Does anyone have any tips or tricks for

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

keeping crab?

DH has had us out 3 times in the last maybe 6 weeks crabbing. We've had crab feeds for friends, given it away & eaten it until I really don't want to look at another crab.

I was wondering if there is any way to freeze it. I would like to have it on hand for later & not just eat it until I'm sick of it.

Someone told me to freeze it in milk. That sounds soooo odd. :shrug:

I don't need recipes: I've got those by the crab pot full. I would like to know storage techniques.

:hi:

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Freeze it after cooking it

Crab is frightfully perishable. Fortunately, it has a 'perished alarm' .... it STINKS almost before it actually spoils.

Around here, no matter what we're doing with it, we cook it in some fashion. Usually steamed. Thgen we fashion it into whatever we're eating .... crab cakes, whatever. We always freeze the leftovers cuz it is just too precious and dear to just toss.

Lately we've been freezing it in the sucker bags. Then we reheat by boiling it in the bag, opening it up and enjoying it.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

2. We're getting Dungeness & we stop at the boathouse

& cook it & clean it there. When I say clean, I mean with Dungeness you take off the back & the apron then rinse out the gills.

We have been picking out the meat & then vacuum packing it. I was wondering if anyone had any luck freezing the crabs semi-whole without picking out the meat first. Now I understand why Dungeness crab meat goes for over 20 bucks a pound.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I honestly don't know if this applies ......

....... but they first steam and then freeze king crab in the shell. The they ship it and sell it at retail.

Why wouldn't it work with other crabs?

[The empressof all]

4. I see defrosted whole dungess here all the time

It's quite common when not in season. Why don't you ask a fishmonger at local fish department of a store you trust. They'll let you know how to do it safely. It may need to be flash frozen but who knows.

[babylonsister]

5. May I just add how lucky you are, to be getting sick of

Dungeness crabs! I should have your problem! :hi:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

7. I give you my spot on the boat.

All you have to do is pilot it & pull up next to the pots. Remember to slow down & learn to drift into them. You have to time it perfectly so that you've come to a complete stop just as you pull up to the potl. You have to be aware of tides, currents & wind conditions at all times. Also, after you've cut the motor watch out that you don't crash into the rocks. Then DH will decide we need to jet over to the other side of the bay so he can go rock fishing. You have to go flat out because we're just wasting time if we're not fishing or pulling crab pots. Fly across the bay watching at all times for logs & other boats, particularly commercial fisherman because they have the right away. Pull as close to the rocks as you can, determine the current & wind, then cut the motor & drift. Also, at all times keep an eye on the depth/fishy finder. If you get too close to the rocks then start the motor & slowly back out. And of course remember that on a boat reverse is down whereas on my car reverse is up. DON'T GET CONFUSED.

Rant over.

(it's actually not all that bad, but there were a few moments when we exchanged words)

:hi:

[babylonsister]

8. Wow, you have a boat, too?

:rofl:

[Warpy]

6. I've frozen cooked crab with fair results

I say "fair" because nothing will preserve the flavor of exquisitely fresh crab. However, frozen crab meat will taste wonderful next winter when you put it in a cream sauce over toast points or make crab cakes, or do anything else that is a waste of clean, fresh crab.

I've never frozen it in anything. I've just used very heavy freezer bags and squeezed out as much air as I could before sticking it in the freezer.