Red king crabs are crustaceans that are harvested as a source of meat. If you want to eat healthy, crab meat is a great choice because it is high in protein and low in fat. There are red king crabs in oceans all over the world, but most of the ones Americans eat come from the waters near Alaska. U. S. legislation states only male crabs, which are larger than females, can be commercially caught and sold.
Is There Meat in the Body of an Alaskan King Crab?
Alaskan king crab is one of the most prized seafood delicacies, loved by gourmets around the world for its incredibly sweet, succulent meat But there’s long been a myth that only the legs of the king crab contain good meat, while the body is essentially inedible So is there actually any meat worth eating in the body of a king crab? Let’s dig into this question and find out.
As someone who loves cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, I was curious to get to the bottom of this. I did some research consulted seafood experts, and even tried tasting king crab body meat myself to uncover the truth. Here’s a comprehensive look at what I found.
Anatomy of the Alaskan King Crab
To understand where the meat is located, we first need to understand the basic anatomy. The Alaskan king crab has a hard protective shell called an exoskeleton that covers its body and legs. It has five pairs of legs, with the front pair sporting the signature large claws that king crab is so famous for. The next two pairs are walking legs, while the rear two pairs are swimming legs.
Underneath the hard shell, the body contains the internal organs, including the digestive system, heart, brain, and reproductive system. The muscles that control the movement of the legs and claws are attached on the inside edges of the exoskeleton. This muscle tissue is what makes up the edible meat.
Where is the King Crab Meat Located?
The huge claws and meaty legs are undisputedly the most prized sections of king crab, packed with flaky white meat. The legs can contain chunks of meat as large as lobster tails delivering amazing flavor and texture. The claws also offer a hearty amount of dense, sweet meat – though it can be trickier to extract.
But what about the body? Here’s where things get interesting. While the strong-flavored organs are inedible, there is actually a modest amount of meat tucked into the recesses of the body cavity and under the shell. It won’t deliver huge sections like the legs, but rather smaller, delicate flakes. The texture is not as firm as the leg and claw meat, having a softer consistency almost like crabmeat from a jumbo lump.
Taste tests have shown the body meat to have a slightly milder flavor than the leg and claw meat. But cooked properly, it can impart a wonderful sweet and briny taste of the sea, with a smooth velvety texture. The body meat has a high meat to shell ratio, lacking some of the tough parts found in the larger leg sections. This makes it excellent for versatile use in seafood dishes beyond just cracking and eating by hand.
Getting the Most From Your King Crab
For seafood lovers who want to enjoy every last bit of their king crab, the body meat is worthy of extracting, though it does take some patience. Carefully cracking open the body shell using hammers or crab crackers can reveal those hidden pockets of meat inside. Using picks, they can then be painstakingly extracted and collected for later use.
When incorporated into dishes like risottos, pastas, soups, and crab cakes, the smaller pieces of body meat add wonderful bursts of sweet crab flavor throughout each bite. The soft texture even allows the meat to be used minced or broken down further if desired. Just take care not to overcook the more delicate body meat when including it in hot dishes.
While legs and claws account for the lion’s share of meat from a king crab, the extra nuggets found tucked away in the body provide a tasty bonus bounty. Exploring new ways to highlight the flavor and texture of this lesser known part of the king crab opens up exciting possibilities for seafood lovers. Now that the myth of inedible body meat has been debunked, don’t let those morsels go to waste next time you crack open one of these beauties!
Which Parts to Eat
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It is mostly the legs and sometimes the claws of the red king crab that are eaten. All crabs have five pairs of legs, with the foremost set having developed into a set of pincers. On red king crabs, the three sets of legs closest to the claws are the biggest and meatiest. The fifth set of legs is small and hidden under the shell. The record length of an adult’s legs is almost 5 feet, so there’s a lot of meat in them. Most males that are caught weigh between 4 and 9 pounds.
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Live crabs are cleaned and the body split to divide the legs into two separate sections. The legs are then boiled in salty water right away and then quickly washed in cold salty water to stop any leftover heat from cooking the meat even more, which can make it tough. The sections are then frozen for distribution commercial distribution.
People buy the red king crab’s legs and claws because they have the juiciest meat. However, the shells are often sent to canners, who pick out the bodies of any remaining meat to use in canned crab products.
Tackling a king crab at home is also straightforward. Clean the crabs then pull off the legs and boil or steam them for 20 to 30 minutes. The flesh is obtained by cracking open the legs and claws using nut crackers or a small hammer.
Fresh crab meat can be enjoyed as part of a salad with chopped avocado and a zesty dressing. You can also use crab meat that has been spiced with fresh chilies to make a classic Italian dish with spaghetti or just put it on sandwiches.
Alaskan King Crab – Clean & Cook
FAQ
Does the king crab body have meat?
Can you eat the whole Alaskan king crab?
Is there meat in the snow crab body?
Are there king crabs in Alaska?
There are three species of king crab in Alaska- red king crab, blue king crab, and brown king crab. They are found in different areas of Alaskan waters. Below is a detailed map of the main habitat areas. Most of the king crab harvested in Alaska comes from the Bering Sea.
Is it safe to eat crab meat during pregnancy?
It is safe to eat crab meat during pregnancy as long as it comes from a reliable source, with appropriate hygienic and sanitary conditions for pre-preparation, preparation and packaging of this food.
Are Alaskan king crabs good?
Now, as the majestic King Crab makes its triumphant return, enthusiasts have the opportunity to rediscover its unmatched flavor and indulge in a delicacy revered for its rich, sweet meat. Alaskan king crabs are marvelous to look at, enormous in size, and provide exceptional quality meat.
What do Alaskan king crabs eat?
King crabs are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Since they live on the ocean floor, young crabs are foraging for protozoa, hydroids and other organisms within easy reach. As they grow older, king crabs feast on worms, clams, mussels, algae, fish parts and other small creatures. Q: How far underwater do Alaskan king crabs live?