You’ve got to confirm that your raw crab meat is still edible.
Before you can create your next crabmeat masterpiece, there are some precautions you will need to take. You’ve got to confirm that your raw crab meat is still edible. More importantly, you must make sure that it hasn’t spoiled before you use it. Avoiding foodborne illnesses is easy – just use your head!
Follow Your Nose
First of all, be sure to follow your nose. Your sense of smell is supposed to serve you well. Fresh crab meat carries no obvious odor. Well, okay, it will have a slight smell – but it’s going to be a faintly sweet scent that should be pleasant. If you detect scents that seem spoiled, you’re probably not wrong – dispose of raw crab that is sour, overpowering, suspiciously fishy, or rotten.
Consider the Color
Next, consider the color. Your eyes won’t steer you wrong. Safe crabmeat presents white flesh and a bright red rind where the shell and flesh come together. All of the colors should look bright, clean, and cheerful. However, raw crab meat can start to go brown when exposed to air. The shell is supposed to protect the flesh, and if they’ve been separated from each other for too long, then it’s probably not safe to eat.
Test the Texture
Many people are sensitive to texture. Good textures are a pleasant surprise, while the bad texture gives you a sense of disgust. Raw crab meat that is still fresh will feel moist and not slimy. Then start rubbing your fingers against one another. While this is strange-sounding advice, you’ll be thankful you did. A weird mucousy film should not be there. Likewise, if the raw crab feels too dry, that means somebody improperly stored it. As a result, the meat went bad. Don’t eat it, or use it in any crab cakes!
Focus on Freshness
The freshest meat will come from live crabs. The FDA suggests that you choose these crabs above all others so that you will get the tastiest ingredients you need. Once you buy it, eat or use it in a dish right away.
COSTAS INN IS YOUR SEAFOOD DESTINATION
Costas Inn has been a Baltimore tradition since 1971. You may recognize our restaurant, which was recently featured on the Food Network with Michael Symon on Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que! We were also voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today and #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal. You may have also spotted Costas Inn during one of our nine appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass.
You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for any time eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube!