I visited my family living near the sea. The seafood in the market is very cheap, and so I decided to buy crab meat. Unfortunately, I bought too much, and I can’t cook everything at once. Can I freeze it and save it for later?
Crabmeat spoils very fast and should be cooked immediately. But just like the common problem of excess food, it would be a waste if leftovers are thrown away, so should you freeze your crab meat for later?
Yes, you can, and you should freeze crab meat if you are not going to use it immediately. Freezing is the best way to preserve crab meat. Since it’s very perishable, freezing it will prolong its freshness and maintain its quality.
Can you freeze crab meat?
Crabmeat will spoil very fast at room temperature. Freezing will maintain its best quality until three months if appropriately preserved. After that, it is a better option than refrigerating because it will only last up to 5 days.
Freezing crab meat alone is better than freezing the whole crab. However, you should clean the crab first and separate the meat from its body. Then, store the crab meat in proportions in separate bags.
When you freeze crab meat, the texture might change. This is because it will be dry, and the moisture will be out of it. But don’t worry because the taste will stay the same. This doesn’t happen all the time as it depends on the quality of the crab you brought.
To thaw crab meat, you should gradually increase the temperature, preferably in a refrigerator. Then, you can cook it thawed or semi-thawed, and you should cook it immediately.
Always remember to store it in an airtight freezer bag. In addition, it is recommended to use vacuum sealing because it will maintain the freshness of the meat, avoiding the loss of moisture.
Always remember not to freeze fresh crab without removing the meat. The undigested food the crab ate might lead to potential bacteria growth. This is why it is always essential to remove the parts of the crab and separate the meat.
How to freeze crab meat
You should always remember that crab meat spoils fast, and you should immediately freeze the excess. To ensure the quality and freshness, follow these steps on how to preserve it:
- The first step is to clean the crab through steaming—steam crab in salted water to keep it tasty.
- Remove the shell, legs, intestine, and fat, then separate the crab meat.
- Please take all the meat gathered in proportions and seal it in an airtight freezer bag. Remember to put some of the salted water inside the bag to keep the flavor.
- If available, use a vacuum sealer as it is also how people usually seal it.
- To thaw, put it in the refrigerator and raise the temperature. Remember to cook it immediately when softened.
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Crab Meat?
1. One way to use up extra crab meat is to make crab cakes. This is a popular dish that can be served as an appetizer or main course. To make crab cakes, simply mix together equal parts of crab meat and bread crumbs, add some seasonings, and form into small patties. Then, cook in a lightly oiled pan until golden brown on both sides.
2. Another way to enjoy crab meat is to add it to pasta dishes. It pairs especially well with linguine or shells. Simply saute the crab meat in some butter and garlic, then add it to your cooked pasta along with some of the pasta water. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to use up extra crab meat, simply add it to salads. It’s a great way to add some protein and flavor to otherwise mundane greens. Just make sure that you dress the salad lightly so that the delicate flavor of the crab meat isn’t overpowered.
4. Crab meat also makes a great pizza topping. Simply saute it with some onions and peppers, then top your pizza dough with it before baking. You can also add it to white pizzas or calzones.
5. Finally, crab meat can be used in a variety of soups and stews. It’s especially good in chowders and bisques. Simply add it in towards the end of cooking so that it doesn’t get overcooked.
Crabmeat recipes
Crab cakes are a classic appetizer. It will fill your mouth with the flavor of crab together with your preferred sauce.
You could also try a crab omelet. The perfect combination of crab and egg will boost your breakfast.
For your seafood dinner, try making the crab meat fried rice. It will partner any dish with the mouthwatering goodness of crab.
Wrap Up
Yes, you can freeze crab meat. Frozen crab meat will maintain its quality for 6-9 months when stored properly in the freezer. Follow these steps for freezing crab meat: pack the lump or particular white part of your crab meat in airtight freezer bags, make sure to press out all the air, seal the bag tightly and label it with today’s date. You can also wrap cold pre-cooked crab meat in aluminum foil and store it in the freezer. Again, don’t forget to label!
How do you plan on freezing your crab meat? Please share your experience with me in the comment section below. I am always looking to improve my knowledge and learn from my readers.