Can you eat a freshly dead crab? Which parts can’t be eaten? Eating it by mistake may kill you…

Expert of this article: Liu Jingjing, PhD in Food Biotechnology, China Agricultural University

As the saying goes, "When the autumn wind blows, crabs' feet itch; when the chrysanthemums bloom, crabs come to you."

It’s that time of year when crabs are at their plumpest.

However, since crabs are so expensive, some people will buy cheaper dead crabs to eat, and some unscrupulous merchants even sell dead crabs as live crabs.

But in fact, some dead crabs cannot be eaten, and accidental ingestion may cause poisoning!

I hope you read this article carefully before you buy crabs.

Can dead crabs be eaten?

First of all, dead river crabs cannot be eaten!

River crabs, scientifically known as Chinese mitten crabs, are freshwater products unique to China. They have high levels of free amino acids and nitrogen-containing compounds in their bodies and their meat is relatively loose, providing favorable conditions for the growth of microorganisms. River crabs grow in silt, and the living environment is suitable for the growth of microorganisms, which leads to a high base number of total colonies inside and outside the bodies of fresh river crabs.

Therefore, after the crab dies, the microbial content increases rapidly, which is the main reason why dead crabs cannot be eaten. And even if they have just died, they should not be eaten.

However, due to the special growth environment of sea crabs, they are very easy to die if they are salvaged. But the salt content in seawater is high and there are fewer bacteria inside and outside the crabs. Therefore, dead sea crabs that are frozen in time and well preserved can be eaten, but they cannot be stored for too long.

Accidentally eating dead river crabs may cause food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

In addition, since crabs contain more histidine, bacteria will break down histidine into histamine and histamine-like substances. Patients who accidentally ingest them may suffer from histamine poisoning. Some patients may experience nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal discomfort. Severe patients may experience shock, premature beats and other symptoms.

What else should you pay attention to when eating crabs?

1. Do not eat raw crabs, and do not eat crabs soaked in wine

Alcohol cannot completely kill the parasites in raw crabs. If they are eaten raw, the risk of parasitic infection is very high. At the mildest, it may cause hemoptysis. If the parasites enter the brain, it may cause paralysis and other symptoms.

2. These four parts cannot be eaten

When eating crabs, you must remove the crab gills, crab intestines, crab heart, and crab stomach. These parts are the organs that crabs use to filter and metabolize waste, and they contain a large number of bacteria and parasites.

3. Steam at high temperature and eat it right after it is cooked

Crabs need to be steamed and cooked at a high temperature of over 100°C for 20 to 30 minutes to completely kill the microorganisms in their bodies.

4. Avoid excessive consumption

Crabs have a high cholesterol content, especially the crab roe. It is recommended that patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases eat crab meat in moderation and less crab roe.

How to distinguish male crabs from female crabs?

The location and color of crab feces and crab roe are different. Crab feces are usually accumulated in the crab intestines and stomach. The crab stomach is located at the lower part of the crab mouth. It is white after steaming and is inedible. Crab roe is usually in the crab's abdomen. Prying open the crab's back shell will reveal the golden crab roe.

The crab navel is a typical feature that distinguishes male and female crabs after they have reached sexual maturity. The navel of male crabs is triangular, commonly known as the "pointed navel", while the navel of female crabs is round, commonly known as the "round navel".

Male crab

Female Crab

How to choose crabs?

1. Fresh river crabs have strong claws, complete crab legs, and can crawl quickly and powerfully. Their back shells are green and shiny, their abdomens are white and plump, and they can spit bubbles continuously.

2. If you can't finish eating live river crabs, you can store them in a tight bamboo basket. First, spread a layer of mud and sand, then a layer of absorbent towels or sponges, and finally store the bamboo basket in a cool place. Generally, the crabs can survive for 4-5 days.

3. Choose sea crabs with intact claws and legs, flexible and not stiff leg joints, blue-gray crab shells and no damage to the sharp needles at both ends of the shell.

After steaming, the crab meat of fresh crabs is filamentous and does not collapse. Frozen crabs can be stored for about a month.

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