What Kind of Crab Is the Winter Crab? Differences from the Swimming Crab and Its Price

The winter crab is simply the crab of winter, generally plump and rich in winter, and the winter crabs currently on the market are all new crabs, so the price is about the same as ordinary crabs, not very expensive, but its nutritional value is no worse than other crabs. So what kind of crab is the winter crab? Is it the same as the swimming crab? How much is it per jin?

Introduction to the Winter Crab

The winter crab is a crustacean of the order Decapoda, suborder Pleocyemata, especially the species of the true crab group. It also includes some other types, such as the roughly 4700 species of the Anomura group. It is found in all oceans, rivers and on land. The crab's tail differs from that of other decapods, curling beneath the thorax, and the carapace is usually broad.

The winter crab is nutritious: every 500 grams of sea crab contains 49.6 grams of protein, 9.3 grams of fat, 27.2 grams of carbohydrates, 1.088 mg of phosphorus, 33.6 mg of iron, and vitamins A, D and others.

Winter crab roe is rich in cholesterol, containing 466 mg of cholesterol per 100 grams, which ranks among the highest in foods.

Is It the Same as the Swimming Crab?

The winter crab and the swimming crab are actually two kinds of crab, though the winter crab can also be said to be a swimming crab; the winter crab simply refers to the crabs of winter, and the crabs at this time are all fairly plump.

The differences between the two:

The winter crab is a crustacean of the order Decapoda, suborder Pleocyemata, especially the species of the true crab group. It also includes some other types, such as the roughly 4700 species of the Anomura group. It is found in all oceans, rivers and on land. The crab's tail differs from that of other decapods, curling beneath the thorax, and the carapace is usually broad. The winter crab is nutritious: every 500 grams of sea crab contains 49.6 grams of protein, 9.3 grams of fat, 27.2 grams of carbohydrates, 1.088 mg of phosphorus, 33.6 mg of iron, and vitamins A, D and others. Winter crab roe is rich in cholesterol, containing 466 mg of cholesterol per 100 grams, which ranks among the highest in foods.

The swimming crab has fine, tender, white flesh and is rich in protein, fat and various minerals. In the winter migration season the swimming crab is at its most robust, generally weighing around 250 grams, with the largest reaching up to 500 grams. The female crab's shell is full of red roe and its flavour is excellent. Swimming crab can be eaten fresh, or steamed, pan-fried, or stir-fried, or cut in half and stewed with bean paste, or stir-fried with rice cakes, stir-fried with pickles, or boiled with tofu; it is a common dish on the tables of residents along the coast. It can also be pickled, that is, fresh swimming crab is soaked in brine and can be eaten after a few days, commonly known as “new wind grabbed crab”. In the past, because swimming crab yields were high, fishermen would often select live crabs full of roe, scoop the roe into a bowl, and let it solidify in the wind and sun to make “crab roe cakes”, with a particularly fine flavour, but the yield was small and ordinary people rarely got to taste it.

How Much per Jin?

The winter crab costs 60 yuan per jin

Every year as winter approaches, it is also the time when crabs are at their plumpest, and once National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival have passed, crab prices generally fall. “During this year's Golden Week, winter crabs and blue-legged crabs of good quality (7 liang and above per crab) reached more than 90 yuan per jin; now the same grade is about 60-odd yuan per jin, a drop of about 30 percent.” Roe crabs and vegetable crabs fell by a smaller margin, dropping by around 10 yuan per jin, and now top-quality ones sell for around 100 yuan per jin.

In fact, this year locally farmed roe crabs and vegetable crabs were hit by some unfavourable factors and saw their yields fall one after another. Despite the reduced yields, crab prices have remained fairly stable, and there has been no situation of few crabs and high prices

In autumn and winter, besides the conventional vegetable crab and roe crab varieties, blue-legged crab (orchid crab), winter crab, red flower crab and three-spot crab are all seasonal varieties. Among them, the blue-legged crab, winter crab and three-spot crab all belong to the swimming crab group, and swimming crabs are divided into male and female. It is understood that male crabs have plenty of firm, fresh and sweet meat; female crabs, though their meat is a little more crumbly, are the favourite of those who love crab roe. Generally, crabs of 7 liang or more per crab count as a good size (red flower crabs of 7 liang per crab are rare and count as top grade), and among them the winter crab variety can even reach 8 liang to about one jin per crab.