legs – 500 grams
- butter – 50 grams
- seasoning for seafood
- salt
- parsley
- garlic
- cayenne pepper
- lemon slices
Cooking technology:
- Defrost frozen crab legs in the refrigerator.
- In a deep and wide skillet or saucepan, boil water with seasoning, a slice of lemon, and a little salt.
- Dip the crab legs into the broth and cook under the lid for 3-6 minutes.
- Prepare garlic-butter sauce: melt butter in a saucepan, add chopped garlic, parsley, and cayenne pepper.
- Remove the crab legs from the broth and serve with garlic butter sauce, salad, and baguette.
How do you eat snow crab legs?
Many people do not know how to eat the legs of a snow crab properly. The best way to learn how to eat crab is to cook it at home and slowly butcher it, following the instructions.
If the acquaintance with the delicacy takes place in a status institution or at a party, it would be good to know some rules of etiquette in advance. If you decide to eat crab legs in a restaurant. keep in mind the following tips:
- Use special tools: scissors-tongs and a long knitting needle-a bicycle.
- The order of cutting the crab: unscrew the claws and legs, distribute them with forceps.
- Remove the meat from the paws with a spoke, and from the claws with a fork.
If you eat a snow crab at home, then the actions will be as follows:
- Lay a thick oilcloth on the table so as not to stain the tablecloth.
- Put a wet hand towel next to it.
- Put the boiled crab on a tray or a large plate, prepare scissors, tongs, a fork.
- Tear off the legs with rotating movements and crush with forceps.
- Remove the meat with a fork.
How do you cook crab legs without the smell?
Crabmeat has not only a characteristic taste but also a pungent smell. Not everyone finds this smell pleasant and seeks to get rid of it. But how to do this without giving the crab another, even more, unpleasant smell? Professional chefs recommend a method with coffee beans.
To do this, fry a handful of coffee beans in a frying pan. Such a product gives off an excellent aroma that will quickly kill unwanted odors.
How can you tell when crab legs are done?
Crabmeat is cooked fast enough. The main difficulty is to understand when it is ready. If the meat is undercooked, it will be tough. and if digested, it will acquire too loose structure.
Professional chefs highlight the main feature that guarantees you readiness for crab – the appearance of red color. Many cooks recommend moving crabs from boiling water to ice water for 1-2 minutes so that the meat cools down quickly and does not digest.
How to cook frozen crab legs in the oven
You can cook crab legs quite easily in the oven. This is one of the fastest ways. To implement it, prepare the following ingredients:
- frozen crab legs
- butter
- lemon juice
- baking sheet
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place a baking sheet on a baking sheet and put the crab legs there.
- Brush the crab legs with butter and lemon juice.
- Bake without changing the temperature for 15 minutes.
What is the best way to cook snow crab legs?
The best and fastest way to cook snow crab legs is to use a slow cooker. Prepare the necessary ingredients:
- frozen crab legs – 1 kg
- salt – 1 tablespoon
- garlic powder – 1/2 teaspoon
- dill – 1 teaspoon
- butter
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Defrost and rinse the crab. The best way to defrost a crab is to cover it with something and leave it overnight in the refrigerator.
- Put the crab legs in a slow cooker. Place the legs in a slow cooker in one layer and fill with water so that the water lightly covers the crabs.
- Mix the oil, dill, and garlic. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and mix with the dill and garlic powder.
- Add fragrant butter to the crab legs. Pour a mixture of melted butter into a slow cooker over the crab legs.
- Cook for 4 hours at high temperature. Close the slow cooker and cook the crab legs until they are heated to such an extent that they will directly melt under their shell.
- Use tweezers to remove the crab legs from the slow cooker. Put them on a serving plate and eat them warm.
How to boil snow crab legs Louisiana style
The Louisiana style of cooking crab legs is quite popular among lovers of Mediterranean cuisine. The main feature of cooking is the creation of a unique seasoning. For it, you will need the following ingredients:
- bay leaf
- onion
- celery
- cayenne pepper
- salt
As soon as the crab boils, reduce the heat to medium and add the new potatoes. After five minutes, add the corn. Cook this for another ten minutes, then add your crab legs. From now on, everything else remains the same.
How to cook crab legs southern style
Mississippians love to cook snow crab and its legs. For them, this dish has become traditional for many years. To cook crab legs in a southern style, prepare the following ingredients:
- 1 kg frozen crab legs
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¾ diced white onion
- 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
- green onion
- fennel stalks
- bay leaf
- red pepper flakes
- salt
Cooking technology:
- Fill a saucepan with water and put it to boil over medium heat.
- Add all the ingredients except the snow crab legs.
- When the water boils, reduce the heat to medium.
- Lower the crab legs into the pan. The cooking time is 5 minutes.
How to boil crab legs with old bay
The old Bay seasoning is very popular for cooking crab legs. It enhances the taste of the crab and makes it unsurpassed. The main feature of the seasoning is the garlic taste, which perfectly matches the meat of crab legs. To repeat the recipe, prepare the following ingredients:
- 2 kilograms of frozen snow crab legs
- 4 tablespoons old bay leaf seasoning
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 3-4 bay leaves
- black pepper
- salt
- water
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Heat the water in a saucepan and add all the spices there. Let the water boil and cook for another 2 minutes. You will get a fragrant broth for crab legs.
- Lower the crab legs into the pan so that they are completely covered with water. The cooking time is 5 minutes.
Common tips
Professional chefs highlight some tips for cooking snow crab legs. Here are some of them:
- Use special tools to clean the crab, otherwise, there is a chance of damaging the skin.
- Do not make the cooking time too long. The meat will lose its structure and become loose.
- Do not cut the crab legs with a knife. They will simply crack and the meat will be damaged. Use special forceps that will not damage the structure of the meat.
- Cook the crab in a broth of spices and add garlic, it will make the meat more juicy and tender.
Summary
Crabmeat is a unique product that many people consider a delicacy. Getting fresh crab meat is quite difficult, but you can try to find a trusted seller. The most tender meat is found in crab legs. It is also the most affordable part of the crab. It contains a lot of vitamins and minerals.
There are many ways to cook crab legs. The most popular are cooking, stewing, and cooking in a slow cooker. Choose the most convenient way and do not forget to add spices and seasonings. The tastier the broth, the better the taste of crab legs will be.