How to Pick a Crab

In Baltimore and throughout Maryland, crab feasts are a time-honored summer tradition. Here's how to pick a crab like a local:

Though your hands are your best tools for eating crab, a paring knife and a mallet can come in handy, especially when dealing with the claws.

Pull the legs off-save them for cracking later-and grab the apron, a flexible shelf of cartilage on the underbelly that ends in a pointed tip.

Pull the apron back to break the crab open.

With your fingers, tear off and discard the spongy lungs, then dig out the lumps of meat underneath.

ADVERTISEMENTAD

Crack open the legs (use the mallet if you like) and pry the meat free with the knife.

Continue to Next Story

ADVERTISEMENTAD

Keep Reading