
For humane purposes, a crab must be killed before cooking. Dropping a crab into boiling water alive causes the crab to suffer and its body to fall apart. In addition to the suffering, dropping a live crab into boiling water will make the meat tough and watery. If killed, then cooked, you will have a succulent meal to serve to your family or guests. The process to kill a crab requires minimal effort and there are two options available to maintain your comfort level during the process.
Place the live crab in enough fresh water to cover and leave it for approximately 30 minutes. The crab will essentially drown as it cannot survive in fresh water. This is not the most humane method of killing the crab; however, it is the least invasive method.
Turn the crab over on his back. You may wish to wear a glove while doing this to avoid being pinched by the crab.
Lift the triangular-shaped tail that points up to the crab's head. Continue lifting the tail away from the claws until it will not lift any further.
Insert a sharp chopstick or screwdriver into the small cone-shaped hole that is located under the tail.
Tap the end of the chopstick or screwdriver sharply with a rolling pin or other blunt object. This will kill the crab instantly.
Turn the crab over and allow it to drain completely. Once drained, the crab is ready to clean and then cook.
Related Articles

How to Cook Dead Crab

How to Cook Live Lobster on the Grill

How to Cook Crabs in a Slow Cooker

How to Cook Blue Crab

How Do I Make a Crab Salad With Canned ...

How to Cook Crab Claws

How to Cook Frozen Shrimps That Still ...

How Often Do Lobsters Shed Their ...

How to Clean Fresh Crabs to Freeze

How to Boil 1.5 Pounds of Lobster

How to Steam a Quahog

How to Cook Jonah Crabs
How to Eat Stone Crab

How to Eat King Crab Legs

The best way to cook king crab legs ...
How Long Does it Take to Boil Frozen ...

The Best Method to Store Fresh Oysters

How to Devein Tiger Prawns

How to Clean Blue Crabs Before Cooking

How to Take Out a Nose Ring With a Ball
References
Resources
Writer Bio
Based in southern Virginia, Kristy Robinson has been writing for various websites since 2008. Her work focuses on tutorials and self-help articles. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from American InterContinental University.
Photo Credits
Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images