Crab butter, that rich, golden substance found inside cooked crabs, is a true culinary treasure Too often discarded, this versatile ingredient can transform ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences In this article, we’ll explore 12 delicious ways to make the most of crab butter and unlock its incredible flavor potential.
What is Crab Butter?
Crab butter sometimes called mustard or coral is the hepatopancreas or digestive gland of the crab. It sits inside the body cavity and takes on a yellowish-orange hue. This substance functions much like the liver and pancreas in other animals.
Despite its unappetizing appearance, crab butter boasts an incredible depth of sweet, briny flavor. It contains amino acids, fatty acids, and other compounds that provide a wonderfully smooth, umami mouthfeel.
Properly extracted and handled, crab butter brings the essence of the sea to any dish. Let’s look at how to unleash its flavor magic.
How to Extract and Prepare Crab Butter
Extracting crab butter takes a gentle touch. Once the crab is cooked, carefully remove the top shell. Scoop out the soft, creamy yellow-orange material, taking care to avoid the gills and gritty matter. Use a spoon or fingers to scrape every last bit from the shell interior.
For cooking, crab butter can be used as is or briefly melted into sauces. Its highly perishable nature means immediate use or proper refrigeration is a must. Now let’s explore some stellar ways to savor this treasure.
1. Enrich Rice and Grains
Stirring a bit of crab butter into rice, quinoa or other grains as they cook adds luxurious depth. The butter nicely coats each grain for a smooth, rich finish. For maximum flavor impact, add it toward the end of cooking.
2. Make Garlic Bread Extra Indulgent
Brushing crab butter over sliced bread creates the ultimate garlic bread. Melt it with minced garlic and brush generously atop baguette slices or French bread. Broil until crisp and golden. The crab butter seeps into the bread for richness in every bite.
3. Take Veggies Up a Notch
Imagine dousing just-roasted vegetables with melted crab butter – simple yet so decadent! Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots and beyond soak up the butter’s richness. You can also toss raw veggies with crab butter before roasting.
4. Give Corn on the Cob a Luxe Treatment
Slathering hot grilled corn with crab butter is sheer perfection. As it melts down the sides, a sprinkle of chili powder or smoked paprika adds extra flair. It takes corn from side dish to sensational.
5. Infuse Creamy Mashed Potatoes
For ultra-rich mashed spuds, gently fold a few spoonfuls of crab butter into hot potatoes as you mash them. The butter provides over-the-top flavor without extra heaviness. Just don’t over-mix, as that can make potatoes gummy.
6. Create an Indulgent Baked Potato Topper
A pat of crab butter over a piping hot baked potato is amazing. For even more decadence, add crispy bacon bits, caramelized onions or sautéed mushrooms before topping with the butter. It melts right into the flesh for indulgence in every creamy, buttery bite.
7. Make Easy Compound Butter
Blending crab butter with herbs, citrus zest or spices makes a stellar compound butter. Chill it into a log, slice and top seafood, meat or veggies. Great mix-in flavors include rosemary, chipotle powder, garlic and lemon.
8. Upgrade Your Morning Toast
Spreading crab butter over morning toast or English muffins is a treat. The richness beats plain butter by a landslide. Lightly broil or toast the crab-buttered bread for irresistible crunch.
9. Give Pasta Sauces a Silky Boost
Stir just a spoon or two of crab butter into hot pasta sauces for instant creamy richness. White wine or cream-based sauces are perfect candidates. For maximum flavor, add it at the end right before serving.
10. Make Seafood Extra Luxurious
Of course, crab butter shines when paired with shellfish. But you can also add pats to seafood bakes, stir into casseroles or mix into crab cake breading. Anywhere you want an extra hit of briny richness, crab butter delivers.
11. Whip Up Quick Sauces
Thin out crab butter with chicken broth, cream or wine for speedy pan sauces and poaching liquids. The butter adds silky richness and body while the liquid provides volume. Gently simmer until the sauce reduces and thickens.
