CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to store crabs if you buy too many

Method 1: Place live crabs in water

This method is suitable for freshwater crabs such as river crabs and lake crabs (hairy crabs), and can keep crabs alive for several days. The specific method is: you may find a large area, such as a bathtub, sink or large basin, put the living freshwater crabs in it, and pour in some clean water. It should be noted that the water should not be too deep and cannot cover the crabs, otherwise the crabs may suffocate due to lack of oxygen.

The water depth should be about half of the crab's body, so that the crab's eight legs can stand up and breathe on the water surface. In addition, do not cover the bathtub or large basin with a lid for fear that the crab will crawl out, and change the water several times a day, and throw in some small fish and shrimp for the big crab to eat.

Method 2: Place live crabs in the refrigerator’s fresh-keeping room

If you buy too many crabs and feel you cannot eat them all in one go, you can tie up the legs of the live crabs (the purchased crabs are usually tied with ropes by the merchants) to reduce the crabs' physical exertion and put them in the refrigerator's freezer (note: it is a refrigerator, not a freezer).

The temperature is preferably 3-6℃, and then covered with a wet towel, it can be kept for a few days. Of course, the sooner you eat it, the fresher it will be. Because the longer the time, the more the crab consumes, the thinner it will be, and the taste will not be plump enough.

Method 3: Put the cooked crab in the refrigerator

Many people may not finish eating the cooked crabs due to poor appetite or other reasons. If you want to save the crabs from lunch for the evening, you might as well wrap the cooked crabs with plastic wrap and put them in a cool and ventilated place, which can keep them fresh for 6-8 hours. If the weather is hot, it is best to put them in the refrigerator, so that they can be kept until the evening, but not overnight.

If you want to eat the crabs after leaving them overnight or after a few days, you can cover the cooked crabs with plastic wrap and freeze them in the freezer together with the soup used to cook the crabs. This will better preserve the freshness of the crabs. However, please note that you cannot put them in the refrigerator when the crabs and soup are still hot. Wait until they are completely cool before putting them in the freezer.

Additional information:

How to choose crabs:

Look: The crab's carapace is glossy blue-gray, its belly is white and shiny, there is no mark above the navel, and its limbs are firmly connected and in a curved shape.

Weigh: For the crabs that meet the requirements in appearance, weigh them one by one with your hand. The ones that feel heavy are fat.

Peel: Peel the navel of the crab. If the crab roe inside the shell is condensed and formed, then this crab is a good crab.

Pull: The legs of the sea crab are intact, and there is a slight elasticity when you pull the crab legs lightly, indicating that the crab is fresh. If the crab is not fresh, not only will there be no slight elasticity when you pull the crab legs lightly, but the crab legs will easily break off.

Smell: If you smell a fishy odor, it means the crab has gone bad and cannot be eaten. Eating rotten crabs can easily cause food poisoning.

Reference source: People's Daily Online - Steamed crabs cannot be kept overnight. What should you do if you can't finish eating the crabs?

Reference source: People's Daily Online - Crabs' feet itch in autumn. How to choose and store crabs?

Reference source: Baidu Encyclopedia - Crab