Taste-Off: The best canned crab — and nastiest (2024)

Editor’s note: This story ran in November 2015, when California’s Dungeness season was put on hold.

California’s waters are home to some of the best crab in the world — buttery, meaty, succulent and so delicious that crab season is a holiday in itself. Not this year. Due to a neurotoxin that’s infecting Dungeness crabs along the coast, there will be no fresh crab until December — or beyond.

If fresh cracked crab is part of your holiday tradition, it’s time for a tweak. Think crab cakes, crab chowder or crab dip made with the very best canned or frozen crab you can find. Canned crustaceans won’t deliver the same texture or flavor, but a few of them are authentic enough to stand-in — until the real thing comes available.

Local markets generally stock one or two different brands of canned crab that come from Indonesia. Few carry either fresh or frozen. And oddly, each market seems to carry a different brand of canned. Why they don’t carry more is immediately apparent upon opening. Most canned brands are simply terrible.

The best contain chunks of seafood that resemble fresh crab in both texture and flavor, canned with few additives. The worst are fishy purées that reek of salt and chemicals. And the alternatives include fresh-packed, which is expensive, and … frozen, imitation crab flakes.

Pontchartrain Blue Crab Crabmeat

This small plastic container is packed tight with fresh, sweet crabmeat from Louisiana. The pieces are small but have the soft texture of fresh cracked crab. There is no added salt or liquid, so it’s recipe-ready. A serving has 320 mg sodium, 8 g protein. $14.99 for 8 ounces in the fresh fish department at Whole Foods. (4 stars)

Miller’s Select Special White Crab Meat

Dungeness fans will appreciate the small, tender chunks of crabmeat that, while a bit salty and fishy, deliver true crab flavor. A serving has 338 mg sodium, 10 g protein. $7.97 at Wal-Mart. (3 stars)

Miller’s Select Claw Crab Meat

The crabmeat is slightly brown in color, but the sweet flavor of Dungeness shines through. A serving has 338 mg sodium, 10 g protein. $6.47 at Wal-Mart. (3 stars)

Crown Prince Fancy White-Lump Crab Meat

This chunky, clean meat has beautiful texture, but only a hint of crab flavor. A serving has 290 mg sodium, 9 grams protein. $8.49 at Sprouts Market. (2 ½ stars)

Kanimi Crab Smart Imitation Crab Flakes

Made with a blend of whitefish, snow crab and lobster from Alaska, these flakes contain just 2 percent crabmeat, but the flavor profile is spot on. It’s tender and tasty enough to serve as a fine substitute in recipes. A serving has 300 mg sodium, 6 g protein. $3.99 in the frozen or refrigerated seafood section at Whole Foods. (2 ½ stars)

Geisha Fancy Crab Meat

Beautiful white and pink clumps of crab meat lack the punch of the real thing, but the flavor is clean. A serving has 230 mg sodium, 8 g protein. $3.99 at Raleys. (2 stars)

Trader Joe’s Crab

Even though this affordable option lacks the punch of fresh crab and is a bit fishy, it has big chunks of tender meat and natural pink coloring. A serving has 300 mg sodium, 8 g protein. $1.99. (1 ½ stars)

Northern Chef Wild Caught Snow Crab with Garlic Butter

The authentic flavor of these crab legs, encased in the half-shell, is a win, but the added salt and garlic butter overpower the meat. A serving has 390 mg sodium, 7 g protein. $10.39 for 8 ounces at Sprouts Market. (1 star, for flavor)

Great American Seafood Imitation Crab Flakes

Unlike the imitation crab found at Whole Foods, these taste like fish candy — overly sweet and fishy. A serving has 400 mg sodium, 6 g protein. 99 cents for 8 ounces in the freezer section at Smart & Final. (½ a star)

Snow Legs Crab Flavored Seafood

These frozen crab-leg-shaped fingers made from fish protein, whitefish and eggs have a hint of crab flavor, but the salt is overpowering. A serving has 400 mg sodium, 11 g protein. $5.99 for 16 ounces at Sprouts Market. (½ a star)

Asuka Crabmeat

It may look like crab and feel like crab, but the tiny bits inside this jar are entirely taste-free. A serving has 230 mg sodium, 8 g protein. $3.49 at Marina Market. (½ a star for being inoffensive)

Chicken of the Sea White Crabmeat

It takes a little imagination, but this pick tastes a bit like crab. Unfortunately, ground-up shells in the mix make for an unpleasant and unexpectedly gritty bite. A serving has 300 mg sodium, 7 g protein. $3.99 at Lucky. (½ a star for flavor)

Bumble Bee’s Fancy White Crabmeat

The person who decided to call this “fancy” needs a reality check. The tiny sinews of ultra-tough meat are far too odorous and chewy to pass for crab. A serving has 260 mg sodium, 9 g protein. $3.59 at Safeway. (No stars)

Polar White Crab Meat

This can of fishy crab puree is unimpressive at best. Don’t make me eat it. Note that the Polar Lump Crab at $5.99 looks better, but the flavor is equally disappointing. A serving has 200 mg sodium, 6 g protein. $2.29 at Smart & Final. (No stars)

Great Value White Crab Meat

The fish aroma from this can of gritty, crabby puree will permeate your entire home. Your cat might like it, though. A serving has 220 mg sodium, 10 g protein. $1.88 at Wal-Mart. (No stars)

Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at www.mercurynews.com/taste-off.

