How long can you store blue crab meat?
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How long can you store blue crab meat in the fridge?
Blue crabs serve as a delicacy up and down the east coast, and thanks to modern day refrigeration, shipping is possible now throughout the nation. During the early days of the picking parties, enthusiasts attempted to eat every last morsel since it became quite obvious blue crab meat doesn’t last long in or outside refrigeration. An understanding that the meat should store at a temperature close to freezing, but not to that temperature, gave the home cooks more options for reusing leftovers for recipes. Picking a jumbo crab yields about 2.5 oz. of meat, so a large {6”-6.5”} or x-large {6.5”-7} fulfill almost a serving size for a recipe. Most dishes call for 3-4 ounces of meat for a serving. Therefore, 2 meaty blue crabs will supply enough jumbo, lump, and claw meat for crab cakes, crab imperial, or even crab dip. The skill rests on knowing where to find the three types of meat.
If you decide to buy pasteurized meat, the treatment and sealed container will last up to 6 months in the fridge. Freshly picked crab meat and crabs will last 3-5 days. The meat in the crabs last longer since it’s still protected in the crab cavities. Fresh meat, specifically, should receive the utmost gentle care. Fill a vegetable or fruit bottom bin in the refrigerator with ice and store the pound container in that tub, buried in the ice. Crabs, conversely, will store safely in a sealed plastic bag and upside down without ice, belly up to keep the tenderness of the meat. Show your skills. Jumbo meat picks from the back swimming legs; lump from the two crab halves; and claw from the two front pincers. Choose a crab size that will make your preparations easy. A smaller crab will require a larger quantity to reach a serving size. Remember, blue crabs are a delicacy, so choose the best recipe, store the meat for ultimate freshness, and always bring your appetite!
