CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to buy Gucheng Lake hairy crabs at a low price

How to buy Gucheng Lake hairy crabs cheaply

It is cheaper to buy Gucheng Lake hairy crabs at large seafood markets. The price of hairy crabs in large seafood markets is lower than that in general supermarkets. Gucheng Lake hairy crabs, produced in Gucheng Lake, Gaochun District, Nanjing, are also known as Gucheng Lake crabs or Gaochun crabs. They have always been known as the best crabs. In 2007, they were recognized as national geographical indication protected products by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and in 2009, they were recognized as China's well-known trademarks by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and they are also China's first well-known crustacean trademarks. In September 2017, they won the Gold Award for International Agricultural Fair Products. They were awarded the title of China's Good Quality in 2019 by the China Quality Promotion Association.

How to choose hairy crabs? What size hairy crabs should I buy?

Eating hairy crabs is definitely more satisfying if you eat crabs with more roe. So when choosing hairy crabs, how should you choose the ones with more roe? If you buy hairy crabs, what size is appropriate?

How to choose hairy crabs with crab roe

Point 1: Look at your belly button

When buying hairy crabs, first observe the navel and gently press it with your fingers. If the navel is firm, full, and slightly raised, it means that the crab roe is sufficient and the crab meat is plump, so you should choose this crab first. If the navel is sunken, not full, and relatively soft, it means that it is not mature enough and has little crab roe, so don't buy it.

Point 2: Look at the crab shell

The shell of a hairy crab is usually green. If the shell is shiny, very smooth, or even fluorescent, it means that the hairy crab is in very good condition, the meat is fresh and delicious, and the crab roe is abundant and delicious. You can buy it with confidence. If the shell is dry and dull, it may be malnourished and the meat is not fresh and tender enough.

Point 3: Look at the eyes

If the hairy crab's eyes are very sensitive and flexible, it means that the hairy crab is full of vitality and its meat is relatively delicious. If the hairy crab's eyes are weak and not flexible, it means that its vitality is poor and its taste is not as good as that of hairy crabs with high vitality.

Point 4: Look at the crab legs

If the crab legs are covered with hair, it means that the crab is already an adult and has more crab meat. If there are few hairs, it means that the crab is not yet an adult and has less crab meat. Also, pull the crab legs. If the crab legs are flexible and strong, the crab is alive and the meat is fresher. If the crab legs are soft and weak and fall off when pulled, the crab may be dead.

Point 5: Smell.

If the hairy crab smells rotten, it is dead and the meat may be rotten, so don't buy it or eat it. If there is no strange smell, you can buy it with confidence.

What size hairy crab is better to buy?

Generally speaking, male crabs weigh about 3.5 to 4 taels, and female crabs weigh about 2.5 to 3 taels. It is recommended to buy them from September to December, because mid-September to December is the mature season of hairy crabs. In the ninth month of the lunar calendar, the shells of female crabs are convex and yellow, and the meat is tender. In October, male crabs have thick and greasy roe, rich and delicious meat, which is the best time to eat crabs.

Where is the most authentic hairy crab?

1. Yangcheng Lake hairy crab from Jiangsu

Yangcheng Lake, located in the northeast of Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, is a central lake separated from Taihu Lake, with abundant aquatic resources. According to statistics, Yangcheng Lake is rich in nearly 70 kinds of freshwater products, among which mandarin fish, soft-shelled turtle, white fish, eel, freshwater shrimp and hairy crab are known as the six treasures of Yangcheng Lake.

Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, also known as golden claw crabs, are a national geographical indication product in China. The hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake are relatively large, and a medium-sized crab weighs half a pound. The crab meat is thick and plump, tender and sweet, with a lot of crab roe, and it tastes fresh and fragrant. No wonder the gourmet Shi Jinmo in the Republic of China once said, "Crabs are divided into six grades, and the first grade is lake crabs, which belong to Yangcheng Lake."

2. Jiangsu Xinghua hairy crab

Xinghua, located in Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province, is located between the Yangtze River and the Huai River, in the heart of the Lixiahe area in northern Jiangsu. The water here is very clear and less polluted, which is very suitable for the reproduction of fish, shrimps and crabs, providing unique geographical conditions for the growth of hairy crabs. Xinghua hairy crabs are a specialty here and are also a national geographical indication product of China.

In Xinghua, Jiangsu, there is a saying that "1 out of 8 hairy crabs in China is produced in Xinghua". This is because Xinghua is the largest hairy crab production base in China. Xinghua hairy crabs have rich yellow roe and tender white meat. In addition to being fresh and fragrant, they also have a sweet taste. They have enjoyed a high reputation from ancient times to the present.

3. Jiangsu Gucheng Lake hairy crab

Gucheng Lake, located in Gaochun District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, belongs to the Shuiyang River system, a tributary of the Yangtze River, and is also the natural lake with the best drinking water quality in Jiangsu Province. Gucheng Lake has a good water quality environment and abundant aquatic plants, which is very suitable for the growth and reproduction of crabs. The hairy crabs produced here are also called "Gucheng Lake Crabs" and "Gaochun Crabs", and are also China's national geographical indication products.

The hairy crabs from Gucheng Lake are available early in the market. They are plump and tender, delicious and sweet. The size is generally more than 4 liang, and red crabs account for more than 95%. Shi Jinmo, a gourmet in the Republic of China, was a crab lover. He rated lake crabs as first-class crabs and ranked the hairy crabs from Gucheng Lake first among the first-class crabs. It can be said that he gave them a very high evaluation.

4. Jiangsu Gaoyou Lake hairy crab

Gaoyou Lake, located in Gaoyou City, Jiangsu Province, belongs to the Huaihe River Basin and ends at the Yangtze River. It is the third largest lake in Jiangsu Province. The lake is wide, the environment is beautiful, the water quality is excellent, and the fish and shrimp production is very large. Among them, Gaoyou Lake hairy crabs and Gaoyou Lake lobsters are very famous varieties.

As early as the Northern Song Dynasty, Gaoyou Lake hairy crabs were presented to the emperor as tribute. Today, Gaoyou Lake hairy crabs are also a local specialty and a Chinese national geographical indication product. The hairy crabs produced in Gaoyou Lake are fat, large and delicious, with tender meat, firm texture and full elasticity, attracting the attention of countless diners.

5. Jiangsu Hongze Lake hairy crab

Hongze Lake, located in the lower reaches of the Huaihe River in western Jiangsu Province, is China's fourth largest freshwater lake and the only living water lake among China's large lakes. The water quality here is eutrophic and rich in aquatic resources, including nearly 100 species of fish. The rich aquatic plants and aquatic organisms in the lake provide natural bait for hairy crabs.

The hairy crabs from Hongze Lake are a well-known local specialty and a national geographical indication product in China. If you look closely, you will find that there is a capital letter "H" on the back of the hairy crabs from Hongze Lake, which can be said to be a natural mark. Its meat is white and tender, and the crab roe is full, and it tastes very delicious.

Do hairy crabs have parasites?

There are parasites. As an aquatic animal, hairy crabs live in the mud of water all year round and like to eat decaying things in the water. Therefore, hairy crabs are easily infected by bacteria, microorganisms and parasites. However, due to the different growth environments and feeding methods, the specific number of parasites they carry is also different. However, these parasites can be killed after being cooked at high temperatures for a sufficient period of time. Therefore, there is no need to worry too much about the parasites in hairy crabs. Just cook and eat them normally.