Keeping legs on?

[flames]

just wondering why when i cook my crabs alot of them come out clawless or alot of legs missing? i have them on ice for at least 2 hrs before i steam them. so they are pretty docile when i load them in the pot. i guess it doesnt really make a differece they still taste good but i just like the presentation of a crab with all its legs and both claws.

[Bob H.]

Try sticking an ice pick in at the back fin and scrap it across the underside of the shell. It takes a little time unless you've had the practice that RJ has - he can scrap a bushel in no time.

[polarized]

Don't be bashful with the ice. Use at least 20 - 30 pounds.

[Burchbeer]

Ice em.
I do and love it.
Or dont and lose legs.

Good Luck!

DB

[SUMMERTOP]

BB, is totally right. Ice them hard and they won't get rid of their legs. I just throw them in the pot, because the first thing my company does anyway.... Pull of the legs.[grin]

[drumrunner4320]

If you dont have enough time to allow them to ice for a few hours.(atleast 3-4). Use alot of ice. If you need them faster, ice them down like you already have and then fill your cooler with ice. The ice, and ice water will have them ready in 20 minutes. I used to work at a seafood restaurant and that was their secret.

[donp]

Does anyone shock them?

[Charlie Trophy]

Drumrunner,
Are you saying to emerge the crabs into ice water? I thought of doing that, but didn't know how long to do it for, and didn't want to mess up a bushel of crabs experimenting.

I would think if you submerged the crabs in ice water, it wouldn't take more than 5 or 10 minutes to bring their body temp down the same as placing them in ice for a couple of hours. (That's the quickest way to get beer cold!!)

Has anyone tried this?

[Capt. Dale]

Charlie Trophy originally wrote:
Drumrunner,
Are you saying to emerge the crabs into ice water? I thought of doing that, but didn't know how long to do it for, and didn't want to mess up a bushel of crabs experimenting.

I would think if you submerged the crabs in ice water, it wouldn't take more than 5 or 10 minutes to bring their body temp down the same as placing them in ice for a couple of hours. (That's the quickest way to get beer cold!!)

Has anyone tried this?

Yes Charlie, about 15 to 30 minutes in ice water works also.
Some say using the ice water method makes for watery crabs
I havn't experenced that problem.
I'm to lazy to use the ice pick method on a basket of crabs [smile]

[mikie]

A lot of the commercial operators are shocking their crabs now.

[Charlie Trophy]

I figure the crabs live in the water, (they must be waterproof!) so they should be able to handle a cold dunking before they are steamed and not be watery - thanks for the advice!

Shocking sounds dangerous to me -

[Water_boy]

Are we talking about knocking them out or cooking them?

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