Steamed hairy crab

1

Scratch your back and wash it clean.

2

This is a male crab, and its belly and feet need to be washed. Male crabs must be selected starting from the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

3

This is a female crab. In August of the lunar calendar, female crabs are selected to be the most freshest and fattest.

4

Without opening fire, add cold water to the pan and drop a few drops of oil.

5

Put on the steaming rack, but still don't fire.

6

Pour in the washed hairy crabs, cover them, and turn on the minimum heat.

7

Simmer and steam for about two minutes and completely "fall asleep".

8

Turn to high heat and steam until about five or six minutes. The shell is golden.

9

Say hello and you can eat it.

10

A plate of golden hairy crabs.

11

Minced ginger, minced garlic, and vinegar are mixed according to personal taste and eaten.

12

Crabs cannot be eaten with persimmons and tea because the tannic acid contained in persimmons and tea will solidify into non-digestible lumps when it meets the protein of hairy crabs, and people will experience abdominal pain, vomiting and other symptoms.

How do you choose crabs? Generally speaking, crabs must be fresh, so you have to choose live ones. Size doesn't matter, but they must be heavy. Since female crabs have more roe, they are preferable. According to experts, selecting crabs carefully involves "five observations": First, look at the shell. If the back of the shell is dark green and shiny, the crab is meaty and sturdy; if the shell back is yellow, it is mostly likely thin and weak. Second, look at the navel. If the navel protrudes, the crab is usually full of roe and fat; if it is concave, it is mostly lacking in substance. Third, look at the claws. If the claws are covered in dense hair, the crab is robust; if the claws have no hair, the body is soft and weak. Fourth, look at vitality. Turn the crab over so its belly faces upward. If it can quickly use its claws to flip itself back, it has strong vitality and can be kept; if it cannot flip back, it has poor vitality and cannot be stored for long. Fifth, look at the gender. In the eighth and ninth months of the lunar calendar, pick female crabs; after the ninth month, choose male crabs, because male and female crabs respectively reach sexual maturity at these times, offering the best flavor and nutrition. By carefully studying and following these "five observations," you can pick out high-quality crabs from the many available.