What is the gray paste inside the swimming crab? How to store steamed swimming crab

Swimming crabs can be eaten fresh, steamed, fried, or stir-fried, or cut in half and stewed with bean paste, or stir-fried with rice cakes, pickles, or tofu. They are common dishes on the tables of residents in coastal areas. If you often like to eat swimming crabs, you should know that the backs of healthy and plump crabs are green, while the backs of thin crabs are yellow. What is the gray paste inside the swimming crab? Let's take a look!

Contents of this article

1. What is the gray paste inside the swimming crab?

2. How to store steamed swimming crabs

3. Why is the yellow of swimming crab bitter?

What is the gray paste inside the swimming crab?

The gray paste inside the swimming crab may be some sand or crab excrement. It is because there is no crab roe in it, not because it is bad. Such crabs can be cleaned. Or it may be because the crab has been frozen to death for too long and is not fresh, so it has turned gray. It is recommended not to eat such crabs.

First, you can look at its color. The back of a healthy and plump crab is green, while the back of a thin crab is yellow.

Then you can look at the crab's abdomen. The abdomen of a crab with fat roe is generally convex, while the abdomen of a crab with less roe is concave.

You can also look at its weight. If it feels heavy in your hand, it is fat, while if it feels light, it has less meat.

How to store steamed swimming crabs

Steamed swimming crabs can be packed in fresh-keeping boxes. If you want to store them for a short time, you can put them in the refrigerator. If you need to store them overnight, you can put them in the freezer. The temperature in the freezer is low, which can inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms to a certain extent and extend the storage time of swimming crabs. The freezing time should not exceed 24 hours.

The meat of swimming crab is tender and white, rich in protein, fat and various minerals. Swimming crabs are the strongest in the winter, generally weighing about 250 grams. Female crabs are covered with red cream and taste excellent.

Swimming crabs can be eaten fresh, steamed, fried, stir-fried, or cut in half and stewed with bean paste, or stir-fried with rice cakes, pickles, or tofu. They are a common dish on the tables of residents along the coastal areas.

Why is the yellow of swimming crab bitter?

It is possible that the swimming crab is contaminated, or the swimming crab's gonads are immature and not yet edible, or the immersion time is insufficient or the swimming crab has died. If the swimming crab roe is bitter, it is recommended not to eat it to avoid causing physical discomfort.

Swimming crabs are sea crabs. If the sea where they live is seriously polluted, they may carry many harmful substances in their bodies.

After purchasing swimming crabs, they usually need to be soaked for 2-3 days. If the soaking time is too short, the bitter substances in the crab roe will not be completely discharged.

If the gonads of the swimming crab are not fully mature, not only will the crab roe have a bitter taste, but it will also be thinner and have a worse taste.