how do i eat crab legs?

Question

hi,

we are going out for dinner and have decided that ill give crab legs a try. however i dont know anything about crab legs in terms of eating it.

could someone tell me if i can eat all of the meat under the shell? or if am to eat only some parts of the leg?

http://www.kasilofseafoods.com/Large_Images/King-Crab.jpg
(just googled crab leg and found this picture)

Answer 1

Remember---Lobster Bibs are not just for Lobsters!

Most commonly King Crab Legs are served with lemon wedges and a container of hot melted butter to dip the crab meat into. If you like lemon on crabmeat you can either squeeze the juice directly on it or what I do is, squeeze it directly into the melted butter.

The use of a nut crackers or knives will break the shells. Also, using a seafood fork will help you can get into smaller openings to get the crabmeat out of the legs. Some people slightly squeeze and suck the juices out of the smaller pieces too.

SOME Restaurants will even SPLIT your King Crab Legs before serving them. ASK! This allows for very easy access to the crab meat, yet takes away from the adventureof "breaking" into the crab legs for the treasures within.

Now, I'm jealous!

Answer 2

Break the legs at the joints, use the cracker the waitress gives you. Crack each piece in half, and use the seafood fork to remove the meat. Transfer fork with meat to the dish of hot butter, and to your mouth. Eat all the meat of the leg. The meat down at the tip of the leg is not as sweet, but still good eats.
Expect to be messy. Don't wear something that shows grease stains. LOL. Some restaurants have bibs, but so not count on it.
I read somewhere that the inside of the shells do not have to be completly empty, that working really hard to get the last bit of crab is not polite.
So, I buy my crab legs at the store, cook them myself, heat up some margarine, and pick away to my heart's content.
May I suggest a dry run if you are really nervous? Great way to try any unfamiliar food. Buy it, bring it home. My grocery carries precooked, frozen crab legs in large and small bags, and often has them on sale at the end of the week. I heat them up in a large pan of boiling water, and heat them through. When they rise to the top, and turn bright red, they are done. You can dump in some Old Bay Seasoning or lemons if you want, but I like them without.
Good for you experimenting with new foods. Is this something your family does? New places and new foods? Nice way to celebrate being a family.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
how do i eat crab legs?
hi,

we are going out for dinner and have decided that ill give crab legs a try. however i dont know anything about crab legs in terms of eating it.

could someone tell me if i can eat all of the meat under the shell? or if am to eat only some parts of the...

Answer 4

How To Eat A Crab

Answer 5

Usually the restaurant will split the legs for you, or give you a shell cracker to use. You can eat all of the meat inside the crab legs, the gristly part will stay attached to the shell, so you won't be tempted to eat it, plus it's pretty hard.
Bon Apetit'

Answer 6

Break one crab leg from the body and crack it into sections with a nutcracker. Remove the meat with a seafood fork or a nutpick, then dip it into melted butter or a mayonnaise sauce.

With hard-shell crabs, first pull the legs from the body with your fingers and then suck out the meat (as noiselessly as possible). The remainder of the body can then be turned on its back and the meat removed with a fork or pick.

Crab claws served as hors d'oeuvres are to be picked up by the shell with your fingers, dipped in sauce and sucked out.

Soft-shell crabs are meant to be eaten in their entirety, both crab and shell, with a knife and fork.

Answer 7

They'll give you a tool to help you crack the shell - looks like a nutcracker. Crack the shell, put down the tool and pull on the shell until you can get the meat out. You can eat all of the meat you can find in the legs and in the body. Usually you will get some lemon-butter (melted) as well - just dip the meat in, let it drip for a second and eat. Expect to get very messy - you'll need the wet towelette they give you!

Answer 8

You can eat all the meat in the leg that you can get to.
Waiters will usually help you if you're at a higher-class seafood restaurant.

Answer 9

snap the leg apart at the knuckles hold a piece in your hand and slide a fork tong inside and lift up ..it will pop the leg open and you can eat everything inside the shells all the meat is good just dont eat the shell...lol

Answer 10

my teeth are dripping at the thought of crab leg...they are so good.

you eat all the meat from the legs/claws. just break them open and suck out the meat....heaven