Dungeness crab is a delicious and luxurious shellfish found off the west coast of North America. With its sweet succulent meat and satisfyingly messy experience eating fresh Dungeness crab is an indulgent treat. However, if you’ve never eaten it before, you may be wondering – how exactly do you eat Dungeness crab?
As a seafood lover who enjoys indulging in Dungeness crab whenever I visit San Francisco, I’ve learned plenty of tips and tricks over the years In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from sourcing and cooking to cleaning, cracking, and savoring each morsel of this decadent crustacean
Step 1: Source High-Quality Dungeness Crab
The key to amazing Dungeness crab is finding fresh, high-quality crabs. Here are some tips:
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Seasonality – Dungeness crab season on the West Coast runs from mid-November through June, with peak availability in winter and early spring. This is when you’ll find the freshest crabs.
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Geography – Dungeness crabs are found from Alaska down to California, but the prime sourcing spot is the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Buy From Trusted Sellers – Purchase live or fresh-cooked crabs from reputable fish markets and seafood suppliers. Ensure they source from sustainable fisheries.
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Look for Liveliness – Live crabs should be active and feisty. Their shells should look clean with no grime or damage.
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Consider Air Shipping – If you don’t live near the coast, many sellers provide overnight shipping of fresh Dungeness crab.
Step 2: Cook the Crabs
Boiling is the easiest cooking method for Dungeness crab. Here’s how:
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Choose a large pot and fill with salted water, leaving 3 inches of clearance. Bring to a rolling boil.
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Use tongs to carefully lower the live crabs into the pot. Cook for 12-15 minutes once the water resumes boiling.
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Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water. After cooking, transfer the crabs to the ice bath for 10-15 minutes. This stops the cooking process.
Pro tips:
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For flavor, add crab boil seasoning or Old Bay to the cooking liquid.
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Chill the cooked crabs until cool enough to handle before cleaning.
Step 3: Clean the Crab
Cleaning Dungeness crab removes the inedible viscera and isolates the sweet meat. You’ll need:
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Sturdy cutting board
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Sharp knife or kitchen shears
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Seafood forks
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Paper towels
Steps:
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Lay the crab belly-up and pry off the triangular belly flap. Discard.
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Flip over and remove the top shell. Scoop out and discard the yellow “crab butter.”
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Remove the gills and innards. Rinse out the body cavity thoroughly.
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Twist off the legs and claws where they meet the body.
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Crack the shells using a mallet or seafood crackers.
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Use forks to pull the meat from the body and limbs. Discard any shells or cartilage.
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Refrigerate the prepared meat until ready to eat.
Step 4: Crack the Shells
Now for the fun part – getting the sweet meat out of those hard shells! Arm yourself with these tools:
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Crab mallet – Hammer-like tool for cracking limbs at the joints
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Seafood crackers – Tabletop vise-like tool that breaks shells with a squeeze
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Crab picks – Mini forks to pull meat out of tight spaces
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Pliers or lobster picks – Helpful for stubborn claws
Work slowly, cracking shells and carefully extracting the meat. Take your time and enjoy the process!
Step 5: Enjoy Eating the Crab
Once you’ve conquered the shell, it’s time to savor the fresh Dungeness crab meat! Here are serving suggestions:
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Eat plain, or dip in melted butter, garlic aioli, or lemon aioli
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Add to pasta, rice bowls, frittatas, sandwiches, and salads
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Drink chilled white wine like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio
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Spread on sourdough for open-faced crab sandwiches
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Mix with mayo for an easy crab salad
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Enjoy slowly, savoring the sweet, delicate flavor
With these simple steps, you’ll be ready to indulge in fresh Dungeness crab like a pro. While it takes effort to prepare properly, the sweet payoff of picking out that fresh, succulent meat straight from the shell is well worth it. Get your tools ready and dive into this amazing West Coast delicacy. Your tastebuds will thank you!
Step 5: Remove Carapace
Step 3: Rinse and Cool
Remove your crab from the pot, and rinse under cool water in the sink. This will stop the cooking process, cool down the shell enough for you to handle, and rinse off any icky crab guts that may have oozed out during cooking.
Flip him over a couple of times to get both sides with the spray.
From the comments: Many people like the crab guts! Im told theyre great on rice or toast, or just sucked directly out of the shell. I was apparently raised wrong, however, so will continue to use words like “icky” and rinse out all the crab guts I see. Please feel free to post recipes that will prove me wrong!
Also, crab guts concentrate any toxins the crabs may be exposed to; make your own decisions on this point.
Chef Burgess Shows Us How to Cook + Eat Dungeness Crab | Hog Island Oyster Co.
FAQ
Do you eat the entire Dungeness crab?
Dungeness are much better for eating straight out of the shell than blue crabs. You have to pull off the shell and remove the gills and rinse out the mushy green and orange stuff. Some people eat that too or use it as an ingredient. What you are left with is the body, legs, and claws.
What part of a crab can’t you eat?
Thankfully, nearly every part of a crab can be eaten, with one exception: the lungs or gills, aka “The Devil’s Fingers.” Despite the myth that they’re harmful to eat, crab lungs are not inherently toxic. The real reason to steer clear of them is that they just don’t taste good.
Is Dungeness crab hard to eat?
— just cook a Dungeness crab. It is so easy to prepare; the meat is so sweet and tender; it is so nearly perfect just as it comes in its original wrapper. Surely, some greater power must love us mightily to give us anything that delivers such pleasure and demands so little.
What do Dungeness crabs eat?
These crabs are carnivores, and their favorite food (and perhaps yours, too) is clams. A healthy diet of those little bivalves gives Dungeness crab their sweet flavor. They also feed on mussels, scallops, small fish, other crabs, and… marine worms; an incredible smorgasbord of seafood.
What is Dungeness crab?
The Dungeness crab is a popular seafood, prized for its sweet and tender flesh. The name comes from the port of Dungeness, Washington where these crabs are found. If you plan to prepare and serve Dungeness crab at home, you must know how to clean them, that is, to remove the inedible parts and present the most delicious ones.
Can you eat Dungeness crab at home?
Dungeness crab can be a luxurious, festive, and deliciously messy meal. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, you can prepare and enjoy dungeness crab at home. It’s important to cook, clean, and serve crab properly to enjoy its full decadence. Even if it’s a quiet dinner at home, when dungeness crab is on the menu, your taste buds will be celebrating!