Hard Shell Crab
Common Names: Crab, Blue Crab, Swimmer Crab, Hardshell Crabs
AVAILABILITY Fresh
SEASONAL AVAILABILITY
Limited Seasonal Availability
CATCH and COUNTRY of ORIGIN
Potted/Trap; USA
SIZING
Bushel Weights • Bushel Counts
#1 45 lbs Avg #1 6 to 7 dz
#2 45 lbs Avg #2 8 to 10 dz
#3 45 lbs Avg #3 9 to 10 dz
FLAVOR PROFILE
Sweet, clean flavor with a delicate texture. Medium fat content.
COOKING TECHNIQUES
Roasting, Steaming.
PRODUCT INFO
Blue Crabs are revered for their delicate sweet flavor, hearty texture and cooking versatility. The meat of the blue crab is rich in nutrients and low in calories. Blue Crab meat has fewer calories than king crab and more iron than either snow crab or dungeness. An average 3.5 ounce portion of blue crab meat has one half the USDA daily allowance of protein, yet contains only 80 calories.
Weights and counts are based on local crabs (NJ, DE and MD). Crabs sizes change according to times of the season.
Crabs molt (shed) after the full moon of May and June. Once a crabs molts, they are known as Whites, causing bushel weights to vary as much as 10lbs. These crabs also have a higher mortality rate, when they are heavy.
