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Shellfish, Crab
Crabs are the second most popular shellfish (after shrimp) in the United States.
There are two types of crabs- fresh and saltwater, with saltwater being more common. Pacific crabs include Dungeness and King crab; while the Atlantic and Gulf coast net Blue crab and Stone crab (in Florida).
Soft-shell crabs are Blue crab that have shed their shells and are available from April to mid-September. The average blue crab contains about 2 ounces of meat, depending on its size.
Crab is an excellent source of vitamin B12, and a good source protein and selenium.
Ocean's Alive lists Dungeness crab, and stone crab as as "Eco-Best" choices; King crab, snow crab and blue crab are "Eco-OK" choices.
Estimated Glycemic Load: 0
The Benefits
- Special diets: Autoimmune Paleo Diet, Candida Diet, Diabetic, Gluten-Free Diet, Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Diet, Grain-Free Diet, High Protein Diet, Low Carb Diet, Low FODMAP Diet, Low Oxalate Diet, Low Starch Diet, Paleo Diet (Light), Paleo Diet (Strict), PCOS Diet, Pescetarian Diet, Primal Diet, Thyroid Diet, Whole Food
- Excellent Source of: Protein, Selenium, VitaminB12, Copper, EPA DHA Omega-3
- Good Source of: Zinc, Niacin, Phosphorous
- Preferences: No Fish, No Pork, No Eggs, No Gluten, No Nuts, No Seeds, No Soy, No Dairy, No Poultry, No Red Meat, No Corn, No Yeast, No Peanuts, No Molds, No Coconut, No Pseudograins, No Citrus, No Nightshade, No Legumes, No Grains, Low Carbohydrate, Low Fat, Low Sugars, Low Saturated Fat
Related Foods
Related Nutrients
Selecting and Storing
Crab is sold fresh—live or chilled--frozen, or canned. Fresh crabmeat is sold as lump, backfin, or flake. Lump crabmeat is the most expensive and consists of large chunks of body meat. Backfin is smaller pieces of body meat; flake is white meat in smaller pieces and shreds. Fresh crabs should look shiny, smell fresh with hard shells (with the exception of soft-shell crabs). Live crabs should be actively moving. Avoid crab with any ammonia smell or off odor. Cook and eat live crabs the same day they are purchased. Fresh-cooked crabmeat will keep for two days in the refrigerator. Pasteurized packaged crabmeat will keep for about six months unopened.
