Can You Eat the Entire Jonah Crab Body?

The jonah crab is a popular shellfish harvested along the Atlantic coastline. While the delicious claw meat often steals the spotlight, the body also contains tasty morsels of meat. But can you eat the entire crab body, or just certain parts? Here’s what you need to know about enjoying this sustainable seafood delicacy.

• The jonah crab (Cancer borealis) is named after the Biblical prophet Jonah who was swallowed by a whale.

• It’s closely related to other edible crabs like Dungeness and rock crabs

• The crab ranges from Nova Scotia to Florida but is most abundant in New England.

• Jonah crabs have a brownish-red shell ranging 5-8 inches across Males have larger claws.

• The sweet, succulent claw meat is the prime attraction, but the body also offers tasty morsels.

Can You Eat the Whole Crab Body?

Yes, you can eat the entire body of the jonah crab! Once cooked, the different sections provide tender, flaky chunks of meat:

• Claws – The claws contain the largest, meatiest sections. The meat is mild, sweet and delicious.

• Legs – The legs have smaller amounts of meat, but it’s worth digging out. Crack the joints to access it.

• Body – Within the top shell, you’ll find tasty body meat in the chambers along the sides. It has a firmer texture than claw meat.

• Shoulders – On the underside, there are nuggets of meat in the shoulder joints where the legs attach.

So while the claws are the prime target, don’t discard the body and legs – that’s wasting good meat! The body may take more effort to pick, but it provides a substantial amount of extra meat.

Parts to Avoid

However, some interior parts of the crab should be avoided:

• Gills – The feathery gills or “lungs” on the side are not toxic, but taste unpleasant.

• Intestines – The gooey matter in the middle is primarily digestive organs, which are inedible.

• Eggs – Females may contain orange roe, which is edible but less common to eat.

• Tomalley – The green liver has a strong flavor and high cholesterol. It’s okay in moderation.

So remove and discard these inedible parts, but eat the rest of the crab body!

Preparing and Cooking Jonah Crab Bodies

Proper preparation and cooking are key to enjoying the body safely:

• Separate the top shell from the bottom to access the meat.

• Pull out the feather-like gills and scrape out intestines from the sides.

• Snap the body in half to reach the chambers containing body meat.

• Lightly crack the legs, shoulders and claws to open the shells. Don’t crush them.

• Rinse thoroughly. Jonah crabs can harbor marine bacteria if not cleaned well.

• Steam or boil the bodies for 8-12 minutes until the shells turn bright red/orange. This ensures it is fully cooked.

• Pick out the cooked meat and discard the shells. Refrigerate meat within 2 hours.

Proper handling and cooking mitigates any health risks and yields delicious, richly flavored crabmeat throughout the body.

What Dishes Use Jonah Crab Body Meat?

The tasty meat from the body can be used in many appetizing dishes:

• Crab cakes – Mix with claw meat for traditional crab cakes.

• Salads – Toss with mayo, lemon juice and spices for a crab salad.

• Omelets or scrambles – Sauté the meat and add it to omelets and scrambles.

• Pastas – Mix into pasta dishes like linguine for a seafood pasta.

• Soups – Add to bisques, chowders and seafood stews.

• Sushi – Roll with rice and vegetables for crab sushi rolls.

• Crab dip – Shred and combine with cream cheese, spices and lemon juice.

Don’t limit yourself to just the claws – take advantage of the tasty body meat in all sorts of dishes!

Nutrition Facts

The Jonah crab body provides high-quality nutrition:

• It’s low in calories – about 90 calories per 3.5 ounce serving.

• High in protein at over 15g per serving to support muscle growth.

• Contains important vitamins and minerals like selenium, copper, vitamin B12.

• Rich in omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA for heart and brain health.

So enjoy the entire crab body as a lean, nutrient-dense protein source. Just watch cholesterol if eating the tomalley.

Eating Jonah Crab Sustainably

The jonah crab fishery is well-managed with strict quotas to prevent overfishing. By eating the entire crab body, you can savor this tasty seafood in a sustainable manner.

The Takeaway

While the succulent claw meat is the star attraction, don’t throw away the rest of the Jonah crab body! It provides plenty of additional tender, sweet meat when properly prepared. Savor it in crab cakes, pastas, omelets and more, while supporting a sustainable fishery. So put that whole crab body to delicious use.