Minced Rock Crab Meat: Production and Shell Particle Content

Abstract

This work describes the production of minced rock crab (Cancer irroratus) meat and the problems associated with the removal and chemical determination of shell particles. The modification of chemical methodology for the estimation of shell particles in minced crab meat is described and data are given on the accuracy of the resultant method. Taste panels were employed to evaluate the extent of grittiness imparted to samples to which known concentrations of shell particles of various mesh sizes had been added. From the results so obtained, it was suggested that in a minced rock crab meat, the concentration of shell particles which fail to pass through a 20 mesh sieve should not exceed 0.3%, the particles which fail to pass through a 50 mesh sieve should not exceed 1.05% and the total shell contents should not exceed 1.25% (all percentages on a dry weight basis).Various minced rock crab meats were prepared on a belt-drum type mechanical deboner (Baader 694) by using raw materials which had been handled in different ways. Percentage yields and grittiness assessments are given for all prepared meats and proximate composition is presented for all meats and waste materials. It was observed,that a good quality minced rock crab meat can be produced in yields of 24-30% (of live weight) by the deshelling of cooked sections.