How To Properly Freeze Fresh Blue Crab

Blue crab is one of the most delicious and coveted seafood delicacies. Its sweet, succulent meat is to die for. When blue crab season rolls around, many of us buy loads of fresh crab with the intention of feasting on it again and again. But before you know it, you’ve got more blue crab than you can eat!

Freezing is the perfect solution for enjoying blue crab out of season. With proper freezing and storage techniques, you can enjoy fresh-tasting blue crab for months after purchase. Read on to learn the best practices for freezing blue crab so you can savor every last morsel!

Should You Freeze Blue Crab?

Freezing blue crab is absolutely safe, effective, and recommended. As long as you take the proper steps to freeze fresh crab and store it correctly, frozen blue crab retains excellent texture and flavor for 3-6 months in the freezer.

Some people prefer to only eat blue crab freshly steamed or cooked. And fresh is certainly best. But with freezing you can capture that just-caught taste at any time of year. Freezing also allows you to buy crab in bulk when it’s plentiful and local.

Tips For Freezing Fresh Blue Crab

Follow these tips to freeze blue crab like a pro:

Start with live or freshly cooked crab. Only freeze live crab or freshly cooked/steamed crab Do not freeze dead, spoiled, or rotten crab.
Prep the crab. Clean and section the crab into more manageable pieces for freezing. Separate the body, claws, and legs.
Freeze crab in shells. Leave crab pieces in the shell to protect texture. Crab meat removed from shell becomes stringy when frozen.
Use moisture-proof packaging. Seal crab pieces in airtight plastic freezer bags or containers. This prevents freezer burn.
Freeze quickly. Get crab into the freezer as fast as possible. Quick freezing keeps ice crystals small and helps maintain texture.
** Label packages.** Note the type and date of freezing so you know how long it’s been in the freezer.
Freeze at 0°F or below. Colder is better for long-term freezer storage. Store crab at 0°F or -10°F.

Thawing Frozen Crab

The safest way to thaw frozen crab is by moving it from the freezer to the refrigerator. This slow thaw helps the crab gently transition from frozen to thawed, reducing risk of spoilage.

Here are some tips for thawing:

Place frozen crab in refrigerator 1-2 days before needed to thaw completely.
You can also thaw in cold water in a leakproof bag or container. Change the water every 30 minutes.
Cook frozen crab directly by boiling or steaming. No thawing needed. Just increase cooking time.
Don’t thaw crab at room temperature or warmer. This encourages bacterial growth.
Cook thawed crab immediately and do not refreeze.

Storing Thawed Crab

Only keep thawed crab in the refrigerator 1-2 days before cooking. To extend the shelf life of cooked crab, follow these cold storage guidelines:

Keep cooked crab meat in an airtight container to prevent drying out.
Surround container with ice or freezer packs to keep at 33-40°F.
Store cooked crab 3-5 days in the coldest part of the refrigerator.
Freeze any crab you won’t use within 3-5 days for longer storage.
Discard crab if it develops an off odor, color, or slimy texture.

Freezing Crab Legs, Claws, and Lump Crab Meat

You can also freeze crab legs, claws, and lump crab meat with excellent results:

Crab legs and claws – Freeze uncooked in airtight packaging up to 2-3 months. Thaw completely before cooking.

Lump crab meat – Place 1⁄2 inch of milk in a container. Add lump crab meat and cover with another 1⁄2 inch of milk before sealing. Milk prevents freezer burn on delicate crab.

NOTE: Only freeze cooked crab meat once. Thawed cooked crab meat spoils rapidly. Discard if not used within 3 days of thawing.

Can You Freeze Live Crab and Dead Crab?

It’s not safe to freeze whole live crab or dead crab that wasn’t alive when you purchased it. Only freeze live crab that has been cooked first.

Freezing live crab kills the animal via tissue damage as it freezes. Toxins then spread through its body, making it unsafe to eat after thawing. And you never know when a dead crab started decomposing before you purchased it.

Storing Cooked Crab In The Refrigerator

Cooked blue crab will keep fresh 3-5 days stored properly in the refrigerator:

Keep cooked crab chilled at 33-40°F.
Store in an airtight container; drain and discard juice daily.
Surround container with ice or freezer packs.
Cooked crab smells and tastes best when extremely fresh. Use within 3 days.
Discard crab with an ammonia odor, mushy texture, or mold growth.