Taste-Off: The best canned crab — and nastiest (2024)

FAQs

Should you rinse canned crab meat? ›

After you open a can of crab, drain the juice and rinse the meat off before using it for the best flavor and to remove any preservatives left on the crab.

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Does canned crab meat taste good? ›

Claw meat is always canned on its own because of the strength of its flavor. Most canned crab you get is going to have a saltier, more acidic flavor than fresh crab owing to the fact that a good many canned options have been pasteurized and may contain preservatives.

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How do you get the fishy taste out of canned crab? ›

Next, soak for about 15 minutes in a mixture of 2 tablespoons white vinegar and a splash of sherry. Rinse well, and the canned taste should be gone.

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Can you get real crab meat in a can? ›

This was my first time trying canned crabmeat, and I loved the taste! Having grown up near the Chesapeake Bay, we would often have and pick crabs. I'm familiar with quality. I used this Chicken of the Sea crabmeat in my classic omelette recipe for brunch.

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Does canned crab taste like fresh crab? ›

Canned crustaceans won't deliver the same texture or flavor, but a few of them are authentic enough to stand-in — until the real thing comes available. Local markets generally stock one or two different brands of canned crab that come from Indonesia. Few carry either fresh or frozen.

Is canned crab meat already cooked? ›

Just like canned tuna, salmon, or sardines, canned crab is already cooked and can be eaten directly out of the container. It's typically boiled or steamed before getting canned. The crab meat is often pasteurized, which is the process of removing potentially harmful germs and bacteria.

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What is the tastiest crab meat? ›

Claw crabmeat is the least expensive but most flavorful grade. Claw meat is pinkish-brown rather than white and has a hearty crab flavor that does not get lost under seasonings. This type of meat is great for soups (such as Manhattan-style crab chowder), crabmeat stuffing, tacos, and stir-fries.

How healthy is canned crab meat? ›

Crab is packed with protein, which is important for building and maintaining muscle. Crab also contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and selenium. These nutrients play vital roles in improving general health while helping prevent a variety of chronic conditions.

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Why is there paper in canned crab? ›

Black discoloration of the crab meat significantly mars the appearance and reduces the product value. In order to prevent this, parchment paper with superior water resistance and oil resistance is used to keep the crab meat from coming in contact with the can.

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Should you cook canned crab? ›

There's also a lot less prep work involved to incorporate canned crab into recipes such as a chowder or dip because it's already cooked. That's right, you can technically eat canned crab directly out of the container, just like canned tuna, salmon, or sardines.

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Does canned crab smell weird? ›

Crab meat should smell a bit sweet; if it has a strong, fishy, sour odor––it's time to toss it. The shelf-life in a fridge is 3 to 5 days and in the freezer is 6 to 9 months. Whole cooked crab that is frozen can last from 9 to 12 months.

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How do you make crab taste better? ›

If you plan to boil or steam your crab legs, your first option is to use the water to impart extra flavor. Don't be shy about adding salt, pepper, lemon juice and lemon rinds, or the classic Old Bay seasoning to your pot before boiling or steaming your crab legs.

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What crab is used in canned crab? ›

Our crabmeat comes from Blue Swimmer Crabs, species scientific name “Portunus pelagicus”. They are wild caught by traps in the Eastern Indian and Western Central Pacific oceans.

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How can you tell fake crab meat? ›

The easiest way to know if what you're buying is real or not is to read the label. Imitation crab is often labeled as "crab sticks" or "krab," if not clearly marked as "imitation." If the front of the carton isn't clear, be sure to flip the package over and read the ingredients.

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Can you eat canned crab raw? ›

Crabs, which are notorious bottom feeders in the most literal sense of the phrase, often carry parasites or bacteria that can lead to dire health consequences or at the very least digestive unpleasantness too icky to explore. Crab meat that has been canned and preserved in brine, however, can be eaten just as it is.

Should you rinse canned foods? ›

Chef Smith agrees: "Rinsing the vegetables helps to reduce the sodium and makes it easier to balance the salt in a dish." Indeed, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that draining and rinsing canned vegetables can reduce the sodium content by 5 to 10 percent.

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Should you rinse lump crab meat in a jar? ›

If you like, you can rinse the crab meat before using it. This is a good idea to make it taste fresher if you are using canned crab meat, or if using refrigerated fresh crab meat that has any kind of preservative for freshness. Soak it in ice water for 10 minutes, then drain in a fine mesh sieve before using.

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How to rinse crab meat? ›

Rinse Crab Clean

Simply rinse them out under cool running water. You now have a fully cleaned crab. After you've done one or two, they go pretty quickly.

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How do you freshen canned crab meat? ›

This compound is odorless when the crabs are alive, but once they're killed, TMAO slowly transforms into TMA (trimethylamine), which has an unfortunately distinct smell. But that doesn't mean the seafood has gone bad or is unusable. And there's an easy way to restore a fresh smell: Give it a simple milk soak.

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