There are a few different methods that can be used to humanely kill a crab before cooking it. Here are a few options:
- Placing the crab in the freezer or on ice for a short period of time (around 15-20 minutes) can cause the crab to become unconscious, which can make it easier to handle and may reduce its suffering.
- Some people recommend placing the crab in a pot of boiling water, which is intended to cause the crab to go into shock and become unconscious. This method should be used with caution, as it may not be effective in all cases and may cause the crab to suffer unnecessarily.
- Another method is to place the crab in a container with a lid and puncture the crab’s brain with a sharp object, such as a metal skewer. This is sometimes called “spiking.” This method should be used with caution, as it requires skill and precision to ensure that the crab is killed humanely.
In general, it is important to handle all animals, including crabs, with care and respect, and to minimize any unnecessary suffering. If you are not comfortable using any of the methods described above, you may want to consider purchasing pre-cooked crab meat or having a professional handle the process for you. There is an ongoing debate as to whether crabs feel any pain.
“Spiking” is using a sharp pointed object (e.g. a thick, pointed pithing instrument, an awl or a sharp-pointed knife) to rapidly destroy the ganglia or central nervous system of a crab. This works well specifically for crabs because they have 2 large nerve centers that are easily accessible to spike.
Here are some common ways to humanely kill edible crabs: