How To Eat Crab

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Claws

Start by breaking off the claws. Pull the claw directly away from the body to remove it. After cracking the shell of the claw with the crab cracker, pick out the soft white meat with the spatula. Break the claw at the joint so you can get to all the meat. Make sure you get it all out, as many people consider the claw meat to be the best part of a crab. You can put the meat aside on a plate until you have removed the meat from the entire crab. It doesn't matter if it gets cold, as crab is usually served cold to improve the flavour.

Step 3: Legs

Next pull the legs off the crab, and remove the meat in roughly the same way as the claws. Crack the shell with the cracker, and pick it away to reveal the meat. Remove any stubborn pieces of meat with the spatula.

Step 4: Body

Use a big, sharp knife to cut the entire crab body in half. Pull half of the skeleton and insides out of the shell in one go. Use the spatula to pick out any pieces of white meat from the shell and from the many small cavities in the skeleton. Discard any pieces of bone and cartilage, and also discard the gills. At the back of the crab shell, behind the skeleton, is where most of the brown meat is located. Scoop this meat out with a spoon or the back of the spatula, and serve it separately from the white meat. Once you've removed the crab meat, you can give your fingers a quick wash in a finger bowl of warm water and lemon. You're now ready to eat your crab meat in the method of your choice. Try it with a squeeze of lemon juice, served on bread or toast, with or without some mayonnaise. Bon appétit!