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Preserving fresh crabs for an extended period is one of the sought-after cooking techniques that many housewives are looking for. Because crab varieties like sea crabs, field crabs... are packed with nutrients and can be easily transformed into enticing dishes, they are favored by many housewives in cooking. However, not everyone knows the trick to properly preserve these crabs to maintain their inherent freshness. Today, Mytour Blog will guide you on how to preserve fresh crabs properly, following the standard of top chefs!
The nutritional value of crab meat
Crab is the most caught seafood because it contains many beneficial nutrients for health. Besides, crabs are also used to make many delicious and irresistible dishes. Having tasted various types of crabs, have you discovered all the nutritional values that this seafood brings?
Crab meat contains numerous beneficial nutrients for human health (Source: Internet)How long should live crabs be preserved?
If you buy live crabs in supermarkets or stores, you should only use them within 1 to 2 days of purchase. This is the period when live crabs remain freshest. If you don't cook them immediately after purchase, you can also store them in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0°C to 4°C. Note that when storing crabs in the refrigerator, you should keep them dry and not immerse them in water.
If you want to keep live crabs fresh for longer, you can store them in the freezer at a temperature of -18°C or below. However, you need to ensure that the crabs are not frozen for too long as this can reduce their nutritional quality and flavor.
Essential methods for preserving live crabs you should know
Here are 3 simple and effective ways to preserve live crabs fresh for a long time that you can do right at home.
Long-term preservation of live crabs
- To preserve live sea crabs for an extended period before cooking, you first need to select fresh live crabs. At the same time, the parts of the crab's body must still be moving and intact, without any broken legs or claws.
- You should keep the crabs in a cool, moist place without direct sunlight. Additionally, you can prepare a plastic bucket with a lid to place the crabs in and loosely cover the lid to prevent them from suffocating. Avoid submerging the crabs in water or wrapping them tightly in a bag, as this can easily cause them to die, and when cooked, the meat will no longer be fresh and firm.
To preserve live sea crabs for a long time, you need to select fresh, healthy crabs that are not missing legs or claws (Source: Internet)How to store live crabs in the refrigerator
If you want to store live sea crabs in the refrigerator, you need to perform some preliminary steps to keep the crabs fresh for a long time, specifically:
- When you bring crabs home, absolutely do not immediately immerse them in water but keep them in a cool place. Wet the crab's gills slightly and do not remove the tie.
- Next, flip the crab onto its back and use a knife to stab straight into the hollow under the abdomen until the legs and claws of the crab are straightened.
- Then, untie the crab and use a toothbrush to scrub the crab clean under running water.
- You can use your hands to remove inedible parts such as gills, hair, and flipper, then store the crab.
- You can place the crab in a plastic box and put it in the cool compartment of the refrigerator at a temperature of about 0°C to 4°C. This method of preserving live crabs is suitable for those who want to cook crabs on the same day. Additionally, you can put the crab in a vacuum bag, then place it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator to keep the crab fresh for 2 – 3 days.
To preserve live sea crabs fresh for a long time in the refrigerator, you need to prepare the crabs beforehand (Source: Internet)How to preserve live crabs for shipping long distances
- To transport live crabs over long distances while keeping them fresh, you first need to ensure that you select high-quality crabs. Prioritize buying large, healthy crabs with firm shells, bright color, and a firm touch on the abdomen.
- After purchasing the crabs, tightly tie the crab's claws with a rope, then prepare a foam box, pre-drilled with holes to allow air circulation to prevent the crabs from suffocating. You also need to line the bottom of the foam box with a soft, damp cloth to prevent the crabs from losing moisture during long-distance transportation.
- Upon arrival, place the crabs in a clean basin or bucket with a loosely covered lid and absolutely do not immerse the crabs in water as it can cause them to die due to thermal shock. Following this method of crab preservation can help keep the crabs alive for up to 6-7 days.
How to preserve field crabs?
Field crabs are also a type of crab commonly used by housewives in cooking. Let's explore the correct standard for preserving field crabs to help maintain the freshest flavor.
Ground field crabs
First, you need to prepare clean plastic bags and a vacuum sealer to extend the preservation time as long as possible. Put the ground field crab meat into the plastic bag and use the vacuum sealer to remove the air inside. Then, place the bag of crab meat in the freezer compartment to preserve. With this method of preserving live crabs, you can keep them for up to 1 week while still retaining all the nutrients in the meat.
Storing ground field crab meat in vacuum-sealed plastic bags and placing them in the freezer compartment can preserve fresh crabs for up to 1 week (Source: Internet)Fresh field crabs
Fresh field crabs, when brought home, if not immediately prepared, should be placed in a foam box or aluminum basin. Place a red brick at the bottom (if available) and pour water inside to preserve the crabs. With this preservation method, fresh field crabs can survive for a day, allowing you to timely prepare them for cooking.
If you cannot cook fresh field crabs on the same day to maintain their freshness, you should prepare the crabs before preservation. Remove the shells and flipper, keeping the meat and crab's brick. Keep the crab meat separately, rinse it with water, then put it in a container and place it in the freezer compartment to preserve. Additionally, you can grind the crab meat and put it in a plastic bag or sealed container for freezing. This method helps preserve field crab meat for a whole week while retaining most of its nutrients and delicious flavor when eaten.
Ways to choose fresh, firm sea crabs
Once you've learned the various ways to preserve live crabs, you should also explore how to choose and buy delicious crabs. Because high-quality crabs will help prolong preservation time without worrying about crab meat spoilage.
- Prefer fresh, healthy crabs that are not broken or injured.
- Choose crabs with clearly red or deep pink claw joints.
- Select crabs with firm, sturdy shells, showing distinct veins, and when gently squeezed, they move flexibly.
- Use a sharp knife to poke into the gap between the shell and the crab's flipper to see the color inside. If the color inside the crab is red, it indicates good quality.
It is advisable to prioritize buying large, healthy crabs with firm shells and intact legs or claws (Source: Internet)Some considerations when preserving live crabs
To keep crabs fresh and flavorful with high nutritional content and delicious meat quality, you need to consider the following:
- Store crabs at a low temperature (below 4°C).
- Before preservation, soak the crabs in a dilute saltwater solution for 15-20 minutes to clean and freshen them.
- Inspect crabs before cooking.
- Prefer to buy crabs from reliable sources such as supermarkets and large stores.
- Avoid soaking crabs in water for too long as this can reduce the quality of their meat and flavor.
- Avoid storing crabs in plastic bags as this material can stick to the crabs and reduce their quality.
To ensure the quality of crab meat during preservation, prioritize buying crabs from reliable sources (Source: Internet)Above are effective ways to preserve live crabs for a long time that you can refer to and apply when cooking this seafood. Don't forget to visit Mytour regularly to discover more cooking tips.
