🦀 Crab
Callinectes sapidus
What it is
A sea animal with a hard shell and claws whose soft, sweet meat is eaten cooked.
How it looks
The cooked meat is white with hints of pink and comes out in soft, tender strands.
Taste
Sweet and delicate, with a gentle flavor of the sea.
Why it is healthy
A good source of protein and minerals like zinc that help keep your body healthy.
How to eat it
Always eat it fully cooked, such as steamed or in crab cakes and soup; some people are allergic to shellfish, so try a small first bite with a grown-up.
How it grows
Crabs live along the ocean floor near the shore, in bays, and in salty rivers.
In season
You can buy crab fresh, frozen, or canned, and cleaned crab meat is easy to add to meals.
History
People living near the sea have caught and cooked crabs for thousands of years.
Fun fact
Crabs walk sideways and can grow a new claw if they ever lose one.
Try this
Try a little cooked crab meat mixed into a warm pasta or a soft roll for a special treat.