Crabs are a delicacy if you live in a coastal region and they’re easily accessible around the world. In the past, crab would be one of the many crustaceans that those in poverty would eat. In today’s society, it can be a relatively expensive meal, especially if you want to get full off of the meat in crab legs. You should be able to find a variety of different types of crab from your local grocery store, though in some areas you may need to visit a specialty store.
What Does Crab Meat Taste Like?
One of the main reasons as to why people love crab above other fish and crustaceans is because the meat is relatively mild in flavor and will pick up flavoring from the seasoning that you use while cooking it. As an example, in the South they have crawfish boil seasoning which is a blend of peppers and other spicy herbs. When you boil crab legs on their own, they have a delicious mild flavor that compliments butter extremely well.
If you’ve never enjoyed seafood before, many people say that crab is the perfect crustacean to start out with.
Vitamins and Minerals
One of the many advantages to eating crab legs is the fact that they are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to develop properly. With all of the B vitamins, zinc, copper, and more, your body will surely thank you if you add crab meat into your daily diet. By eating crab you can have more energy, better cell function, healthier red blood cells, and even stronger bones. Below are some of the most essential vitamins and minerals in crab legs.
Protein:
If you’re looking for the perfect element to build healthy muscle, protein is essential for both men and women. The daily recommended dose for protein is around 46 grams for women and 56 grams for men. In a 3-ounce serving of meat from crab legs, there is over 16.45 grams of protein. Since your body is constantly breaking down protein to build healthy tissue and muscles, eating crab is a great way to give it the nutrients it needs. It is also known as a complete source of protein, which means it includes all of the 20 amino acids that are needed to produce new proteins.
Vitamin B12:
According to the National Institutes of Health, getting enough vitamin B12 is the perfect way to reduce your chances of developing heart disease. It is also essential for maintaining a healthy level of brain function and to produce beneficial red blood cells. The average person needs around 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 daily and a 3-ounce serving of crab meat contains 9.78 micrograms, putting you well above your daily goal.
Some of the other vitamins and minerals include: Phosphorus (builds strong bones), Selenium (antioxidant, improved thyroid function, immunity), Vitamin B6, Calcium, Zinc, and Copper.
Weight Management
If you have been building a list of the foods that you want to start eating regularly to have a healthier diet, the meat from crab legs is perfect for managing your weight. Since the meat itself is so low in calories (between 85 and 95 calories per serving), it can be the perfect addition to your lunches and your dinners. There are 0 carbohydrates and 1 gram of fat per 3 ounces and this makes it one of the cleanest sources of protein. Compare crab meat to beef, which could contain over 185 calories per 3-ounce serving and 11 grams of fat.
Multitude of Uses
The meat in crab legs can be used for a variety of cooking purposes, whether you want to eat it directly out of the legs or if you want to use it as a topping for your salad. You can mix it with yogurt and lemon juice to create a filling for your sandwich or replace it as the fish in fish tacos. You can even use it in place of bacon when you’re making eggs Benedict. It is important to note that if you are using the meat in the crab legs for unhealthy meals such as crab cakes, it won’t have the multitude of benefits mentioned above.
Difficult to Eat
If you’ve never had the chance to eat crab legs before, the task could appear to be very daunting. Essentially, you will have a plate filled with legs from a crustacean that are relatively hard to get open without the use of tools. You will need a cracker to split the legs open at the perfect points so the shell can be pulled off and the meat can be enjoyed. For a first-time crab eater it can be difficult as some of the meat may get stuck in the shell or you may even find yourself chewing on more shell than meat.
Not only is getting the meat out difficult, but it is also time consuming. It is advised that if you’ve been waiting for dinner all day – avoid the crab legs. At times, it can take several minutes to get to the meat inside of the shell.
Expensive Tastes
Another concern that many people have about crab legs is the fact that they can be expensive to buy or even eat at a restaurant. This is because in order to get enough meat for everyone to enjoy, you have to buy a lot of crab legs. When you begin cracking the shells open, you will be able to see just how little meat there is inside of each leg. In fact, most families don’t buy enough to where they can get full off of the meat.
If you really want to enjoy crab to the fullest extent, it may be one of the most expensive meals that you have had.
Cholesterol and Sodium
As with any type of fish or crustacean, cholesterol and sodium are two concerns that you should take under advisement. Even though crab legs can be delectable, they can also take up a lot of your recommended daily intake of sodium and cholesterol. On average, adults should only be consuming 2,300 milligrams of sodium every day. For African Americans and adults over 50 years of age, 1,500 milligrams should be your limit. A small 3-ounce serving of crab meat has 911 milligrams of sodium, which is quite high. If you have too much sodium in your daily diet, you could be at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and it can increase your chances of having a stroke or congestive heart failure.
Cholesterol is another concern as it also puts you at risk for a stroke, heart attack, and heart disease. The average person should be consuming 300 milligrams per day or if you have a heart disease, 200 milligrams or less. A 3-ounce serving of crab contains 45 milligrams of cholesterol.
Crab legs are simple to prepare, though difficult to eat, but it can be well worth your time and effort. Whether you have never enjoyed fish in the past or if you love seafood, crab is the perfect addition to your daily diet or to even enjoy on a night out with your family.