Frozen Whole Blue Swimming Crab

What you are getting

Whole blue swimmer crabs (Portunus pelagicus), shell-on and cleaned, with claws and legs left intact. The shell is mottled blue-green and turns bright orange-red the moment it hits heat, which makes it easy to judge doneness by eye.

Where it comes from

Landing grounds along the Indo-Pacific coast, frozen within hours of the catch rather than shipped on ice. That early freeze is what keeps the meat sweet and separate instead of watery.

Specifications

• Cut: whole, cleaned, shell-on
• Net weight: 2 kg per box
• Grading: sorted for even size before freezing
• State: raw, frozen

Storage

Hold at -18 C or colder. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, never on the bench, and do not refreeze once fully thawed. Keep the box closed so the shells do not pick up other freezer odours.

Shelf life and delivery

Best within 12 months of the production date stamped on the box. Orders travel in insulated liners with dry ice and arrive hard frozen.

How to cook it

Steam over high heat until the shells turn bright orange-red and serve with ginger and black vinegar. To braise, split the bodies, sear cut-side down in hot oil with ginger, garlic and spring onion, then add a splash of stock and cover for a few minutes. Pull it off the heat as soon as the meat turns opaque; extra time is what dries crab out.

Allergen

Contains crustacean shellfish. Packed where fish and molluscs are also handled.