What grades of crabmeat are available?
Crabmeat is generally sold by the pound, but most food stores today package crabmeat in 8oz., 12oz., and 16oz. containers. Frequently people buy crabmeat assuming it is a 16oz. package, when it is only 12oz. The Crab Shanty only sells crabmeat by the pound. Several grades of crabmeat exist: the most popular grades are Jumbo Lump, Lump, Special, Claw, and Claw Fingers. Claw Fingers is the meat from the claws of the crab with the pinchers still attached to be used as appetizers. Claw Meat is the meat extracted from the claws to be used in soups, stuffings, crab cakes etc. Special Crabmeat is the smallest pieces of white meat from the crab. Lump or Backfin different names but the same product has larger pieces of white meat from the body of the crab has less shell. Jumbo Lump being the finest quality and containing large lumps of meat has little or no cartilage or shell.