12. Bake It into Treats
For next-level baked goods, use crab butter in place of some or all butter or oil in recipes for cookies, muffins, biscuits and more. The flavor and moisture benefits are incredible. Sweet or savory, it makes baked treats extra special.
Tips for Cooking with Crab Butter
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For optimum flavor, extract crab butter from freshly cooked, high-quality crabs. Discard any portions that seem gritty or discolored.
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Freeze extra crab butter in ice cube trays for easy use later on. Thaw cubes overnight in the fridge before using.
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When adding to hot dishes, melt the crab butter first to prevent separation. A quick sauté or microwave will do.
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Crab butter is highly perishable. Use within 1-2 days for best quality or freeze for longer storage.
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Start with small amounts when experimenting with recipes, as little goes a long way. Too much can overwhelm other flavors.
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Pair crab butter with lemon, garlic, parsley, chili and other bold seasonings that complement its rich taste.
Time to Try Crab Butter!
Hopefully this article has inspired you to embrace crab butter as the culinary treasure it is. With its incredibly complex and satisfying flavor, the possibilities are endless. Any dish, from seafood bakes to veggie sides, pastas, baked goods and beyond, can be taken to new heights with a bit of crab butter. Stop discarding this liquid gold and start transforming your cooking! Your taste buds will thank you.
How to Make a Crab Boil
Crab Boil Butter Sauce
The seasoned crab boil butter sauce is what brings everything together. You can pour it all over all the ingredients and toss it to coat everything, or brush it on and serve the remaining butter on the side (this is what I like to do). I like having the butter on the side so I can really douse the crab in butter before eating it. I love it dripping in butter for each bite. This butter sauce is also perfect on our Shrimp Foil Packets.
My brother’s seafood butter sauce
FAQ
How to eat crab butter?
A natural way to enjoy this crab butter is to spread a liberal amount on some warm finely sliced toast. Perhaps with some side salad. One jar is ample for two as it is quite a rich product.
What actually is crab butter?
Crab butter is a common (and unofficial) term used to describe the rich contents inside the body of a crab, under the carapace.Apr 9, 2025
What to add to crab butter?
with lobster or crab, start with some high quality butter, and once melted, add some minced garlic, some lemon zest, a touch of old bay and a pinch of salt.Jan 6, 2023
What is the green stuff in crab butter?
The “crab butter” you refer to is the yellow-white-greenish substance that is revealed after the large shell has been removed. This is actually a digestive gland known as the hepatopancreas, an equivalent to our liver and pancreas.
How do you use crab butter?
Add dollops of crab butter when cooking seafood like grilled fish, or stir some in at the end for a hit of crab flavor. You can also mix crab butter into pasta sauce, rice, or mashed potatoes for a taste of the sea. For an intense crab butter experience, quickly sauté some in a pan just until the moisture evaporates.
What to eat with crab butter sauce?
Serve up your crab butter sauce on top of a juicy steak and serve with a side of lemon wedges, brussels sprouts, red potatoes, crusty bread, and some red or white wine. There is really nothing like fresh Chesapeake crab meat smothered in butter with a hint of Old Bay seasoning.
What is crab butter sauce?
Crab butter sauce is so much more than melted butter. It’s typically made with clarified butter, giving it a full-bodied, rich, buttery taste and a smooth, glossy consistency. The butter is enriched with complimentary herbs and seasonings to make every bite of crab better than the last.
What should I do if my crab butter sauce breaks?
If it breaks, you can start over because you haven’t added the crabmeat yet. Serve up your crab butter sauce on top of a juicy steak and serve with a side of lemon wedges, brussels sprouts, red potatoes, crusty bread, and some red or white wine.
How do you make crab butter sauce?
Here’s how to make crab butter sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the crab meat to the melted butter and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the lemon juice, chopped parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the pan. Stir the ingredients together until well combined.
Do you need to cook crabmeat before making butter sauce?
Crab is incredibly delicate and can be reduced to stringy mush quite quickly. You only need to warm the crabmeat because it is already cooked. Other raw shellfish like lobster or shrimp can handle more heat and cook longer in a sauce. When preparing any butter sauce, you must reduce the heat before whisking in the butter.