Did you know March 9th is NATIONAL CRAB MEAT DAY #NationalCrabMeatDay? The only person I know who eats Crab was my Ex Everett Suzzie’s step-dad who liked Crab Salad which my family will pass on. How about you?
National Crab Meat Day is observed annually on March 9th,and offers everyone a day to celebrate one of America’s favorite Crustaceans. With 1.5 million tons of Crab consumed every year around the world, there is plenty of Crab Meat lovers to celebrate every year.
National Crab Meat Day pays homage to the taste of Crab Meat and its popularity across the Country. People across the world love Seafood especially Crabs. People, on the other hand, appear to be more concerned with the flavor of Crabs and how delicious they are rather than the health benefits they give.
Crabs, according to the study, are abundant in protein and contain high quantities of Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins B12, and Selenium. Omega-3 and protein supplements are in high demand around the world because Crabs play such an important part in keeping people healthy and fit. But the truth is that none of these supplements can compare to the real nutrition you’ll get from eating a Crab.
Crabs are Crustaceans which are found in all the Oceans of the world. Crabs are covered with a hard shell, known as an exoskeleton, and usually have two claws known as pincers. One of these pincers is usually larger than the other. The claws also have Meat and are one of the most flavorful and meatiest parts of the Crab.
Crabs were first consumed in ancient Rome by persons who lived near the Sea or frequently went by the Sea. These individuals introduced the dishes to Britain and the trend of consuming Lobster, Crab, Shellfish, etc. began to spread.
In the mid-fifteenth century, Crabs were boiled and eaten cold with Vinegar. But it wasn’t until Victorian times that different dressings for Crabs were created by cooks. Archeologists have also discovered that Blue Crabs were a vital source of food for Native Americans, Euro-American Colonists, and African Americans. Crab remnants dating back to the 17th Century were unearthed in Maryland, revealing this.
Some species of Soft-Shell Crabs are eaten whole, including the shell, while with others only the legs and claws are edible. The Roe or Crab Eggs are also a delicacy across the world, particularly in Southeast Asia. In America, Chesapeake Bay is the area where Crab Roe is primarily consumed.
Crab Meat is known for its delicate, sweet flavor. So while there are recipes, particularly in Asia, where the Crab Meat is used in recipes that use a lot of Spice, most American recipes for Crab rely on the flavor of the Meat itself. Alaskan Crab, for instance, is cooked by boiling it with Garlic and Butter and not much else.
Crab is also a popular ingredient in American Sushi, but because of the expense, most restaurants prefer to use Imitation Crab rather than actual Crab since the flavor isn’t central to the experience in these recipes.
When it comes to fishing and fisheries, did you know Crabs account for 20% of all the Crustaceans caught, farmed, or consumed. They are eaten all over the world in many different preparations, recipes, and methods.
Crabs are so popular amongst health experts because they can help reduce blood clotting, prevent anemia by producing red blood cells, and most importantly, the delicacy can decrease the risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, the benefits of Crab were not so well-known till much later. In fact, Crabs took a while to reach the U.S. food market.
While Crab Meat is a healthy choice, the fat and calories add up once you add the Butter. And there are thousands of species of Crabs, but only certain ones are edible. In the United States, some of the more popular and tasty ones are the Blue Crab, Stone Crab, Dungeness Crab, King Crab, and Rock or Snow Crabs. Crabs come in both hard and soft shells and can be found along all the Coasts and Hawaii.
National Crab Meat Day celebrates the tasty goodness of Crab Meat and the delicious recipes that include this ingredient Crab. There is a large market for Crab in America and an even larger market for Imitation Crab Meat, which is used as a replacement for actual Crab in many recipes. Imitation Crab is preferred by a lot of people, but when it comes down to it, people love the soft, sweet flavor of Crab Meat, and nothing can replace the original Crab. Can it?
Crabs are so popular because not only are they super delicious, but Crabs are great for health too. And guess what? There are tons of ways in which a Crab can be cooked. This means even if you don’t like one recipe, you can easily opt for another one that is more of your flavor. Grab your wallets, call a couple of friends, and get ready to celebrate National Crab Day with a Crab-eating fest. We promise it will definitely be worth it.
Enjoying the Meat of these Crustaceans can be done in many ways. Boiled Crab, either the legs or the whole creature, results in a feast requiring some labor from the diner. However, every tasty morsel is well worth the effort. Mix the Meat with other ingredients to create Dips, Cakes, or Soups.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL CRAB MEAT DAY
Use #NationalCrabMeatDay to share your Crab dishes on Social Media.
Boil or steam Crab to share with your family.
Eat Crab Legs.
Prepare a Crab Salad for lunch or dinner.
National Crab Meat Day Activities
- Nothing embodies America’s love for Crab Meat as much as Crab Cakes, look up a recipe online and get your ingredients together and make Crab Cakes for your friends and family.
- If you have the means and the opportunity head over to a Seafood place known for their fresh catch and get yourself some delicious Alaskan Crab served with the simplest ingredients.
- Catching Crabs in a pot is a time-honored way of Fishing for them, so head over to Florida or Alaska and catch yourself some Crabs.
Facts About Crabs
- In the U.S., the grades of Crab Meat depend on the size of the Crab, and the location where the Crab comes from.
- Imitation crab was invented by the Japanese almost 800 years ago, when the Japanese invented the technique of mincing Fish, which is used to make Imitation Crab Meat today.
- The total value of Crab exports from America comes to over 250 million U.S. dollars. That’s a whole lotta moolah isn’t it?
- Some fisheries declaw Crabs and this controversial practice involves declawing Crabs and putting them back in the Water, and is justified because some species of Crab can regrow their claws. Isn’t that mean?
- Crab meat is very healthy because Cran Meat is low in fat and high in folate, niacin, and zinc, which are all necessary nutrients for the human body.
Why People Love National Crab Meat Day
On National Crab Meat Day, several Crab specialties are brought to the forefront so that Crab lovers have a variety of options.
People love to eat Crab Meat because it is sweet and delicious and on National Crab Meat Day it is a great excuse to eat all the Crab we can.
National Crab Meat Day focuses on why Crabs are so important to consume and the myriad health advantages they provide. Crabs are high in protein and have a high nutritional value.
Recipe for Crab Salad
Easy Crab Salad (Seafood Salad)
Crab Salad is a classic Seafood Salad recipe with imitation crab, shallot and celery in a creamy dressing with a blend of herbs and spices.
Prep Time: 10minutes minutes Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound imitation Crab Meat
- 1 shallot , minced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup celery , minced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dill
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
Refrigerate for an hour before serving.
In a large bowl add all the ingredients together gently, stirring until well coated.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates