Crabs are available in a lot of ways such as in icy white tubs or the bottom across the tank. You can also get them in whole or even cooked meat only. No matter in what form you get a crab, they are totally worth it. Inside it’s had protection, lies one of the best flavors in the world which is the perfect combination of sweet and salt. This is why crabmeat is the favorite dish of a lot of people.
A lot of people get crabs in bulk and try to store them as well. So, can you store the crabs from freezing? Are you also wondering the same thing? If yes, then keep reading. You will find everything that you need to know below.
Can Crabs Be Frozen?
To simply answer the question; yes, you can freeze the crabs. But, it is best to freeze the crabs in a shell. If you do not freeze the crab in proper protection, there is a chance that the meat will lose its texture. It might become stingy as well. So, you should store the crabmeat with its shell.
Can You Freeze Live Crabs?
A lot of people out there try to freeze live crabs as well. So, can live crabs be frozen? The answer is no. Live crabs cannot be frozen as it is a terrible idea. Freezing live crabs is highly not recommended. If you store live crabs at a temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the chances are that the crab will perish quickly. The crab will perish because of undigested food or bacteria inside the crab. This bacteria or undigested food inside the crab will cause the crabmeat to rot and perish even if you put in the freezing temperature. This is why it is recommended that you do not freeze live crabs.
Does Freezing A Crab Kill It?
If you put live crabs in the freezer, the crab will die within a few hours. Some people even put the crabs temporarily in the freezer to make the cooking process easier. But, make sure that you store the live crab for only a few hours in the freezer. If you freeze it for a long time, the undigested food and bacteria inside the crab will cause the crabmeat to rot. For this purpose, experts recommend not to freeze the live crabs for a longer period.
How to Freeze the Crabs the Right Way?
Freezing the crab is extremely easy. All you need to do is follow some steps and you are good to go. There are three ways in which you can freeze the crab. Want to know more about them? Keep reading then.
1. Pick the Crab and Freeze the Meat
This is an extremely simple way to freeze the crab. All you need to do is get a vacuum sealer. The vacuum sealer will keep the crabmeat fresh and sweat. Want to know how to vacuum seal your crab? Just pick the crab and put it in the bag. Keep the bag in the freezer for a little while. This will firm it up. Once you are satisfied that it is fully firmed, you can seal the bag. Crabs frozen like this can be stored for three to six months.
2. Freeze the Cooked Crab
Did you know that you can even freeze the cooked crab? Well, now you know. You can skip the picking part and cook the crab meat and freeze it after it is cooked. But, make sure that you keep it in the shell. Keeping the meat in the shell will preserve its flavors and texture. Cooking the meat is extremely easy too. All you need to do is just boil the crab in water for a maximum of twenty minutes. This will kill the bacteria present in the crab. Boiled or cooked crabs can be frozen for a period of three months.
3. Cook, Clean, and Freeze The Crab
You can even cook the crab and clean it before storing it. This method is somewhat the same as the one described above. But, in this method, you will not have to store the crab with its shell. Instead, you will have to remove the shell and wash out the leftover. This will ensure that the crabmeat stays fresh. But, if you like crab mustard, you should not go with this option. Crabs frozen like this can be stored for a maximum period of three months.
Can You Cook Frozen Crab?
Although you can cook frozen crab, we would not recommend it. Thawing the crab before freezing it will get the best results. If you go from frozen to boiling temperature suddenly, the crab will not cook properly. The meat will be cooked unevenly. This is why you should thaw and heat the crab before cooking it.
What Is the Best Way to Thaw and Heat the Crab?
Want to cook the crabs that you had previously frozen? But, you will need to defrost it first. You need to thaw the legs in the refrigerator for one night before you can cook them. The best way to cook the crab is to steam it first. It will completely defrost the crab. If you do not have a large enough pot, you can even put it in a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with about half an inch of water.
Can You Freeze Crab Soup?
Want to know if you can freeze the crab soup or not? Well, if you have prepared and cooked the soup safely, everything can be frozen. So, if you want to freeze the crab soup so that you can devour it later, make sure that you prepare the soup using all safety methods. Otherwise, the soup will quickly perish away.
So, if you want your crabs to stay fresh after defrosting, just follow the steps mentioned above. But, make sure that you do not freeze live crabs for too long as it is not good for your health.