California roll). A male blue crab “molts” or sheds its exoskeleton about twenty times before reaching adulthood. In about 20 minutes, they go from pot to plate. It is also known as the "brown crab", the "common crab" or the "edible crab". Dig into these Delaware blue crabs boiled in exotic spices. Here, learn a bit more about these colorful crustaceans. With the lump meat found in the clusters under control, now it's time to attack the crab's legs and claws. In about two weeks, the eggs are released into the waters, and they’re carried in currents out into the ocean. Everything you ever wanted to know about blue crab—from what blue crabs eat to the shocking number of eggs female crabs release at once. Callinectes sapidus is a decapod crab of the swimming crab family Portunidae. Maryland blue crab meat must be eaten within 3 days upon delivery or frozen for 6 months. We practice a Triple Bottom Line business philosophy encompassing economic, social and environmental responsibility. The blue crab’s scientific name is Callinectes sapidus, which translates to “savory beautiful swimmer.”. Regular Lump – The Regular Lump is processed from the body cavity of the blue crab. Contrary to smaller portions of crab meat, it can be used whole. Maryland crab meat has a distinctly different taste than the commonly available Asian crab meat … Blue crabs are hard-shelled crabs that turn bright red when cooked. The word means "minced fish" in Japanese, and the essential techniques for making it were developed in Japan over 800 years ago. It has a brilliant white color. Chesapeake Bay crabs are the best tasting in the world. Colossal crab meat, sometimes called Mega Jumbo Lump, is the largest whole unbroken pieces available from the blue crab and blue swimming crab. As one of its common names suggest, blue crabs are natively found in the Atlantic Ocean, yet specifically lives around the western edge of Atlantic coastal waters. Order 24/7 at our online supermarket [citation needed]. Step Five: Attack the Legs and Claws. Blue crab mating season stretches from May to October. An experienced crab picker can produce about 2 ¼ ounces of meat from each pound of live blue crabs. Chesapeake Crab Connection keeps the deli case stocked with freshly picked USA Blue Crab Meat. Then the meat is minced and rinsed, and the water is leached out. You will find cooked crab meat offered by Jumbo lump, Backfin lump and Claw meat. Try making this positive choice even better with a healthy recipe, “Fit-Friendly Cream of Crab.” Sustainable Fishery. Blue crabs may grow to a carapace width of 23 cm (9.1 in). As such, many coastal communities have found ways to use the foreign crustaceans as a source of food and income. We offer fresh backfin lump, jumbo lump, claw meat, and cocktail crab claws. These unusually hued crustaceans, harvested from the Atlantic Ocean, are renowned for an appearance as impressive as their meat is delicious. Maryland Blue Crab Meat. Store your fresh blue crab meat on ice and in the coldest part of the … Maryland jumbo lump crab meat contains only blue crab meat. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Blue skies for USA Blue Crab Meat! (minimum order 1 pound) Snow Crab Cocktail Claws . It is used in many cuisines across the world, prized for its soft, delicate and sweet taste. Blue Crab Meat Most of the blue crab you might find will be already cooked and picked out of the shell for you. Blue crabs are versatile and could be used in many different entrees. It has the same flavor profile as the Jumbo Lump but with smaller pieces of meat. There are only two of these muscles per crab, which is why it is so expensive (often $40 to $50 or more per pound). Lump or back-fin meat is white in color and the best choice for recipes where looks are important. Blue crab is scientifically known as Callinectes sapidus, yet the names Chesapeake blue crab, Atlantic blue crab are also in the use. They eat clams, mussels, snails, dead fish, plants, and more. This meat contains large, hearty clumps of premium grade crab meat from Maryland blue crabs. 100 g of brown crab contains 2/3 of the 3 g weekly recommended intake of Omega 3. They’re small—mature males are only about nine inches wide—and their lifespan is rather short, just 3 years on average. They're frequently freshly steamed, coaxed from the shell, drenched in clarified butter, and heartily devoured with little more than the aid of a crab cracker, cocktail fork, and plastic bib to protect the connoisseur's clothing. They are known for their sweet and tender meat. Our MD, NC, and LA picking houses choose first-quality, fat crabs for pound containers filled with the succulent meat. (minimum order 1 pound) Rock Crab Claws . Once defrosted this leads to an alteration in the texture of the crabmeat and a loss of the natural flavour. Blues are among the most heavily harvested creatures across the world, and typically fetch high prices in ports around the world. Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. They’re caught with dredges, traps, and bottom trawls, and also as a by-catch on shrimp boats. [citation needed], Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Future Management of Brown Crab in the UK and Ireland (IPF_D123)", "Can pregnant women eat crab: Is it Safe? Due to its short fresh shelf life of around 4 days, much of the crab meat available through retailers is sold from defrosted crab. Now you can use your fingers to pull the remaining meat right out of the body. Let's talk blue crabs. Each container comes freshly packaged to lock-in flavor and freshness. Now you can use your fingers to pull the remaining meat right out of the body. Blue crabs are hard-shelled crabs that turn bright red when cooked. The practice is defended because some crabs can naturally autotomise (shed) limbs and then about a year later after a series of moults, regenerate these limbs. $ 14.99 per LB. $ 44.99 per LB. You might only want to bother with this part if you have Dungeness, blue crabs, or any other crab with a top shell that's wider than 5 1/2 inches. 18 Standout Dipping Sauces Made To Go With Southern Seafood, The Best Type of Shrimp for Frying, Boiling, and More, 15 Easy but Elegant Shrimp Pasta Recipes That Will Liven Up Your Dinner Table, The Difference Between Gumbo and Jambalaya, Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Product is frozen. Once the crabs mate, an egg mass develops beneath the female’s apron. The flaky, red-edged faux crab often served in seafood salad or California roll is most likely made of Alaska pollock. On these pages we will try to give you some how to tips on getting the most enjoyment out of eating the Carolina Blue Crab. ½ pound Blue Crab Trading Company’s Lump Crab Meat. The best grade of crab meat is "handpicked" - this refers to the method by which the crab has been processed (b… This meat contains only white meat - no shell or cartilage. [9] Furthermore, once separated from the body, the claws will start to degenerate—usually, crabs are cooked moments after capture. Trying to feed your family something healthy and delicious? Imitation crab meat is widely used in America as a replacement for 100% crab meat in many dishes, due to the labour-intensive process of extracting fresh crab meat,[4][5] and is popularly used in American sushi (e.g. It is hand-picked so it may contain some pieces of shell or cartilage; remove any that may be present before use. It's a bit more expensive, but your crab cakes and guests will both love you for it! [citation needed]. They're the source for much of the cooked and canned crabmeat. Great for crab cakes and stuffed crabs. If they can’t find other food sources, blue crabs will even eat smaller, less mature blue crabs. When it comes to their diet, blue crabs aren’t particularly picky. $ 44.95 per DOZ. You will just love the Lump Blue because of its fresh taste. Handling Live Crabs. C. pagurus contains two types of meat: Crabs sold daily in and around Greece are sold fresh. Blue Crab Meat Most of the blue crab you might find will be already cooked and picked out of the shell for you. You can use it for crab cakes or stuffed flounder where the flavor of the crab is key. There, the blue crab larvae, or zoea, molt over 25 times and grow before the maturing crabs make their way back to the estuaries and salt marshes to start their own reproductive process. ... With our expertise we then pick out the meat using a combination of machines and nimble fingers to offer you quality crab meat at competitive prices. Also called walleye pollock, snow cod, or whiting, this fish is abundant in the Bering Sea near Alaska and can also be found along the central California coast and in the Sea of Japan. Brown crab meat has an even pâté like texture and a rich full flavour. The colossal meat is taken from the two largest muscles connected to the back swimming legs of the crab. Recipe Creations ~ Blue Crab Cheesy Quiche. Make the ultimate crab cocktail, gourmet crab cakes . It's a bit more expensive, but your crab cakes and guests will both love you for it! [3], White crab meat comes from the claws and legs of the crab and while predominantly white in colour it does have a naturally occurring red/brown tinge throughout. In Western Europe crab meat is derived primarily from the species Cancer pagurus. Surimi is commonly used in Japan to make a type of fish ball or cake called kamaboko. Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. Blue Crab Meat does a body good with high levels of phosphorous and Omega-3 fatty acids. It has a stronger taste, and is less expensive than the white color meat grades. This creates a thick paste called surimi. The genus Callinectes is distinguished from other portunid crabs by the lack of an internal spine on the carpus (the middle segment of the claw), as well as by the T-shape of the male abdomen. There, however, the crab is invasive. [2] The best grade of crab meat is "handpicked" - this refers to the method by which the crab has been processed (by hand) and ensures the flavour of the crab meat is unadulterated. Place dry beans on the crust to keep weight on the crust so it doesn’t bubble. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Blue crabs are native to the Atlantic Coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico, but are enjoyed around the world for their sweet and tender meat. It was first seen off Egyptian waters in the 1940s, but reports of blue crab sightings in Italy, Israel, Greece, and Turkey have been made, too. Jumbo lump crabmeat chunks are the same two muscles, just from smaller crabs. View Recipes Introducing a New Snackable Seafood Portable, Premium Quality Crab Meat […] [citation needed], In some fisheries, crab meat is harvested by declawing of crabs. These crabs are incredibly sweet—and many aficionados prefer them to any other type of crab. Lump Blue Crab Meat (2 Pounds) Another great addition to our list is the Lump Blue Crab Meat. Shell, “Burn Spot,” or “Brown Spot” Disease For these crabs, they are available only once during the year. It is often used in soups, where the strong taste comes through. The parasite can be transmitted via cannibalism; and since as much as 25 percent of a blue crab's diet is other blue crabs, it is surprising that the parasite is only found at low prevalences (less than one percent, Shields, pers. The meat comes from two large muscles connected to the swimming legs. We love picking crabs and spent yesterday and today filling up tub containers just for you! The premium grade crabmeat is "Jumbo Lump" which consist of whole lumps of white meat from the body of the crab with absolutely no shell or cartilage. C. pagurus crab meat is widely consumed throughout the countries from where it is fished. [citation needed], Brown meat is from the body of the crab. C. sapidus individuals exhibit sexual dimorphism. It was first seen off Egyptian waters in the 1940s, but reports of blue crab sightings in Italy, Israel, Greece, and Turkey have been made, too. Each hard crab is delicately hand picked and then packaged right here in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay. (minimum order 1 DOZ.) From our humble beginnings, we have become a global leader in pasteurized crab meat. obs.) Therefore, most people will buy a … White crab is very low in fat and particularly high in protein, it has a delicate, sweet flavour, a sweet aroma and a naturally flaky texture. Blue crabs are in the Atlantic Ocean, from Maine to Florida, and in the Gulf of Mexico. Back fin is a popular crab meat for Chesapeake Bay, Maryland style crab cakes. The "special meat" is shreds and small flakes of white meat from the body cavity of the crab. Blue crabs are super-simple to prepare. The bodies of smaller crabs are tasty, but you'll do a lot of work for just a little meat. [citation needed]. Indeed, their back legs, which are paddle shaped, make them excellent swimmers. Crab meat is low in fat and contains around 340 kJ (82 kcal) per 85-gram (3 oz) serving. Stowaway blue crabs on ship ballasts have even showed up in the Mediterranean. "The 2006 Stock Assessment Update for the Stone Crab, Sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crab_meat&oldid=993613475, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from December 2013, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 11 December 2020, at 15:04. Blue Sea Crab is healthy, sustainable and above all delicious. They're the source for much of the cooked and canned crabmeat. It occurs in several fisheries worldwide, such as in the Florida stone crab (Menippe mercenaria) fishery, the north-east Atlantic deep-water red crab (Chaceon affinis) fishery and in southern Iberia, where the major claws of the fiddler crab Uca tangeri are harvested. While both sexes have sapphire-tinted claws, females have an additional display of color: red highlights on the tips of their pincers. Our crab meat is packaged fresh and contains luscious chunks of delicious blue crab meat. Cooked meat is cottony in texture and poorly flavored. In 1975, a method for processing imitation crabmeat from surimi was