The Complete Guide on How to Eat Dungeness Crab

Dungeness crab is a popular shellfish found off the West Coast of North America. With its sweet, succulent meat and satisfyingly messy experience, eating Dungeness crab is a delicious treat! However, if you’ve never eaten it before, you may be wondering – how exactly do you eat Dungeness crab?

As someone who loves indulging in Dungeness crab whenever I visit San Francisco, I’ve picked up plenty of tips and tricks over the years. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from cooking and cleaning to cracking and savoring each morsel. Armed with these steps, you’ll be ready to master this delicious crustacean in no time!

Step 1: Cook the Crab

Before you can eat Dungeness crab, you first need to cook it Boiling is the simplest and most popular method Here’s how to do it

• Choose a large pot and fill it about 3/4 full with water Allow at least 3 inches of clearance between the water and the pot’s rim once the crabs are added.

• Heat the water until boiling. For optimal flavor add about 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water. The salty water helps retain the natural brininess of the crab.

• Use tongs to carefully place the live crabs in the pot. Cook for 12-15 minutes once the water returns to a boil.

• Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl or container while the crabs cook. This will be used to quickly cool them after cooking.

• When the crabs are done, use tongs to transfer them to the ice bath for 10-15 minutes. This stops the cooking process.

Pro tip: For added flavor, try adding Old Bay seasoning or other crab boil spices to the cooking water. Just don’t overdo it – you still want the natural sweetness of the Dungeness to shine through.

Step 2: Clean the Crab

Once cooked and cooled, it’s time to clean your Dungeness crab. This removes the guts and other inedible parts:

• Place the crab belly-side up on a sturdy cutting board. Have plenty of paper towels on hand – things are about to get messy!

• Using your fingers or a knife, pry off the triangle-shaped belly flap covering the underside. Rinse away any debris.

• Flip the crab over. Pry off and discard the top shell. Scoop out any yellow “crab butter” and set aside.

• Use a spoon to scrape out the crab’s guts and gills from the body cavity. Rinse thoroughly.

• Finally, grasp the body with both hands and twist to break it in half.

Tip: Save the legs, claws, and shell pieces to use for making crab stock later!

Step 3: Crack the Shell

Now for the fun part – cracking open the shell to get at the sweet meat inside! Here are some techniques:

• Use a wooden mallet or meat tenderizer to lightly crack the shells at each leg and claw joint. This makes them easier to open.

• Hold a leg or claw in one hand while bracing against the shell with your other hand. Twist and pull to break the shell.

• For claws, use crab crackers, lobster picks, or even your teeth to break through at the joints. Pliers also work great.

• Carefully crack larger legs with a small hammer. Try not to shatter the shell completely.

• For the body, cut through the underside shell with kitchen shears. Scoop out large chunks of meat with a fork.

Go slowly and be careful of sharp shell edges. Don’t worry about making a mess – that’s all part of the experience!

Step 4: Savor the Crab Meat

Once you’ve conquered the shell, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor! Here are a few serving tips:

• Eat the crab meat as-is, or dip it in melted butter or aioli for added flavor. I like to add fresh lemon juice and garlic to my dipping butter.

• Don’t forget the leg meat! Use a fork to pull out every last bit. Sucking the meat straight from smaller legs is perfectly acceptable too.

• Mix some of the reserved yellow crab butter into your melted dipping sauce. Its rich, seafood flavor is amazing!

• Chilled white wine, like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, pairs excellently with Dungeness crab.

• Spread crab meat on sourdough bread for delicious open-faced crab sandwiches.

Take your time and savor each bite of the sweet crab meat. Now you can enjoy this West Coast delicacy like a pro! Dungeness crab takes effort to prepare properly, but it’s well worth it for the incredible flavor payoff.

So call up some friends, lay out the paper towels and mallets, and get ready for a hands-on seafood feast. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be a Dungeness crab cracking expert before you know it. Trust me, all that hard-won meat tastes so much sweeter when you pry it from the shell yourself. Now get cracking!