What Does Bad Crab Meat Look Like? – A Complete Visual Guide

Crab meat is a delicious seafood treat that many of us love to eat. However like any perishable food crab meat can go bad if not stored and handled properly. But what exactly does bad crab meat look like? How can you tell if the crab meat has spoiled and is unsafe to eat?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the key visual signs of bad crab meat, so you can identify spoiled crab and avoid accidental consumption.

Common Signs of Spoilage in Crab Meat

Here are the most common visual and sensory cues that indicate your crab meat has gone bad:

• Discoloration – Good crab meat is white with a reddish tint. Bad crab meat will appear yellow, grey, brown, or blue. This discoloration is caused by bacterial growth.

• Slimy Texture – Fresh crab meat feels moist and firm Spoiled crab meat will have a sticky, mushy, or slimy consistency due to bacteria breaking down tissues

• Ammonia Smell – Fresh crab has a mild briny scent Rotten crab emits a strong ammonia odor from protein decomposition,

• Mold Growth – The presence of fuzzy mold spots, regardless of color, signals the crab meat is spoiled. Do not eat any crab with mold.

• Soft Shells – In whole cooked crabs, softened shells can indicate the meat inside has spoiled. Discard any crab with a cracked or damaged shell.

• Expired Date – Crab meat that has sat past its printed expiration date should not be consumed and likely has spoiled.

Appearance of Spoiled Raw Crab Meat

Raw crab meat in its fresh state is translucent white with a pinkish hue and sheen. Once spoiled, several key visual changes occur:

• The color dulls from an opaque white to a yellow, grey, or blue-green cast.

• The consistency becomes overly soft and slimy rather than firm and moist.

• Dark brown or black spotting appears from bacterial growth.

• The surface may become coated in a sticky film or sheen.

• Mold growth in the form of fuzzy spots in various colors can emerge.

Any of these visible cues indicate the raw crab meat has spoiled and should be discarded. Do not attempt to cook and consume bad raw crab.

Signs of Spoilage in Cooked Crab Meat

Cooked crab meat takes on a more solid opaque white appearance. Watch for these signs of spoilage in cooked crab meat:

• Unnatural color changes to yellow, grey, green, or brown

• Presence of dark spotting from bacteria

• Mushy texture lacking firmness

• Visible mold growth on the meat

• Strong fishy or ammonia odor

• Milky colors seeping from the meat

• Slimy residue on the meat surface

Cooked crab can spoil faster than raw due to potential time and temperature abuse. When cooked crab displays any of these visual cues, it has gone bad and needs to be thrown out.

What Does Expired Crab Meat Look Like?

Once crab meat has passed its printed expiration date, visible signs of spoilage quickly set in. Here’s how expired crab meat tends to look:

• Dull, faded color versus vibrant white

• Grey, yellow, or blue-green discoloring

• Dry, flaky texture and loss of moisture

• Dehydrated, shrunken appearance

• Strong ammonia or rotten odor

• Growth of mold fuzzy spots

• Bubbly textures and holes within the meat

Do not consume any crab meat that is past date, even if there are no clear visual cues of spoilage yet. The expired status means it is at high risk of harboring dangerous bacteria. Always check freshness dates and discard any expired crab meat.

How to Avoid Spoiled Crab Meat

To avoid dealing with bad crab meat, follow these tips:

• Only purchase fresh crab meat from reputable sellers

• Check expiration dates and don’t buy crab meat close to expiring

• Inspect crab meat packages for signs of spoilage before purchasing

• Store crab meat properly in airtight containers below 40°F

• Follow safe handling practices to prevent cross-contamination

• Cook crab thoroughly to an internal temperature of 145°F

• Consume crab within recommended time frames after cooking

• Know the visual cues of spoiled crab and when to throw it out

Stay vigilant to keep crab meat fresh and safe for consumption. But if you spot any signs of spoilage, don’t take chances – toss it! With this comprehensive visual guide, you can now readily identify bad crab meat.

Bad crab meat can be identified by a pungent or fishy odor, discoloration (especially blue or gray), a slimy texture, and the presence of mold.