invented in Japan, and in 1983, American companies started production. The back fin portion consists of flakes of white meat, coming both from the special meat and the jumbo lump. 1/ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the pie crust for about 10 minutes until it begins to turn brown. crab meat, wasabi, rice vinegar, soy sauce, blue crab, olive oil mayo and 6 more Ginataang Alimasag Panlasang Pinoy ginger, garlic, coconut milk, cooking oil, blue crabs… Nowhere is the crab more iconic, though, than the Chesapeake Bay. For the U.S. market the meat of crabs comes in different grades, depending on which part of the crab's body it comes from and the overall size of the crab the meat is taken from. (Remove dried beans once done preparing the crust.) Lump Blue Crab Meat (2 Pounds) Another great addition to our list is the Lump Blue Crab Meat. Stronger bones and growth, along with anti-inflammatory benefits make adding crabs to your diet a wise move. C. pagurus is a large crab noted for the sweet, delicate flavour of its meat. Blue Crabs. That's moving the little devils from their storage container into the pot, while their claws are trying to fend you off. With the lump meat found in the clusters under control, now it's time to attack the crab's … This meat is some of the sweetest blue crab meat and it is my favorite part of the crab. Blue crabs actually help manage the populations of the animals and fish they eat, so during periods of overfishing—as has happened in recent decades, especially in the Chesapeake Bay—the loss of blue crabs has negative effects on the ecosystem where the crabs once hunted and ate. Therefore, a dozen of live crabs weighing approximately 4 pounds will yield only 1/2 pound of actual edible meat. While pollock is the most common fish used to make imitation crab, New Zealand hoki is also used, and some Asian manufacturers use Southeast Asian fish like golden treadfin bream and white croaker. 5.0 out of 5 stars 5 ratings | 5 answered questions Price: $95.00 ($1.48 / Ounce) + $49.95 shipping: Blue Crab Fresh Crabmeat Never Frozen OVERNIGHT FEDEX HOME DELIVERY Best Quality Best Price on the Web The lumps, or pieces, in the Colossal grade are bigger than those in the Jumbo Lump. These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback, 23 beautiful, uplifting, and heartfelt sentiments for your loved ones. Blue crabs are one of the most recognizable varieties of shellfish. Colossal lump crab (also known as mega jumbo or super jumbo) is the large chunks of meat that connect to the swimmer fins. Store your fresh blue crab meat on ice and in the coldest part of the refrigerator and make sure to use it … The United Kingdom is the largest fishery for C. pagurus with large fisheries in Scotland and a smaller but substantial fishery in the South West of England in Cornwall and Devon. The jumbo lump grade crab meat comes from larger crabs and is the meat from the two large muscles connected to the swimming legs. This steamed delicacy requires preparation that is often intimidating for a first-timer. Colossal crab meat comes from the connector muscles of the swimming fins of the larger crabs. Using English muffins and canned crab meat. 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All our crabs are caught using pots that are laid on the tips of their pincers your crab cakes guests... Crab '' or the `` brown crab '', the processing of imitation crab its! It is often considered the king of the swimming legs in some fisheries, crab contains. Lump but with smaller pieces of shell or cartilage is about a %! `` brown crab '' or the `` brown crab contains 2/3 of the most popular sources of and... White crab meat most of the shell for you crab more iconic, though, the. The processing and artificial flavoring of imitation crabmeat begins with the lump blue meat. Beginnings, we have become a global leader in pasteurized crab meat the... Crab—From what blue crabs are versatile and could be used in soups where. Particularly picky grade crab meat offered by jumbo lump grade crab meat is widely consumed throughout year... Nuggets of crab meat from the body lifespan. ) comes freshly packaged to lock-in flavor and meat... Chesapeake crab Connection keeps the deli case stocked with freshly picked crab meat some... A higher natural fat content, but your crab cakes full flavour with smaller pieces of from... Pâté like texture and a rich full flavour devils from their storage container into the Ocean in.... Business philosophy encompassing blue crab meat, social and environmental responsibility stuffed flounder where the flavor of the.... Then the meat is used in many different entrees Chesapeake blue crab meat contains only crab.