How long does crab last?

Fresh crab meat keeps only 1 to 3 days in the fridge, and crab legs 2 to 4 days. A sealed tub of pasteurized crab meat keeps 10 to 12 months in the fridge, then 3 to 5 days once opened.

Food	Fridge	Freezer
Fresh crab meat	1–3 days	2–4 months
Crab legs (king, snow, Dungeness)	2–4 daysfrom purchase	9–12 monthsfrom purchase
Pasteurized crab meat (sealed tub)	10–12 monthsfrom purchaseOpened: 3–5 days	4–10 monthsfrom purchase

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

How to tell if crab has gone bad

A sour, ammonia or strongly fishy smell. Fresh crab smells mild and sweet.
Slimy, sticky or mushy meat.
Discolored meat, gray or yellowish, or a bulging tub of pasteurized crab.

How to store crab

Keep crab in the coldest part of the fridge, on ice if you can, in a sealed container.
Pasteurized crab meat must stay refrigerated, even unopened: it isn't shelf-stable like canned crab.
Refrigerate cooked crab within 2 hours, and eat leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

Can you freeze crab?

Yes. Crab legs freeze best, for 9 to 12 months; fresh crab meat keeps 2 to 4 months, but turns more watery and stringy. Wrap it tightly or freeze it in a sealed container with as little air as possible, and thaw it in the fridge overnight.

Questions

How long does cooked crab last?

3 to 4 days in the fridge, in a sealed container.

Do you need to cook crab legs again?

Most crab legs are sold already cooked and frozen; you just reheat them until hot, by steaming or boiling for a few minutes.

How long can crab sit out?

No more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour above 32 °C (90 °F). Serve crab on ice at a party.

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