Live crabs are a delicious seafood, but if they can't be eaten immediately after purchase, preserving them becomes an important task. Proper handling and storage of live crabs will keep them fresh and tasty.
Crabs are more active animals, and they need water and oxygen to stay alive. If these problems are not paid attention to during preservation, crabs can easily lose their vitality and become no longer fit for consumption.
Before leaving overnight, make sure that the crab you buy is a live crab. When picking crabs, you can tell by looking at their movements, how active their claws are, and how complete their shells are. Also, do not buy crabs that are sleeping or injured, as they may have lost their value for consumption. First, put the crabs in cold water for about 10 minutes and let them wash the sediment from their bodies. Then, gently wash the crab's shell and claws with a brush to make sure the surface is clean. Next, use a kitchen knife to separate the crab's claws and belly to make it easier to cook.
Choosing the right container and environment is also very important. To maintain the freshness of the crabs, you can choose an airtight container with a lid to prevent the crabs from spoiling. Also, a moist sponge or damp towel should be placed in the container to provide adequate moisture. The temperature of the environment should also be controlled at about 4 degrees Celsius, which can delay the metabolism of the crab and maintain its freshness.
Care is required when storing live crabs. First of all, do not put crabs and other ingredients together to avoid contagious odors from each other. Second, avoid exposing the crab to sunlight or high temperatures, which can cause the crab to become discolored and spoiled. Also, every once in a while, you can change the crab with a moist sponge or wet towel to keep it hydrated.
Attention should also be paid to the handling and consumption recommendations for the next day. Before removing the crabs, check their condition to make sure they are not showing any abnormalities. If the crab is found to be dead or has changed its taste, it is not suitable for consumption. For fresh crabs, the cooking method can be chosen according to personal taste, such as steaming or braised dishes, etc.
In conclusion, it is very important to properly handle and preserve live crabs to keep them fresh and delicious. Before leaving it overnight, prepare the crab carefully, and choose the right container and environment for storage. At the same time, attention should be paid to details during storage, and the crab will be processed and eaten the next day according to its condition. Only in this way can you fully enjoy the delicious taste of crab.