Cleaning Mud Crabs
by Jarrod Day on 23 Jun 2013
With a handful of mudcrabs like this, you just want to devour them immediately. Jarrod Day
Mud crabs are certainly one of Australia’s most tasty crabs and while they are found in the northern part of the country, those taking a holiday to the north, should at some point go on a crabbing mission.
Like all of the tastiest seafood’s available, it is always a mission to clean, cook and eat them. But at the end of the day, if you’re willing to go through the rigmarole of doing so, you’ll be pleasantly happy with a belly full of yummy crab.
Cleaning mud crabs is quite easy, but it is the catching and dispatching part of the equation that can be dangerous.
A mud crab has two very big and strong claws. They are so strong in fact that they can crush your finger, hand or foot should it grab you. Instantly you’ll be in excruciating pain and it is best to break off the top or bottom pincer to release the grip. Should you pull the entire arm off; the grip will still be in place. When ever your catching mud crabs, always be careful you really don’t want to be caught out with one of these nasty critters holding onto your finger.
So you have caught some mud crabs and now whish to cook them. First you must get them out of the pot.
To do so, lift the pot and shake it until they fall out on the boats deck. If they don’t, you may want to coax them out with a thick stick or other object.
Once the crabs are out (one at a time), you can pin them to the floor with a stick and grab the rear legs. To do this, move in quickly from behind, place your index finger on the top of the shell and hold the last pair of legs. Once you have a firm grip, you can place them into an ice slurry in an ice box.
TO CLEAN
STEP 1.
Cleaning Muddy’s is quite easy, if they are still alive try to pin down using a solid item such as a small baseball bat or other item.
STEP 2.
Pin them up against something solid like the back of a bait board to keep the claws away from your fingers.
STEP 3.
With a firm grip, pull the tail up and with your thumbs under the tail push forward separating the shell from the carapace.
STEP 4.
Keep pushing forward to remove the shell from the carapace.
STEP 5.
With both hands, grab either side of the crab holding tight the claws and fold the crab in half downwards to break the underside.
STEP 6.
Place on the edge of something sharp and break the body in half.
STEP 7.
Once the crab is in two, clean the inside removing the gills and organs.
After the crab is cleaned it is ready to be boiled and eaten.
Mud crabs are very delicious but there is very little meat in them compared to other crabs around the country. If you haven’t caught mud crabs before, I suggest you get some pots and give it a go, one taste and you’ll want more.
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