Bitter Crab?

Hey guys,

First season eating Dungeness since I moved to the coast, and both times I have harvested crab some of the crab meat is bitter. I looked it up on Google and it said that it is due to the crab being dead. I am pretty sure all of the crabs I have thrown in the boil have been alive, and caught only a few hours prior. Is this a common occurrence or am I doing something wrong? I wanna get this sorted out so I could bring back some crab for thanksgiving without relatives spitting up crab everywhere.

Thanks,
Dan

Likely overcooked.

You REALLY need to make sure that they are ALIVE; if they have gone limp, there dead. Once they die, toxins begin to build up in there bodies fast; which can also be bad for you.

How were you transporting them? If not properly cared for during transit, they will die.

The best way to transport them is to place them in a cooler, soak a towel or burlap bag with ocean water and cover; then keep them cool with an ice pack (ie Blue Ice) on top. If you have to use ice, make sure that the melting water doesn't drown them.

And, unless you have a REALLY good airator system, I do not recommend transporting them in ocean water; they are most likely gonna drown when all the oxygen in the water is used up...


As for cooking, once the pot goes to full boil/steam, 18 minutes tops!!!! then put them in cold water to stop the cooking process. Do not cook Red/Rock Crabs with dungies, Red/Rock takes longer to cook and you're likely to over cook Dungies or undercook Rock Crabs....

I transport in a livewell or ice chest filled with saltwater and aerator. Keeps them very healthy. Almost too healthy.  I use a livewell and aerator OTW too.

Thanks guys,

That is probably it. I'll try your method G-Whiz

If you clean the crabs first removing the top shell and inners before cooking. You will have much cleaner tasting crab. It is easier to remove all of the meat afterwards. Everything they eat is in their guts rotting so when you cook it with the meat it will get that taste. Also as others said be careful not to over cook it. There are youtube videos showing how to remove the shell and guts.

This is making me hungry.   

If you clean the crabs first removing the top shell and inners before cooking. You will have much cleaner tasting crab. It is easier to remove all of the meat afterwards. Everything they eat is in their guts rotting so when you cook it with the meat it will get that taste. Also as others said be careful not to over cook it. There are youtube videos showing how to remove the shell and guts.

X2

Don't cook critters with the poo still inside.