Just like most other foods, eating too much crab can have some negative side effects. Some of the nutrients found in crab—such as copper and zinc—can be harmful if you consume excessive amounts. But side effects rarely occur, and unless you have a seafood allergy, crab is a very healthy food to eat in moderation.
Those who enjoy cooking and eating crab should simply take precautions not to eat the viscera, located under the crab's back, and avoid using whole crabs in soups and other dishes.
Fresh crabs should be clean and their flesh should be a little moist. If you detect any hint of sliminess anywhere, this is a bad sign. Slime or mucus on any part of the crab indicates that there is bacteria growing on that portion.
Is crab high in mercury? The good news is that crab is not at all high in mercury. In fact, as fish go, it's very low in mercury, right down there almost at the bottom of the list of high-mercury seafoods. That means that crab should sit very happily on the “what you can eat while pregnant” list.
Snow Crab also has a high content of iron, essential for the transport of oxygen in our body, and zinc, necessary for our immune system. In terms of vitamins, the meat of the Snow Crab is rich in vitamin C, but especially in some of group B, such as B3, B5 and B6.
Uncooked frozen crab meat in general lasts in the freezer safely for about 6 to 8 months. After that, be wary of the outcome. In an article by Southern Living on the topic of crabs, culinary experts say: “It's best to freeze crab in the shell, or in preparations such as crab cakes or casseroles for up to three months.
Crab can be frozen for up to three months before beginning to lose its flavor, though Dungeness crab should not be frozen for more than one month and Alaskan king crab legs should not be frozen for more than six months.
Shellfish poisoning is caused by eating shellfish contaminated with bacteria or, more commonly, viruses. Contaminated shellfish include shrimp, crabs, clams, oysters, dried fish, and salted raw fish. Contaminated fish may have a tainted odor or taste.
Some species are not always toxic, so it is likely that the toxins are obtained through the crab's diet or possibly by symbiotic bacteria. Crabs have no mechanism for delivering these toxins, such as through a bite or poisonous spines, so poisoning only occurs when people consume the crabs.
Species of fish that are long-lived and high on the food chain, such as marlin, tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish contain higher concentrations of mercury than others.
The Claim: Never Eat Shellfish in a Month Without an R
American Indians are said to have introduced this warning centuries ago to early settlers, and nowadays the saying is applied to the months without an R, namely May through August.
The primary season for all crab species is October to January, when they are often at their largest and populations are highest after spawning. Some regions even stretch crabbing season into July.
Like lobsters, crabs are often thrown into pots of scalding-hot water and boiled alive. The crabs will fight so hard against a clearly painful death that their claws often break off in their struggle to escape.
Paragonimus is a parasitic lung fluke (flat worm). Cases of illness from infection occur after a person eats raw or undercooked infected crab or crayfish. The illness is known as paragonimiasis.
As a rule of thumb, if you have crab lovers we recommend about 1 1/2 pounds per person. If you have some big eaters you might want to go with 2 pounds per person.
The hepatopancreas of a crab is also called tomalley, or crab "fat"; in crabs the tomalley is yellow or yellow-green in color.
What is Paralytic Shellfish Poison? Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) is a naturally occurring marine biotoxin that is produced by some species of microscopic algae. Shellfish eat these algae and can retain the toxin. People can become ill from eating shellfish contaminated with Paralytic Shellfish Poison.
But blue crabs don't just use their claws to find food: they can also use the powerful pincers to defend themselves. Their sharp and strong grip can be quite painful, as anyone who has ever been pinched by one can confirm.
Shellfish is a common food allergy. Some people with shellfish allergy react to all shellfish, while others react to only certain kinds. Reactions range from mild symptoms — such as hives or a stuffy nose — to severe and even life-threatening.
If your mouth itches, or if you develop hives or a stomachache after eating crab, lobster or other shellfish, you may have a shellfish allergy, a condition that affects nearly 7 million Americans.
Now, The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says shellfish allergies can cause skin rashes, dizziness and confusion so you should see a doctor if you think you're allergic to crabs.
Preparing Crab Legs
Before you reheat or cook crab legs, be sure to thaw them. Thawing crabmeat ensures that it will heat up evenly. You can defrost crab legs in the refrigerator overnight (for about 8 hours) or by running cold water over them.
Wash your crab legs with water to make sure you get rid of any sand or grit on the shell.
Most frozen crab legs are already pre-cooked so they will just need to be heated. When cooking frozen crab legs, we've found the best way is to place them in a colander or steamer over rapidly boiling water. There are a few other methods as well though, which we'll walk you through below.