Featured collection
More from the counter today
What it is
Brown crab is the large native British crab with a smooth reddish-brown shell and heavy front claws. It gives two kinds of meat, sweet white meat from the claws and legs and rich brown meat from the body. We sell it cooked, whole or dressed, and we pick and dress it to order by hand at the counter.
Why choose it
Brown crab is generous, full flavoured and priced by weight, and one good crab feeds a table. The white meat is delicate and sweet while the brown meat is deep and savoury, so a single crab gives you two textures and two flavours. Dressed and ready to eat, it is one of the easiest ways to put something special on the table.
How it tastes
The white claw meat is sweet, firm and flaky with a clean shellfish flavour. The brown meat from the body is soft, rich and savoury with a deeper, almost nutty note that spreads beautifully on toast. Together they balance each other, the white light and the brown intense.
How to cook it
Most brown crab is sold ready cooked, so the work is picking and dressing rather than cooking. If you have a live crab, chill it well then cook it in heavily salted boiling water, around 15 to 20 minutes for the first kilo. To dress, twist off the claws and legs, crack them for the white meat, lift out the body and scoop the brown meat, and discard the feathery gills. We will pick and dress it for you at the counter.
What goes with it
Lemon, brown bread and butter and a spoon of mayonnaise. Chilli, lime and coriander for a fresh crab salad. Pasta with garlic, chilli and parsley for the white meat. Toast for the brown meat.
How long it takes
A whole cooked crab needs only dressing, which takes a few minutes once you know the crack points, or none at all if we dress it for you. A live crab takes 15 to 20 minutes for the first kilo in boiling salted water, plus time to cool. Times vary with size.
Nutrition
Crab is high in protein and low in fat, with useful omega-3, and it carries selenium, zinc, copper and B12. White meat is the leaner of the two, while brown meat is richer and higher in fat.
Sustainability
Ask at the counter for the day's sourcing. Brown crab is a well managed British shellfish, and we can advise on cock versus hen crab and pick you the right size for the table.
Where to buy it
At the counter at 18 Barnes High Street, picked and dressed to order by hand and priced by weight. Collect the same day in Barnes, or order by 1pm for next-day delivery across London and the UK, with free UK delivery over £60 and free local delivery for neighbours.
---
Common questions
What is the difference between brown and white crab meat?
White meat comes from the claws and legs and is sweet, firm and flaky. Brown meat comes from the body and is soft, rich and savoury with a deeper flavour. Most people mix the two, or keep the brown for toast and the white for a salad.
How much crab do I need per person?
Allow around 250 grams of whole cooked crab per person as a starter, or one crab of about 700 grams to a kilo to share between two. A whole crab yields roughly a third of its weight in meat. Tell us your numbers at the counter and we will sort you out.
How do I dress a crab?
Twist off the claws and legs and crack them for the white meat, lift the body out of the shell, scoop the brown meat from the shell and discard the feathery gills and the small mouth parts. It takes a few minutes once you know the crack points, or we will dress it for you.
Can I freeze crab meat?
Yes. Freshly picked white and brown meat both freeze well for up to a month. Freeze it as fresh as you can, defrost in the fridge overnight and use it the same day. Do not refreeze crab that was sold defrosted.
How long does dressed crab keep?
Eat it as fresh as you can, ideally the day you buy it and within two days at most. Keep it covered and chilled at the bottom of the fridge, and never leave it out at room temperature.
How do I order brown crab for delivery?
Order by 1pm and we deliver next day across London and the UK, with free UK delivery on orders over £60 and free local delivery for neighbours. You can also collect the same day in Barnes. We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and hold a five-star food hygiene rating.
Common questions
What is the difference between brown and white crab meat?
White meat comes from the claws and legs and is sweet, firm and flaky. Brown meat comes from the body and is soft, rich and savoury with a deeper flavour. Most people mix the two, or keep the brown for toast and the white for a salad.
How much crab do I need per person?
Allow around 250 grams of whole cooked crab per person as a starter, or one crab of about 700 grams to a kilo to share between two. A whole crab yields roughly a third of its weight in meat. Tell us your numbers at the counter and we will sort you out.
How do I dress a crab?
Twist off the claws and legs and crack them for the white meat, lift the body out of the shell, scoop the brown meat from the shell and discard the feathery gills and the small mouth parts. It takes a few minutes once you know the crack points, or we will dress it for you.
Can I freeze crab meat?
Yes. Freshly picked white and brown meat both freeze well for up to a month. Freeze it as fresh as you can, defrost in the fridge overnight and use it the same day. Do not refreeze crab that was sold defrosted.
How long does dressed crab keep?
Eat it as fresh as you can, ideally the day you buy it and within two days at most. Keep it covered and chilled at the bottom of the fridge, and never leave it out at room temperature.
How do I order brown crab for delivery?
Order by 1pm and we deliver next day across London and the UK, with free UK delivery on orders over £60 and free local delivery for neighbours. You can also collect the same day in Barnes. We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and hold a five-star food hygiene rating.
