Ginger and Scallion Crab (Best Chinese Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

How to cook crab in a wok? ›

Heat the oil in a large wok over high heat. Add the crab pieces, cover with a lid, reduce the heat to low and cook for about 5 minutes. Remove lid and shake crabs around, then replace lid and cook for another 5 minutes or until the shells turn orange and the meat is cooked through.

In a large pot (make sure it is large enough to cook your crab, I had a 2 lb crab and used an 8 quart pot that was half filled), add water and a heavy amount of salt. Bring to a boil. Using tongs, lower your crab into the water and cook 8 minutes per pound of crab. My crab was 2 lbs, so I cooked it 16 minutes.

Boiling Crabs Is The Go-To Cooking Method

Boiling crab is by far the most common method for getting a crab feast from pot to table. It's fuss-free and easy to control using a single large pot, some water, and seasoning to taste. It also preserves the natural, light, sea-fresh taste you want on your plate.

Prepping The Crabs

You'll want to cook the crabs before you clean them. Boiling is more common, but steaming crabs emerge from the pot less water-logged and more filled with their own crabby juices. To Boil: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add enough salt so it tastes as salty as the ocean.

Crack the Claws

A flat meat tenderizer—one solid whack and the claw cracks open enough to pull apart—works as well. Whatever tool you use, start with minimal force and add more until the shell cracks—you want to avoid too much shattering of the shell and thus having too many shards of shell in the crabmeat.

“Steaming is a great way to maximize sweetness as well as texture for the delicate, lush meat. Sometimes when boiling you run the risk of overcooking, and it can be difficult to extract meat if done improperly. By steaming the shell, it acts as an oven, allowing the crabmeat to cook in its natural juices.

If not using a steamer basket, simply cover the bottom of a wide pot or pan with about ¼ inch of water and add a few lemon slices. Cover with lid and bring to a simmer over medium heat until steaming. Then, add crab and cover with lid.

Raw or undercooked aquatic products are high risk food because they may contain bacteria and viruses that cause diseases. Raw crabs are also known for carrying parasitic lung flukes, including Paragonimus westermani, which are common in Asia, Africa and the Americas.

The Crab Shell Inspection Test: Check the Outside

Luckily, you won't need to crack it to examine the meat inside. Fully cooked stone crabs have shells that are bright red or orange. If yours is green or brown, you can assume it has not been cooked.

Why are crabs killed before cooking? ›

Killing the crab prior to cooking is humane and instantaneous, but it also avoids the crab from shedding limbs through shock, which often happens when boiling alive. This shedding of limbs will allow water to flood into the crab and effectively boil out the flavour.

Crabs, especially mud crabs, prefer areas with rocks and structures that offer shelter. As prime spots, look for cracks in pillars or retaining walls along the pier or shoreline. Also, mangrove swamps, the natural abode of mud crabs, are worth exploring.

Submerge your crab in the boiling water and allow to come back to the boil before allowing a further 20 minutes for a large crab such as the one shown. Killing the crab prior to cooking is humane and instantaneous, but it also avoids the crab from shedding limbs through shock, which often happens when boiling alive.

Boil a large pan of salted water. You can either use seawater or add 30g of salt of water, to make a simmilar concentration. Place the crab into the boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the crab from the water, rinse with cold water and leave to cool for a couple of hours.