Dungeness crab yields more meat per unit than any other type of crab. That’s great news for us because crab meat provides numerous health benefits. Couple that with this season’s bountiful catch and you can make Oregon Dungeness crab a frequent dinner table staple.

Puzzled by not knowing what a wholesome, nutritious crab looks like at the grocery store or fish market? Gladics says to look for a bright red shell and a crustacean that smells like the ocean and doesn’t have a fishy smell.

Whole cooked Oregon Dungeness crab, whether fresh or previously frozen, is perfectly safe to eat and ensures the shellfish is available year-round, she says. When buying from a fishmonger, ask him what the meat fill is on that particular batch of crab (how much meat is in the whole crab). The meat fill can vary throughout the season.

You can ask the retailer to clean the crab for you if you don’t want to do it at home, and they’ll leave the back on if you ask them so you can serve them whole and have a picture-perfect dish, Gladics explains.

Choose Oregon Dungeness crab because it’s local, an excellent source of lean protein, and contains many of the nutritional benefits of other seafood.

Micronutrients, sometimes referred to as vitamins and minerals, must originate in your diet; they aren’t produced by the body. Their job is to promote well-being and help prevent disease.

Now that you’ve got the crab home, you need to decide how you want to prepare it. You can give your family or guests whole crabs and let them enjoy the magic of cracking the crab, forking out the flakes, or that joyous occasion when you pull out a whole, long chunk.

Gladics, who enjoys the sweet delicate flavor and doesn’t want any add-ons, likes her crab simple, steamed with butter and lemons. Steve Fick, owner of Fishhawk Fisheries in Astoria came up with a healthy crab dip for a winning snack.

Combine ½ cup each of low-fat mayo, low-fat sour cream, and yogurt. Season the dip with a tablespoon each of parsley and green onions, one teaspoon each of ground pepper and paprika, and a tablespoon of dry ranch dressing. Fold in two cups of Oregon Dungeness crab meat.

Place the crab on a platter surrounded by cut-up vegetables.

Originally published on TravelOregon.com

More recipes including crab cakes, chowder, and crepes are listed on the Oregon Dungeness crab commission site.

Gladics notes more research is suggesting a diet that contains seafood is key and supplements don’t deliver the same health benefits. All the more reason to celebrate that next occasion or no occasion at all with Oregon Dungeness crab.