Freezing mudcrabs

Hi guys

My parents are coming up for a visit in a couple weeks, and they want mudcrabs!

 

I dont have much time off work whilst they are here, so I dont want to waste fishing time mucking around crabbing when we could all be out in the big boat.

If I was to catch a couple crabs before they arrive, what is the best way to store them until they arrive.  Freeze them raw or cook em first?

Anyone got ideas?

 


scottnofish's picture

Posts: 1617

Date Joined: 28/08/07

tried doing them un cooked once

Fri, 2011-10-21 12:44

and the flesh turned to crap havent tried cooked but was told the best way was uncooked but i reckon they were crap like that . they will last  alive for 3 or 4 days in an esky with a wet hessian bag and a mangrove branch, best way to do it , thats how i bring them back from up north back to perth

Brucesta's picture

Posts: 1721

Date Joined: 29/05/09

frozen after cooked i found

Fri, 2011-10-21 12:55

frozen after cooked i found that the meat really sticks to the shell, not as good as cooked then eaten but you can do it and it isn't too bad

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Bodie's picture

Posts: 3758

Date Joined: 05/11/07

i found the same as brucesta,

Fri, 2011-10-21 13:27

i found the same as brucesta, struggled to get the meat out, plus there was no flavour at all. Was really average i didnt eat much of them.

 

I'd try green or raw and see how you go.

 

The other alternative is to do the same as prawns, put one in a big ice cream container full of water. Freeze it as a block. Seems to work well with prawns.

Posts: 1755

Date Joined: 02/01/10

Thanks for the advice, still

Fri, 2011-10-21 15:17

Thanks for the advice, still undecided.  Anyway, I gotta catch some first

leesfishin's picture

Posts: 233

Date Joined: 27/03/11

we cut our crabs through the

Fri, 2011-10-21 16:17

we cut our crabs through the middle take the top shell of and clean all the guts an crap out so completely clean ready to eat.

then boil them up , eat or what you dont eat you just freeze.they taste fine .

if your fussey or have the time take all the meat out of the body and bag in to meal sizes.(we use to have a small bit on our steak when having a bbq, reef an beef yummm ). 

good luck just boil then freeze !!! 

Posts: 11

Date Joined: 30/06/10

freeze uncooked

Fri, 2011-10-21 18:02

I have frozen them raw and when you freeze them turn them upside down so all the crap is in the top half of the shell away from the meat. defrost and cook as normal. was told it still tasted good, was taken to perth for family.

Adam Gallash's picture

Posts: 15607

Date Joined: 29/11/05

uncooked

Fri, 2011-10-21 20:05

Took cleaned quartered uncooked frozen crabs to perth last trip down and they were pretty good. Depends on the firmness of the meat too.

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Posts: 2318

Date Joined: 03/05/06

freeze uncooked

Fri, 2011-10-21 20:26

Its preferable not to freeze any crab meat at all but if you have to, go uncooked or with cleaned crabs.  When thawed the meat will still taste sweet but may be very soft.