Is Canned Crab Meat Already Cooked?

Canned crab meat can be a quick and convenient way to enjoy the sweet, succulent flavor of crab without all the work of cooking and picking a whole crab yourself. But one question that often comes up is – is canned crab meat already fully cooked and ready to eat straight from the can? Or does it require additional cooking before serving?

The short answer is yes, canned crab meat has already been cooked during the commercial canning process. But there are still a few things you should know about handling and preparing canned crab to maximize both safety and quality.

Crab Cooking Process

Before being picked and packed, crab meat is first fully cooked. This is a crucial step as crab and other shellfish can harbor harmful bacteria when raw.

Commercial crab suppliers steam live crabs immediately after catching them. Steaming gently cooks the crab all the way through, making the meat safe for consumption.

Once cooked, workers pick the hot crab meat from the shells before rapidly chilling it. This locks in freshness and prevents bacterial growth.

Pasteurization

After picking, the crab meat is packed into cans and sealed. Here’s where that additional cooking comes in.

The filled cans are heated again to temperatures between 185°F – 250°F. This pasteurization process sterilizes the contents, killing any remaining microbes.

Pasteurization also tenderizes the meat while retaining moisture and flavor. It gives canned crab meat a shelf-stable quality so it can be stored unopened at room temperature.

No Additional Cooking Needed

Thanks to thorough cooking both before and after canning, commercially packaged crab meat requires no further preparation before eating.

The crab has already reached safe internal temperatures high enough to destroy harmful pathogens All you need to do is open the can and enjoy!

Of course, you can incorporate canned crab meat into cooked recipes if desired. But simple cold applications like crab salads, appetizers, sandwiches etc. are also safe.

Appearance of Raw Crab

Some people are hesitant to eat canned crab meat chilled and plain since it still has the translucent, glossy look of raw crab.

Rest assured its appearance is normal and cooked fully. The lack of opacity and flaking is due to the gentle steam cooking method. This preserves the structure of the tender meat chunks.

While you can warm canned crab for aesthetic purposes, avoid overcooking. High, direct heat will turn the delicate meat tough and rubbery.

Check for Shell Pieces

Reputable brands ensure cans are free of potentially hazardous shell fragments. But it’s still smart to visually inspect the meat for any remaining bits of shell or cartilage before eating.

And if a recipe calls for chopping or shredding the meat, be extra thorough about finding and removing shells first. They can easily get mixed in and become hard to detect.

Proper Handling

To maintain safety and quality, always store unopened canned crab meat in a cool, dry place. Avoid temperature extremes.

Once opened, keep refrigerated at 40°F or below and use within 3-5 days for best flavor. Discard any meat with an off odor.

Don’t freeze opened canned crab meat, as the texture suffers dramatically when thawed. For longer storage, buy only what you’ll use up quickly.

Buying the Best

With so many options on the market, quality really varies among canned crab brands. Here are tips for picking a top-notch product:

• Choose a reputable supplier like North Coast Seafoods with strict quality controls.

• Check the ingredients – should be 100% crab meat and salt, no fillers.

• Seek cans packed with minimal extra liquid for plumper, drier meat.

• Look for crab specifically labeled “jumbo lump” for large, premium chunk meat.

• Expect to pay more for higher quality crab meat. Deals that seem too good to be true usually are.

Ready When You Are

While live and freshly cooked crab is a sublime treat, the pre-cooked convenience of canned crab can be a lifesaver for home cooks. Keeping a few cans stocked in the pantry makes enjoying the sweet taste of crab meat easy anytime.

So savor canned crab meat chilled in a salad, heated in a recipe, or any way you desire. With its built-in cooking, crab in a can delivers ready-to-eat simplicity.