Rinse the crab if needed and place it on a clean surface
Twist off the legs and claws from the body
Remove the top shell by lifting it off
Discard the gills and any inedible parts
Break the body in half or into smaller sections
Crack the legs and claws with a crab cracker or mallet
Pull out the meat with a seafood pick, fork, or your fingers
Eat the body meat by separating the chambers and reaching inside
Dip the meat in melted butter, lemon, or your preferred sauce
Check each piece for shell fragments before eating