Removing the shell before cooking method ?

[prosh442]

Does anyone have an easy way to pop off the shell before cooking ? Its pretty darn hard to do on a nice big Jimmy thats all wet and slimy. anyone use a tool to pry apart the body and shell ?
 what about a jig that holds the crab by the shell so you can pull on it ?
Thanks Paul ..

[Grizzly36]

Never done it before but can't you just remoe the apron then slide a knife in between the two halves and pry.

[prosh442]

Never done it before but can't you just remoe the apron then slide a knife in between the two halves and pry.

I would think that may crush the carpace where the meat is.

[Grizzly36]

Is it harder to open a live crab than it is a dead crab.  I used the knife method when i was kid and never had a problem.

[prosh442]

I will try it this weekend. Thanks
BTW Im from De. n wilm ,, my best friend is in bear De.

[rapp414]

Hey prosh,how's fla ? there's a good video with captn moose and a buddy on youtube ,a buddy of his cleans them fast it's really good,it's the way we clean them now.Let me know if you can't find it,I'll ask moose for the guys name or you can pm him

[prosh442]

Hey prosh,how's fla ? there's a good video with captn moose and a buddy on youtube ,a buddy of his cleans them fast it's really good,it's the way we clean them now.Let me know if you can't find it,I'll ask moose for the guys name or you can pm him

I did see that video, once apon a time.
will check it out again.
Fla is ok now that the trop storm passed.
Thanks for reminding me about that video. I have a Capt Moose dip net and snood line .Both work Great !! Im sure his method of cleaning works great as well..
Thanks,Paul

[rapp414]

No problem Paul,I appreciate the help you gave me in Feb when I visited your area !!!!

[prosh442]

Oh thats right.. I keep wanting to try the river ,but have not .. its pretty stinky and choppy.

[CaptMoose]

Paul, give those live crabs a bath in ice water for 20 min or so.  They will be still while you handle them.  Then just remove the shell like steamed crabs: pull the apron up, stick your thumb under the back middle part of the shell and pry forward.  Live crabs can be more difficult so as an alternate you can grab one point and pry off diagonally toward the swimmer legs.

[flounderpounder]

just grab the backfin by the knuckle and grab a point and rip it off

[rapp414]

Oh thats right.. I keep wanting to try the river ,but have not .. its pretty stinky and choppy.

Yea the smell was brutal,we loved the area and will be going back next Feb,I think I'll crab elsewhere though

[Archer]

I used heavy rubber gloves. I believe I bought them at the Watermens convention in O.C. Maryland a few years back.

I grab the crab from the rear and hold him by the back swimmer fin. I place the live crab vertical on my basket holding the swimmer fin at the base of the shell, grab hold of the top point of the outer shell and pull! This takes only seconds to do once you get started.

Once you get a rythem down, it will take you no time at all to clean a bushel of crabs. I clean every crab before cooking them. It allows the seasoning to infuse the meat and minimizies the cleanup mess. My wife will not eat a dirty crab and hasn't since I married her!

Once you start preparing your crabs this way you never eat another dirty crab!....

[flounderpounder]

!

Once you start preparing your crabs this way you never eat another dirty crab!....

the dirt is the best part