Crab is one of the most delicious and unique items on any seafood restaurant menu. From New York to the Azores, crab is enjoyed by many around the world. However, eating whole crab for the first time can be intimidating. But with proper knowledge, anyone can enjoy this seafood staple. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your dining experience.

4 Steps for Eating Crab

1. Prepare

It's a good idea to cover the table with a cloth, since the juice and crab meat can splash on the table when the shell is being opened. Next, grab some utensils. A claw cracker will be needed to break the shell of the crab, as well as a utensil, such as a fork, for pulling out the meat. A seafood restaurant will provide special utensils and may have a specialized pick for digging out crab meat.

2. Remove the Claws & Legs

First, remove the claws and legs from the body by twisting them off. Then, you can begin picking meat from the legs. Bend the joints until they separate, and use a utensil to remove the meat. If you have a large section of leg, you can insert one prong of your fork and work it up the side of the leg to crack it open and expose the meat. Many people will tell you to ignore the leg meat, but there can be a lot of meat wasted if you do.

3. Eat the Claw Meat

The claws can be one of the harder parts of the crab shell. At each segment, use your claw cracker to break the shell so you can get to the meat inside. It's good practice to cover the shell with your free hand while cracking it so that you don't splash others or the table. The claw will have meat attached to cartilage. You can separate the meat by hand or pull it away with your teeth.

4. Prepare the Body

Turn the body over and look for a plate at the bottom. Grab underneath this plate with two fingers and pull back to remove the body from the shell. The inside of the crab may not look immediately appetizing to some, but the body of the crab contains much of the meat. Remove the lungs, which are cone-shaped, and throw them away. 

Split the body in two and you'll begin to see all of the meat inside. From here, you can pick the meat out from the pockets of cartilage until you're left with an empty shell. If you see something green, don't worry. This is the liver, and people at seafood restaurants around the world enjoy it.

If you're ready to try crab, head to LoLo's Seafood Shack in New York, NY. They provide New Yorkers with some of the best Caribbean-style seafood and offer a daily happy hour. Visit the website for their menu and call (646) 649-3356 with questions.