Cracking into delicious crab legs, lobster claws, and other crustaceans often requires a specialized tool known most commonly as a crab cracker. But this versatile shellfish-cracking implement goes by many other names as well. So what exactly are crab crackers called? The answer reveals a fascinating array of regional variations and practical terminology reflecting different designs and usage.
In this article, we’ll explore the diverse nomenclature of crab crackers, including key alternative names, regional favorites, materials and mechanisms, selection criteria, usage tips, and substitutes. Let’s crack open this shellfish vocabulary mystery and get ready to enjoy the briny bounty within!
Alternate Names for Crab Crackers
While “crab cracker” is the predominant universal term, you may also encounter
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Lobster cracker – Typically describes a tool specialized for lobster shells.
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Shellfish cracker – Broader term for any shellfish cracking tool
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Nutcracker – Some can crack small shells too.
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Crab mallet – Hammer-like crackers.
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Shellfish pick – Pick-like tool to extract meat.
Regional Variations
Regional shellfishing traditions lead to local favorites:
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“Crab cracker” prevails on crab-centric East and West coasts.
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“Lobster cracker” common in New England lobster country.
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Generic names used in broader culinary contexts.
Materials and Mechanisms
Crab crackers utilize leverage and durability, including:
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Metal (stainless steel, zinc alloy) – Rust-resistant and strong.
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Wood – Attractive but requires maintenance.
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Plastic/rubber – Enhances grip.
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Lever – Amplifies force for clean cracks.
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Pincers – Allow precision targeting of shells.
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Mallet – Hammer action breaks apart shells.
Selection Criteria
Considerations when choosing a crab cracker:
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Shellfish type – Size and shape impact needs.
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Strength – Must withstand repeated stress.
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Comfort – Ergonomic grip prevents slipping.
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Weight – Heavier often better for larger shells.
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Ease of cleaning – Crucial for food safety.
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Price – Balances cost and performance.
Proper Crab Cracker Usage
Cracking shellfish takes practice and technique:
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Target weak points – Break at joints for clean extraction.
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Control force – Don’t pulverize meat inside.
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Protect hands – Shell edges are sharp.
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Clean thoroughly – Prevent bacteria spread.
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Practice – Develop a feel for optimal force.
DIY Substitutes in a Pinch
If lacking a crab cracker, potential stand-ins include:
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Pliers – Wrap jaws to prevent shell cuts.
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Heavy duty nutcracker – For smaller shells.
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Hammer – Gently tap to fracture shells.
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Kitchen shears – Make straight cuts instead.
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Knife – Carefully pry open edges but risk injury.
Crab and shellfish crackers come in many styles with varied regional names. But they all serve the same briny purpose – revealing the tender bounty within those bivalve shells. With the right cracking tool and technique, enjoying a seafood feast becomes a hands-on adventure of flavor well worth getting cracked up about.
So go forth and get cracking, but please do so safely! Don’t forget to thoroughly clean your cracking tools afterwards. Now let’s eat!
Set of crackers and picks
You can also buy crackers and picks as a set. If your crab feast is an intimate affair, Williams-Sonoma has the perfect kit for two. For more of a small family gathering, Good Cook’s five-piece set is a good option. If you’re going bigger, Sur la Table’s set has enough picks for six and two crackers to really get a party going.
One of the highlights of hosting a crab feast is the relatively easy clean-up, thanks to butcher paper that doubles as a graveyard for empty crab shells and can be swept into a trash bin. Cameron’s Seafood sells classic, brown butcher paper, but if you want something more thematic, this crab print paper from Etsy is ridiculously cute. (Or you can also just skip the butcher paper and lay down newspapers.)
A full boiler kit will set you back a couple hundred dollars, but will also reward you with untold amounts of crab, shrimp, crawfish, and whatever other seafood you can boil. What we’re looking for in a boiler is something crafted from stainless steel so it can heat evenly and stay hot. As its name suggests, Bayou Classic knows a thing or two about seafood boils. Target sells its kits in both 60-quart and 82-quart sizes.
You’ll need something sturdy and unfussy for all of those hot crabs as they come tumbling out of the boiler, but that doesn’t mean it has to be drab. The options from Falcon Enamelware and Crow Canyon will lend pops of vibrant color to a crab feast, but if simplicity is your thing, Restaurant Supply’s trays are a solid choice.
National Bohemian beer, fondly known as “Natty Boh,” is a crab feast necessity not only for drinking, but also for steaming the crabs themselves. Although the beer is no longer brewed in Baltimore, it has remained the go-to lager for over a century and imbues the crabs with a light, hoppy flavor that pairs well with the addition of lemons. It’s available pretty much wherever beer is sold.
And what’s the point of having beer if you don’t have a bottle opener? You can go the Maryland pride route with a bottle opener directly from National Bohemian, or if you’re feeling fancy, try this sleek, sturdy brass number from Food52.
It’s necessary to have a pan of melted butter — with Old Bay sprinkled in, of course — going during a crab feast. Use it for corn, to dunk the crab in, or even for rolls. Eater’s mini saute pan, made in partnership with Heritage Steel, works well for this, as both the pan and its lid can withstand the flames of an outdoor grill. It also heats evenly, ensuring the butter inside remains warm and melty.
This small but mighty sauté pan is great for preparing a quick pan sauce, searing small portions of protein, sautéing vegetables, or whipping up a solo side in a pinch. Pair it with our 4-quart sauté for a truly dynamic duo.
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11 PCS Seafood Tools Set Legs Lobster Crackers And Picks Tools Set，Use the tools to eat crabs.
FAQ
What is the best crab cracker?
1. OXO Good Grips Slim Nut & Seafood Cracker. The OXO Good Grips SLIM Nut & Seafood Cracker is tremendous if you don’t need to open big crab claws but still want a durable, easy-to-use product. It is made from high-quality materials with a metal cracker and ridges for gripping.
What are the things called to crack crab legs?
Crab leg crackers are specialized utensils designed for cracking open the hard shells of crabs, lobsters, and other shellfish. They are often called crab crackers, lobster crackers, or simply seafood crackers.
Does Walmart sell crab leg crackers?
Crab Crackers And Tools Crab Leg Crackers Tool Lobster Crackers Seafood (pink) – Walmart.com.
Are crab crackers and nut crackers the same thing?
While both nutcrackers and crab crackers use a lever or squeezing action to break open hard surfaces, they are designed differently and optimized for their respective tasks.