Where to Buy Fresh, Delicious Lump Crab Meat

Crab meat is a delicious seafood that can be used in a variety of recipes from crab cakes to crab imperial. The sweet, succulent taste of crab meat makes it a popular choice. When buying crab meat, you want to get the best quality and freshest product. The key is finding lump crab meat rather than canned crab meat which can have fillers and preservatives. So where exactly can you buy fresh, high-quality lump crab meat?

What is Lump Crab Meat?

Lump crab meat refers to the meat from the body and claws of the crab It comes in chunks or lumps rather than fine shreds Lump crab meat is carefully hand picked to keep the meat intact in larger pieces, This makes for a better presentation and more enjoyable texture when eating crab meat straight or in recipes,

The biggest lumps come from the backfin or jumbo lump crab meat Backfin lump crab meat comes from the two large muscles connected to the swimming fins Because this meat doesn’t require as much processing, it retains its pure fresh crab flavor. Jumbo lump crab meat also comes in bigger chunks from the larger swimming leg muscles.

Buying Crab Meat at the Grocery Store

Grocery stores can be a convenient place to buy seafood, including fresh crab meat. Certain high end grocery retailers like Whole Foods Market have excellent seafood departments with knowledgeable staff. Their seafood is properly handled and stored for freshness.

Whole Foods Market carries pasteurized jumbo lump crab meat in the refrigerated seafood section. It is carefully packaged in 1 pound containers. The crab meat at Whole Foods Market comes pre-picked so you can be assured there are no shells or cartilage, just the prime lumps of crab.

Their jumbo lump crab meat is 100% blue crab caught in the United States. It contains no fillers or preservatives, just the natural crab meat. The ingredients are simple – crab meat and sodium acid pyrophosphate to maintain freshness. With only 100 calories and 20g of protein per 3 ounce serving, it fits into a healthy diet.

You can find jumbo lump crab meat in the seafood section at many Whole Foods Market locations. Just ask one of the team members in the seafood department and they can retrieve it for you. The crab meat is kept well iced in the refrigerated cases.

If you want an extra special seafood dinner, you can pair your jumbo lump crab meat from Whole Foods Market with some fresh fish, shrimp, lobster tails or clams for a delicious surf and turf meal. Their seafood department has everything you need for a gourmet seafood feast.

Buying Crab Meat Online

Another convenient option for buying fresh crab meat is ordering online. There are some reputable seafood companies that overnight ship fresh crab meat nationwide.

One of the best online sources for jumbo lump crab meat is Graham & Rollins. This company located in Hampton, Virginia has been in the crab business since 1942. They have built a reputation for supplying the freshest, highest quality crab meat.

Graham & Rollins hand picks their jumbo lump crab meat daily. The blue crabs are caught fresh from the Chesapeake Bay and brought right to the facility. Within 24 hours, the crab meat is extracted, packaged, and shipped out to ensure maximum freshness.

You can order jumbo lump crab meat on the Graham & Rollins website. They offer 1 pound or 3 pound containers of fresh crab meat straight from Virginia. You can also choose pasteurized crab meat which has been heat treated to extend the shelf life while maintaining the just-cooked flavor.

The crab meat from Graham & Rollins is pure 100% crab with no additives or preservatives. Customers rave that it tastes incredible in crab recipes with big, succulent lumps of crab. The sweet, delicate flavor comes through beautifully in their crab cakes, crab imperial and other crab dishes. It’s the star of any seafood spread.

When you order from Graham & Rollins online, your fresh crab meat is shipped overnight with ice packs and/or dry ice to keep it chilled. The crab meat arrives fresh and ready to enjoy. You can feel confident ordering their jumbo lump crab meat online and getting the same high quality you find at a local seafood market.

Buying Live Crabs to Pick Yourself

For the freshest crab meat, you can purchase live crabs and pick the meat yourself. This takes more effort but guarantees your crab meat is raw and untouched by processing. Keep in mind that live crabs must be cooked before removing the meat.

Many local seafood markets located in coastal areas sell live blue crabs. You can also order live crabs online and have them shipped overnight to your door. Make sure to source live crabs from a reputable, sustainable provider.

Once you have your live crabs, you’ll need to cook them before picking the meat. Boiling is the usual cooking method. Bring a large pot of water mixed with seafood seasoning to a boil. Carefully place the live crabs into the boiling water and cook for about 10-15 minutes until the crabs turn red.

After cooking, let the crabs cool until you can safely handle them. Then pick out the coveted lump crab meat from the body and claws. It takes some time and effort to pick crab meat this way, but the reward is enjoying the freshest, sweetest crab meat straight from the shell.

Tips for Storing Crab Meat

To get the most out of your crab meat, proper storage is key. Here are some tips for storing lump crab meat:

• Keep fresh crab meat chilled at 40°F or lower. Store in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not the door.

• Place crab meat in a shallow covered container so air can circulate. Avoid cramped airtight containers.

• Use crab meat within 4 days of purchase for best quality. The sooner it’s eaten, the better it will taste.

• Don’t freeze previously refrigerated crab meat. Freeze only uncooked crab in the shell.

• Check for odor and color before eating. Discard crab meat with an off smell or brown or yellow discoloration.

• Allow refrigerated crab meat to come to room temperature before serving for best texture and flavor.

Following these guidelines will help your prized lump crab meat stay fresh and delicious. Proper storage preserves both taste and texture.

Time for Crab Recipes!

Now that you know where to buy delectable lump crab meat, it’s time to put it to use in amazing seafood recipes. Here are just a few delicious ways to eat lump crab meat:

• Classic Maryland crab cakes pan seared and served with fresh lemon wedges

• Crab dip with lump crab meat baked hot and bubbly with cheese and seasonings

• Crab salad on a croissant – lump crab tossed with celery, lemon juice and mayo

• Cold crab and avocado salad with vinaigrette dressing

• Quick crab quesadilla with Monterey jack cheese and fresh cilantro

• Lump crab meat scrambled into fluffy eggs for breakfast or brunch

• Lump crab omelet or frittata filled with tender lumps of crab

• Lump crab meat on top of a fresh garden salad for a gourmet appetizer

• Baked stuffed mushrooms with crab meat and cheese

• Lump crab meat mixed into creamy pasta alfredo

• Simple crab toast for an appetizer – lump crab atop toasted baguette

The opportunities are endless when cooking with sweet, succulent lump crab meat. From casual appetizers to elegant entrées, lump crab meat shines in any dish. Now that you know where to source high-quality lump crab meat, you can enjoy delicious crab recipes anytime.