Crab Feast Tools

Quick answer: A proper crab feast needs a wooden mallet, a claw cracker, a seafood picking tool, a bib, and a butter warmer, plus a paper-covered table and a bowl for shells. Here is what each tool does and how to use it.

Cracking crabs is half the fun, as long as you have the right tools. Here is our short list.

The Essential Crab Feast Tools

• Wooden mallet. For tapping claws and knuckles open without shattering the meat. Shop our crab mallet.
• Claw cracker. For the big claws a mallet cannot crush cleanly. Shop our claw crackers.
• Seafood picking tool. A slim pick to pull meat from legs and tight crevices. Shop our seafood picking tool.
• Crab bib. Keeps seasoning and splatter off your clothes. Shop our crab bibs.
• Butter warmer. Keeps drawn butter melted from the first claw to the last. Shop our butter warmer.

Nice-to-Have Extras

• Brown kraft paper to cover the table
• A big bowl for empty shells
• Plenty of napkins and wet wipes
• Small bowls for melted butter and vinegar

How to Use Each Tool

1. Twist off the legs and claws first.
2. Tap the claws with the mallet, or use the claw cracker on the largest ones.
3. Use the picking tool to pull meat from the legs and body chambers.
4. Dip in warm butter and repeat.

For the full setup, see our at-home crab feast guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tools do you need to eat crabs?
A mallet, a claw cracker, a seafood picking tool, and a bib cover the essentials, plus a butter warmer for the table.

Do you need a mallet for blue crabs?
A mallet helps crack the claws and knuckles. Much of a blue crab can be opened by hand once you get the hang of it.

What is a crab picking tool?
A slim pick used to pull meat out of the legs and the crab's inner chambers.

Set your table for the season. Shop our crab mallets, crackers, picks, bibs, and butter warmers, shipped with your crabs. Shop crab tools.