How to Eat King Crab

Tools You’ll Need:

• – Crab cracker or nutcracker
• – Seafood picks or small forks
• – Kitchen shears (optional)
• – Bowl for discarded shells
• – Napkins or wet wipes

Instructions:

1. **Preparation**:

• – **Cook the Crab**: If the crab is not pre-cooked, you’ll need to cook it. Steaming or boiling are common methods. For steaming, place the crab legs in a large pot with a few inches of water and steam for about 6-8 minutes. For boiling, place the crab legs in boiling water for about 5 minutes.
• – **Cool Slightly**: Let the crab legs cool slightly so they are easier to handle.

2. **Separate the Legs**:

   – Twist the legs and claws off the body if you have a whole crab. If you only have legs, move to the next step.

3. **Crack the Shells**:

• – **Crack the Claws**: Use a crab cracker or nutcracker to crack open the claws. You can also use the back of a heavy knife to give them a good whack.
• – **Crack the Leg Joints**: Bend the joints back and forth until they snap. Use the crab cracker to gently crack the shells without crushing the meat inside.
• – **Split the Leg Shells**: Use kitchen shears to cut down the length of the leg shells. This method can make it easier to extract the meat without breaking it into smaller pieces.

4. **Extract the Meat**:

   – Use seafood picks or small forks to pull the meat out of the cracked legs and claws. Be gentle to keep the meat intact.

5. **Enjoy the Crab Meat**:

• – **Dip and Eat**: King crab meat is delicious on its own, but it’s often served with melted butter, garlic butter, or a squeeze of lemon juice. Dip the meat into your preferred sauce and enjoy!
• – **Remove Cartilage**: Be aware of the thin, clear cartilage that runs through the legs and claws. It’s not edible and can be easily removed once the meat is extracted.

6. **Cleanup**:

   – Discard the shells in a designated bowl. Use napkins or wet wipes to clean your hands between bites.

Serving Suggestions:

• – **Melted Butter**: Serve with a side of melted butter, perhaps with some minced garlic or lemon zest.
• – **Lemon Wedges**: Fresh lemon juice complements the rich flavor of king crab.
• – **Dipping Sauces**: Experiment with other sauces such as aioli, cocktail sauce, or a spicy remoulade.

Enjoy your king crab feast!