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Nothing ruins a seafood feast faster than not having the right tools. Sitting at a newspaper-covered picnic table piled high with vibrant, red-shelled crabs is arguably heaven (especially if you're up to your elbows in Old Bay), but even the biggest crab lovers will admit that cracking through them all can be a lot of work. A quality crab cracker—one that will easily crush through claws and legs without straining your hands or mangling the sweet meat within—makes that process just a little bit easier.
Our top picks
Will a nut cracker work on crab legs?
Yes! Many of the crab crackers in our list are also made to crack nuts. Turns out, the qualities a tool needs to crack hard nut shells aren't so different from those required for crushing crab shells. While we're on the topic, these crackers also work for another hard-shelled crustacean, lobster.
How we chose these products
We turned to the internet to find what the crab-loving community had to say about the best crab crackers. We included the best-reviewed crab crackers on Amazon and found some that are worth the splurge. In addition, we looked for crackers that are made of sturdy, heavy-duty materials; are easy to use; have serrated jaws and rubber grips; and fit into any budget. Also on this list? Crackers for both the once-in-a-blue-moon seafood eater to the dedicated crab-eating enthusiast.
Got any leftover crab? Try these best-ever crab cakes, this crab dip, or even a crab bisque.
Pros
- Affordable
- Heavy duty
Cons
If easily-cracked crabs are what you want, then this cracker is what you need. It's part of OXO's Good Grips line, so it has a rubber handle that ensures you always have a good grip. Plus, it's affordable, and reviewers love that it's heavy duty enough to withstand everyday use.
Toadfish Crab Leg Cracker Tool
Pros
- Sturdy
Cons
- Expensive
We'll give you a minute to take in the price. Okay, now let us tell you why this Toadfish crab cracker is worth it. The spring-loaded jaws cut through even the thickest seafood shells, leaving meat intact and free of pesky shell fragments. Also, the handle's rubber grips mean this thing stays put while in butter-covered hands. Finally, the bottle opener on the side makes cracking open a beer mid-feast very easy.
"I was very impressed with how smoothly it cuts right through with hardly any effort," this reviewer raved. Invest in this gadget and you'll never have to buy another cracker in your life.
Pros
- Comes with six sets
- Affordable
Cons
Throwing a crab boil party, newspapers on tables and buttered corn included? A quality set of crab crackers is a necessity. This Hiware set comes with six crab crackers, six lobster shellers, six picks, two pairs of seafood scissors, and a storage bag. The crackers' double jaw head design is sized to crack claws and legs both big and small, while the sheller and pick can break free any pesky pieces of meat still clinging to the shell. "It's very good quality, easy to clean, and I can see using it for many years to come," this reviewer said.
Cuisinart Sharkbite Nut & Seafood Cracker
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Affordable
Cons
The Cuisinart crab cracker has soft-grip handles for no slippage, serrated edges that clamp down on the legs of any crustacean, and a stainless-steel construction for a sleek look. It's also much heavier than the other crackers on this list (more than seven ounces), giving it some pleasant heft.
Pros
- Pretty
- Best for small crabs
Cons
- Slippery to use
Hosting a ritzy party that's more cotton tablecloth and less newspaper? Opt for these adorable lobster claw crackers. They'll look fantastic atop linen napkins, next to a platter of fresh steamed crab, lobster, shrimp, and other shellfish. FYI, this cracker isn't as user-friendly as some of the other crackers on this list, so it's best for small crustaceans or when there's minimal cracking involved. This reviewer summed it up: "They're pretty and useful!"
Seafood Cracker, Deveiner, & Oyster Knife
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Comes with three seafood tools
Cons
Know someone who's totally seafood obsessed? Get them this Williams Sonoma set, which comes with three high-quality seafood tools: a crab cracker, a deveiner for shrimp, and an oyster shucker. (Here's how to eat seafood on the half shell, by the way.) The cracker has two different-sized zones that make easy work of both large and small crabs, and when paired with two other included tools, create the perfect set.
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