Identifying Spoiled Crab

Rely on your senses to determine if thawed or refrigerated crab has spoiled. Signs include:

Smell – Fresh crab has a clean, briny seafood scent. Discard crab with a sour, ammonia, or rotten odor.
Color – Fresh crab meat looks opaque, white, or light pink. Gray, yellow, or greenish meat is spoiled.
Texture – Cooked crab meat should be firm and moist. Discard crab meat with a slimy, mushy, or gelatinous texture.
Mold – The presence of fuzzy mold indicates spoilage. Discard any crab with mold.

When in doubt, remember the old adage “When in doubt, throw it out!” Don’t risk eating spoiled crab.

Safely Cooking Thawed Crab

Thawed blue crab is delicious prepared via steaming, boiling, baking, and grilling. Follow these safety guidelines when cooking thawed crab:

Cook thawed crab immediately; don’t refreeze.
Bring crab to an internal temperature of at least 145°F. Use a food thermometer to check.
Discard any meat that remains dull in color after cooking thoroughly.
Refrigerate cooked crab within 2 hours; discard if left out longer.

Enjoy Endless Crab with Proper Freezing

With proper freezing and thawing techniques, you can enjoy fresh blue crab any time, not just during peak season. Follow these best practices for freezing crab, thawing, and storage. Know the signs of spoilage and when in doubt, throw it out.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to freeze blue crab! With these tips, you’ll be ready to savor sweet, succulent blue crab no matter what the season.

how do you freeze fresh blue crab

To Freeze Picked Crab Meat

by Kelly (Richmond, VA)

I live in Virginia and we have Chesapeake Blue Crabs all summer. My grandmother taught me how to cover picked meat in milk and freeze it so that it stays “fresh” all winter. You just need to put the meat in a freezer bag and cover it with regular milk. Then you can freeze it. It keeps it from losing its taste and texture, and protects against freezer burn. When you thaw the picked crab meat, just put it in a colander and rinse the milk off. It really does taste fresh. Crab-O-Licious. com Replies: Wow, that’s a great tip! We never would have thought of that, and we’ve never heard of freezing picked crab meat with milk to keep it fresh. Hmmm! Thank you for sharing! Head back to Crab Chat Go to Crab-O-Licious. com Homepage Find out whats going on in the Crab World, see our Crab Fishing News page!.

Frozen Can of Crab

by Larry (Marysville, PA)

I froze a can of crab, how long will is stay good?Crab-O-Licious. com Replies-You froze a can of crab meat? That is sure interesting. That’s tough to say because we don’t know if it came from a store-bought can or from fresh crab meat that you canned yourself. Were wondering “why” you “froze” the can of crab. If you canned it right, you shouldn’t have to freeze it. It should last at least a year, and maybe even up to 18 months if you canned it. You shouldn’t put store-bought crab meat in the freezer. Instead, you should keep it in the pantry. Canned crab from the store has expiration dates and will stay fresh if you keep it in the pantry. Since all of this has been said, I guess canned crab meat could last even longer if it was frozen, but why wait that long?

Backing and Prepping Blue Crabs for the Freezer: A Slack Tide How To

Can you freeze blue crab meat?

Here is how to freeze crab meat: Make sure the blue crab is cooked first. After the crabs are cooled down, start by separating the meat from the shell. Place the crab meat into a bowl or a deep dish. Pour milk onto the crab meat covering every part of it. Let it sit for a couple of minutes. In a freezer bag, place the crabs gently into it.

Can you freeze crab?

Put the wrapped crab in a heavy-duty sealable freezer bag. Use a marker to write the date and the type of crab you’re freezing on the bag. Use a straw to suck the air out of the bag and then seal it. Use some aluminum foil to wrap the sealed bag and put it in your freezer right away. How Long Will Crab Last in the Freezer?

What happens if you freeze a blue crab?

By freezing them uncooked, when the crab dies, toxins will spread to other parts of the body. The other reason is the crabmeat will be damaged when it’s frozen. As the crab starts to freeze, the meat will start to expand against the shell. The problem starts when the blue crab is being thawed.

What happens if you don’t freeze a crab?

For example, if you do not use a sealable freezer bag, the crab may be attracting moisture, which will soften its texture. Also, pay attention to not place any other items nearby later, as other objects that are not yet frozen may partially defreeze the crab, causing it to freeze again with even more moisture created.