How to wash the swimming crab clean

The key to cleaning horseshoe crabs is to thoroughly remove sediment and internal organs, which can be achieved through a three-step process of brushing, soaking, and removing gills. The main steps include scrubbing the outer shell, soaking in diluted salt water, and removing the cheeks and stomach pouch.

1. Brush the shell

Rinse the surface of the crab shell with a hard bristled brush and running water, focusing on brushing the joint gaps and belly cover.

2. Soak the swimming crab in diluted salt water

Soak the crab in diluted salt water for 20 minutes to promote sand spitting. The salinity should be controlled at around 3%, and the water should completely cover the crab body.

3. Remove the gills

After lifting the abdominal cover, remove the feather like gills on both sides, while keeping the crab roe. The cheeks are the main area of dirt accumulation and need to be completely removed.

4. Clean the stomach sac

Pick out the stomach sac from the triangular area behind the crab's mouth to avoid rupture and contamination of the crab meat. Undigested algae often remain in this area.

5. Secondary Rinse

Finally, rinse the entire body with running water, focusing on checking the joints and the inner side of the abdominal cover. You can use toothpicks to clean small crevices and residues.

When handling live crabs, it is recommended to wear gloves to prevent pinch injuries, and cook immediately after cleaning to avoid spoilage. Chinese mitten crab is cold in nature, and can be neutralized with ginger vinegar juice when consumed. People with gastrointestinal sensitivity should control their intake. If the crab shell is found to be soft and has a strange odor, it is not edible. Fresh horseshoe crabs can best preserve their original flavor after washing and steaming, with a recommended steaming time of 8-10 minutes.