Why Do We Need to Pound the Crab and Add Salt?
In crab hot pot or soup, crab meat is the star of the show. To ensure that the meat stays in large chunks instead of falling apart during cooking, pounding the crab and adding salt are crucial steps. But why is salt necessary in this process?
Pounding Crab with Salt
Salt plays a vital role in binding crab meat together. Firstly, it helps thicken the protein solution in the crab, allowing it to set better and preventing disintegration during cooking. According to the principles of food science, salt also enhances the crab’s natural sweet and buttery flavor while effectively eliminating any fishy odor.
As explained in “Salt Fat Acid Heat” by renowned chef and culinary educator, Samin Nosrat, salt breaks down protein chains into a gel, increasing water absorption and moisture retention in the crab meat. Proteins are susceptible to denaturation when heated, causing the protein strands to curl up and release water, resulting in dry and tough crab meat. The addition of salt helps disrupt these protein strands, maintaining the moisture and original structure of the crab meat.
Moreover, salt also breaks down enzymes and damages the DNA of bacteria, inhibiting their growth. This is especially important when dealing with crabs sourced from freshwater or paddy fields, which may harbor harmful bacteria.
Tips for a Delicious Crab Soup
- Avoid constant stirring while cooking the crab soup, especially when the meat is setting. Instead, stir only when you first put the pot on the stove, and then let the crab float and set on its own.
- Cook the crab soup over medium heat to allow the crab meat to rise and set under the pressure of a vigorous boil without falling apart.
- Remove the crab chunks before adding vegetables to ensure aesthetically pleasing, well-formed chunks of crab meat.
Cooking Crab Soup to Perfection
In conclusion, pounding the crab with salt not only helps bind the meat together but also enhances the flavor and hygiene of the dish. Applying these crab soup cooking tips will result in a delicious, savory, and nutritious meal.
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