Fresh Cooked Spanner Crabs.

TO COOK

The shell is burgundy-orange even when uncooked, turning a brighter orange when cooked. Average yield is 25% (from claws and body). The flesh is translucent when raw and white when cooked, it has a distinctive, sweet flavour, low oiliness and is soft and moist. The most humane, and easiest, method of killing any crustacean is to chill it in the freezer for about 45 minutes until it becomes insensible (but not long enough to freeze it). Once chilled, it should be killed promptly by splitting in half or dropping into rapidly boiling water. See NSW Department of Primary Industries and RSPCA for more details.

COOKING METHODS

Steam, poach, boil. Do not recook cooked Crabs, pick the meat and use it in salads, sandwiches, as a garnish for soups, or in dishes where it is just gently warmed, such as pasta, risotto, Crab cakes and omelettes. Given its thick top shell, Spanner Crab is best used for its meat rather than presented in the shell.

GOES WELL WITH

Anchovies, black pepper, butter, chilli, coconut, cream, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, herbs (such as chervil, coriander, dill, French tarragon, parsley), lemon, lemongrass, lime, mayonnaise, nutmeg, onion, soy sauce, tomatoes, turmeric.