Crabs in Cold Box

[gscaton1]

If you know for sure when the crabs were caught and put in a cold box, how long can you still steam the crabs if some of them die. If it was 2 days, would that be okay. First time on this board and thought you guys would know especially Pole Cat. A crabber sells my brother crabs and he puts them in a cold box in his bar and sometimes I can't get to them later, just want to know to be safe, thanks

[C-Hawk18]

Unless the crab is frozen, once it dies the bacteria will begin growing. (It actually starts prior to death causing those brown spots you see on the back of the top shell) If allowed to grow, even at 40 degrees, the meat will become "mushy" once steamed. The meat should not be harmful once eaten, as the steaming should kill the bacteria....but the meat will be mushy.

[jasaltinmyvn]

You shouldn't eat dead crabs even if they are 2 hours old let alone 2 days old. Shellfish start breaking down quicker than any other seafood. If in dought throw it out.

[Scott McGuire]

If it's dead 1 minute... don't eat it.

[POLECAT]

All the crabs I eat are dead! I wouldn't have it any other way. :D

Gary,

Prior to steaming, sort thru the crabs, throw away the dead ones, thoroughly rinse the live ones, and steam them. You'll be good to go.

[done workin]

If you've ever had food poisoning, you need to ask yourself the question "Do I want it again?" and then remember the golden rule. If you have to ask, you don't want to know the answer.

A few extra crabs aren't worth the risk of praying to the porcelain. Besides, you aren't the only one eating them and that kind of illness is reserved for only the worst enemies.


Not worth the risk to me.

Chris

[Jim Bright]

Polecat - curious, why rinse the crabs?

[POLECAT]

I always rinse the crabs I catch in fresh clean water prior to steaming. Why? I'm a hygenic kind of guy. :thumbup:

Most times, the water the crabs come from is muddy and the clarity is less than 12". That's not what I'd call clean!

I know the steam kills all or most of the nasty bactreria on the crabs and in the water, but I'd rather place "clean" things in my body rather than filthy crud.

Even after a good rinse the water left in the steamer is usually black and unsightly. I doubt any of us would consider drinking any of it.

Another reason I rinse is to wash off any jellies and grasses, mud, etc. that may still be on the shells.

The finished product tastes the same whether I rinse or not, but I have greater peace of mind when I know the critters are rinsed. Besides, it makes the seasoning stick better.

[C-Hawk18]

Besides, it makes the seasoning stick better.

That's why I rinse mine

[Pinchy03]

how do you go about rinsing, one by one or just spray down the bushel basket real good?

[POLECAT]

I use a 19 gallon tub (my cull basket) that a wooden bushel basket fits in nicely. Fill it with water to the top of the wooden basket (with lid on) and rock it back and forth.

Dump the water out and repeat if necessary depending on how dirty the water is that comes out. Usually 2 rinsings are all that's needed; rarely more. Takes no more than a couple minutes.

[JB Crabs]

I rinse mine off also.

When I want to steam up a batch I get a tub out and fill it with water and Ice. I sort through the bushel basket one by one searching for any dead and place the live ones in the cold water with ice for maybe 15 min. or so. Then I take them out of the water and end their life by inserting an ice pick inside them using the flipper area as the point of entry. Push the pick in to the face of the crab, not protruding through and I tip the ice pick and drag the point back against the shell both sides, upper and lower shell. Never run the pick around the meat areas, keep it in the center. The legs will go limp. I steamed up over two bushels yesterday and the crabs never dropped a claw through the process. I leaned this by going to the Tidalfish crabfest.

Before anyone asks because of steaming over two bushels, I'm a Commercial crabber


John

[Blast n Cast]

no need to stick them with an ice pick if you havethem in ice water ofr 15 minutes. I chill all my crabs and never loose and claws or legs, as the ice water places them in a suspended state.