Is Crab overrated?

[Cobnapint]

I'll set the scene, I'm over 60, I like fish (Haddock, Cod, Plaice) and love a Prawn Cocktail - but until last week in Devon, I'd never actually tried Crab.
After watching decades of UK seaside programmes where the presenter visits a local fishing community and exhalts over a sample of this weird looking crustacean, I decided - this was my time.

And what a disappointment!

I had a 50/50 dish (half white meat, half brown) but couldn't eat all of it. Ugh.

I left wondering what all the fuss was about.
An acquired taste, obviously.

[rdjohn]

We have one on order for Wednesday. Can’t wait.

Crab is a superb slow food. Breaking open each morsel and extracting bits with you pick with added mayonnaise makes for a great meal.

Having someone pick it for you must be about as exciting as buying a tin of Carb meat.

[otolith]

I guess maybe the brown meat is more of an acquired taste, but the white meat is sweet and not strong tasting.

[21TonyK]

Personally, not a massive fan of crab. Its okay as starter or a garnish but thats about it for me.

F-I-L though... he would live on it if he was allowed. I just find it too rich and bland. Like eating fishy clotted cream.

[redrabbit29]

I think all fish is overrated. Notably prawns and crabs as you spend half your time fannying about, getting your hands covered in food trying to extract the tiniest bit of fish. It's often not even that satisfying.

I'd rather have a big fat steak or lasagne

[croyde]

I loved Crab Sticks back in the day when the fish guy would come into the pub selling cockles and whelks

Years ago in Devon a then girlfriend kept going on about Newlyn Crab, I think it was..

We got some and she gushed over it whilst I thought it was a tasteless nothing. Very unimpressed.

[thebraketester]

IMO yes it is. The dead man’s fingers put me off it.

[Megaflow]

IMO, no. The most overrated shell fish for me is lobster.

[Cobnapint]

Megaflow said:

IMO, no. The most overrated shell fish for me is lobster.

I've yet to try Lobster. I think that'll have to be next.

[Melman Giraffe]

Dressed Crab is delicious or a Chilli crab pasta with white and brown meat -

[LRDefender]

I absolutely love crab (and lobster, langoustine, prawns, scallops etc) but I can understand how some people aren’t so keen.

As with all seafood it is critical it is fresh, caught that day and stored properly until ready for cooking.

And any seafood with sauce or wrapped in batter is a waste of good quality food. Apart from cod/haddock from the chippy of course.

[Douglas Quaid]

Before you write it off, it could be that you just had a bad dish. It happens. I’ve had bad steaks before and a bad steak is very different to a good steak for example.

Maybe try it again at a different place. I recently had crab at a good restaurant and it was amazing.

[redrabbit29]

Cobnapint said:

Megaflow said:

IMO, no. The most overrated shell fish for me is lobster.

I've yet to try Lobster. I think that'll have to be next.

I went to Lake Garda in Italy (unbelievable btw) and thought I'd try lobster having never had it. Cost a fortune, was pretty excited but as you say, it was so underwhelming.

I spent half the mean trying to eat the fking thing. I felt tired afterwards as it was such a bloody faf. Meanwhile, my partner enjoyed her pasta and chicken whilst I sat there wresting a lobster.

[Melman Giraffe]

21TonyK said:

Personally, not a massive fan of crab. Its okay as starter or a garnish but thats about it for me.

F-I-L though... he would live on it if he was allowed. I just find it too rich and bland. Like eating fishy clotted cream.

Trying to get your post count up Tony?

[newberry]

I think crab is really good, nicer than lobster in my opinion, I suppose it depends on the type of crab and the freshness maybe??
The best crab I have had was in Australia when we caught it and went back to a relatives place and simply boiled it up in his shed and ate them with bread and butter (margarine)

Edited by newberry on Monday 30th September 11:52

Edited by newberry on Monday 30th September 11:53

[21TonyK]

Melman Giraffe said:

21TonyK said:

Personally, not a massive fan of crab. Its okay as starter or a garnish but thats about it for me.

F-I-L though... he would live on it if he was allowed. I just find it too rich and bland. Like eating fishy clotted cream.

Trying to get your post count up Tony?

Bloody safari crap browser thing!

[PhilAsia]

Melman Giraffe said:

Trying to get your post count up Tony?

Polygamy?

[PhilAsia]

Crab..., better than crabs!

Mud crab is great! Big claws, so worthwhile pickings!

[otolith]

Best crab I've had in the UK was at the Crab House Cafe in Weymouth. Very good seafood restaurant, with the menu varying depending what has come in fresh.

I used to be able to buy live lobsters off the boat in Fleetwood for about half what retailers sell them for. They were bloody good, though I doubt I will ever get crustaceans as good as my memory of the ones in Thailand in the 90's - all the produce alive in crates on the pavement outside, I'll have that bugger, barbecued...

[UnfortunateUserName]

Always thought it was massively over-rated.

Until

I had Alaskan king crab claws while in Alaska. With melted butter and bread. They were the size of my forearm and completely changed my opinion. Still drool over them years later and would almost justify a trip there just to eat them again….

Little fiddly crabs though? No thanks.