Like most shelled animals, dead crabs will quickly decompose and cause an unpleasant odor, so be sure to choose fresh, live crabs when purchasing. If you’re buying frozen crabs, look for reputable stores that ensure the best preservation methods. Regardless of the type of crab, the first thing to do before cooking is to clean and prepare it. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the suggestions below.
1. Understanding Sea Crabs
Nutritional Value of Sea Crabs
Sea crabs are a favorite among seafood lovers due to their extremely high nutritional value. For every 100g of sea crab, you get approximately 85-90 kcal, packed with nutrients such as , , , , , ,, , , and B2. Notably, sea crabs are also an exceptionally rich source of fatty acids.
Sea crabs contain a plethora of nutrients beneficial to our health
With such an impressive nutritional profile, sea crabs offer a multitude of health benefits. Here are some of the most notable advantages of incorporating sea crab into your diet:
- Promotes Cardiovascular Health: The abundant omega-3 fatty acids in crab meat help balance cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots, and reduce inflammation. Consequently, they lower blood pressure, reduce stress on the heart, and protect against atherosclerosis.
- Prevents Anemia: and , found in sea crabs, play a crucial role in preventing anemia. Additionally, crab meat contains significant amounts of copper, which enhances iron absorption, boosts red blood cell production, and improves blood circulation. The iron content in sea crabs is also essential for blood production and circulation.
Crab meat is rich in nutrients that support cardiovascular health
- Boosts Brain Function: Crab meat is abundant in copper, vitamin B2, , and omega-3 fatty acids—all of which are highly beneficial for cognitive function and nervous system health. Consuming crab also strengthens myelin, protects nerves, reduces inflammation, and removes plaque build-up, resulting in a healthier nervous system.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: Sea crabs are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and other anti-inflammatory compounds, helping to alleviate inflammation and providing relief from joint pain and digestive issues.
- Supports Bone Development: The calcium and phosphorus found in sea crabs are essential for bone health. Regular and moderate consumption of crab meat contributes to stronger and healthier bones.
Antioxidants in crab meat bolster the immune system
- Enhances Immune Function: The abundance of antioxidants in crab meat, including selenium and riboflavin, helps improve the body’s defense mechanism by neutralizing free radicals that can cause cellular mutations. These antioxidants also play a pivotal role in preventing and combating chronic illnesses.
- Detoxifies the Body: As mentioned earlier, crab meat is rich in selenium and riboflavin, which possess antioxidant properties and stimulate the production of additional antioxidants, thereby enhancing the immune system and eliminating free radicals. Additionally, the phosphorus content in crab meat aids in improving liver and kidney function, both of which are vital for detoxification.
- Improves Circulation: Crab meat contains two crucial minerals for proper circulation: iron and copper. Iron is indispensable for red blood cell production, ensuring adequate oxygen transport throughout the body. Meanwhile, copper facilitates iron absorption in the intestinal walls.
How to Select the Best Sea Crabs
Depending on your preferences and the dish you plan to prepare, there are different ways to choose crabs with more meat or roe. Here are some commonly used tips to help you select the best sea crabs:
- Opt for live crabs with grayish-dull shells and flexible legs and claws.
- Choose crabs with grayish-dull shells and firm, tightly attached aprons. If you prefer meatier crabs, look for those with pinkish or dark pink, smooth, and shiny abdominal skin.
- Pay attention to the legs and claws, ensuring they are flexible and lively, with intact sharp spines.
- Avoid crabs with greenish-tinged claws and soft aprons, as these tend to have less meat and are of inferior quality.
- If you’re specifically after roe, go for female crabs, while male crabs tend to have more meat.
Tips for selecting the best sea crabs
How to Clean and Prepare Sea Crabs
Step 1: Keep the binding thread intact and start by purging the crab. Flip the crab over and pierce the underside of its apron with a knife until its legs and claws straighten.
Step 2: Remove the binding thread and thoroughly clean the crab. Use a brush to scrub the crab under running water, paying close attention to areas with algae or seaweed buildup, such as the sides, claws, and legs.
Step 3: Detach and discard the apron, along with the feathery gills and lungs, before cooking the crab as desired. If you’re steaming the crab, separate the carapace from the body beforehand. Leave it intact if you plan to boil or grill it.
There you have it—a simple, step-by-step guide to cleaning and preparing sea crabs at home. It might take a few tries to get the hang of it, but soon enough, you’ll be a pro. Cleaning crabs yourself ensures better hygiene, so it’s definitely worth the effort!
Price of 1kg of Sea Crab
The price of sea crabs can vary depending on their size, season, location, and type. Below is a price table for Ca Mau sea crabs, including both roe and meat crabs of different sizes, for your reference:
Prices of sea crabs vary based on size and type
Ca Mau Meat Crabs:
- 200-290g/piece: 290,000 VND/kg
- 300-450g/piece: 350,000 VND/kg
- 460-650g/piece: 390,000 VND/kg
- Over 660g/piece: 450,000 VND/kg
Ca Mau Roe Crabs:
- Roe Crabs Type 2 (200-290g/piece): 320,000 VND/kg
- Roe Crabs Type 1 (300-450g/piece): 390,000 VND/kg
- Son Roe Crabs (460-650g/piece): 450,000 VND/kg
- Son Roe Crabs (over 650g/piece): 490,000 VND/kg
How to Distinguish Crabs from Fiddler Crabs
You can easily differentiate sea crabs from fiddler crabs based on their color, shell, and meat.
Color:
- Live sea crabs have grayish-moss shells (deep-water crabs) or copper-colored shells (crabs from marshy, peaty areas). Fiddler crabs have moss-colored shells with small white spots.
- When cooked, sea crabs turn a deep shade of orange with a smooth, glossy finish. Fiddler crabs, on the other hand, have a lighter orange shell with a slightly rough texture and scattered white spots.
Cooked sea crabs have a darker orange shell compared to fiddler crabs
Shell: Sea crabs have two large claws and legs with tiny dots. Their carapace is oval-shaped and very hard (the harder the shell, the tastier the meat). Fiddler crabs, on the other hand, have two smaller and longer claws, with white spots covering their body and shell. Their carapace is oval and elongated, with sharp spines on both sides, and their abdomen is milky white.
Sea crabs have larger claws and a rounder body compared to fiddler crabs
Meat: Upon closer inspection, crab meat has a darker color and larger fibers compared to fiddler crab meat. In terms of taste, crab meat is sweeter and milder, while fiddler crab meat is less sweet and has a stronger flavor.
How to Tell Male and Female Crabs Apart
Female crabs have oval-shaped aprons, while male crabs have triangular aprons.
Carapace: Male crabs have an elongated oval-shaped carapace, whereas female crabs have a relatively broader carapace. For claws, examine the shell between the claws; a darker shade indicates a male crab (the darker the color, the more meat it has), while a lighter shade suggests a female crab.
Female crabs have oval-shaped aprons, while male crabs have triangular aprons
2. Delicious Sea Crab Recipes
Beer-Steamed Sea Crabs
Beer-steamed sea crabs
Kicking off our list of mouthwatering sea crab recipes is the ever-popular beer-steamed crab dish. This cooking method not only retains the natural sweetness of the crab but also enhances its flavor with the addition of spicy and aromatic ingredients such as , , , , and .
For the full recipe, visit:
Crab in Tamarind Sauce
Crab in tamarind sauce
When it comes to sea crab dishes, we can’t forget the classic crab in tamarind sauce. This dish combines the crispy, tender crab meat with a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy tamarind sauce, creating an irresistible flavor profile that awakens your taste buds. The sourness of tamarind also accentuates the freshness of the crab meat, making this dish even more delectable.
For the full recipe, check out:
Carrot Crab Porridge for Babies
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