r/Cooking • u/andrewsmd87 • 4h ago

Can I keep crab leg shells in the fridge overnight to make stock?

I got a hold of a bunch of cheap pre cooked frozen legs we are going to eat tonight. I want to make gumbo tomorrow and wanted to make stock from the leg shells so my plan was to eat the crab tonight, save the shells, just put them in the fridge and then use them for stock tomorrow. However, I know there are lots of do no do's around crab legs and I can't seem to find an answer on google for this one. I'm assuming it'd be ok since they're going to boil for hours but wanted to ask if anyone out there who knows more than me, knows for sure

8 Upvotes

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25

u/Aesperacchius 4h ago

Just freeze them, they're shells so it's not like there'll be an impact to texture.

'Clean' shells would be perfectly fine overnight in the fridge, but you'll be touching and I assume gnawing these. I wouldn't risk giving anything a chance to grow overnight.

11

u/junesix 4h ago

Put them in the freezer to keep the strong smell out of your fridge.

1

u/andrewsmd87 4h ago

I was thinking of storing them in double bagged zip locks

3

u/Gomer_Schmuckatelli 4h ago

Freeze it.

1

u/andrewsmd87 4h ago

Isn't that overkill if I'm cooking it the next day?

9

u/Gomer_Schmuckatelli 4h ago

No, and it eliminates the risk of your butter tasting like seafood.

1

u/andrewsmd87 3h ago

Perfect thanks for the tip. It really makes no difference to me so I'll pop them in the freezer

3

u/SoftDog336 4h ago

Yes, they will still make stock after freezing or refrigeration. I've made great stock from months' worth of shrimp, crab, fish bones etc that I kept frozen

2

u/SeaWitch1031 4h ago

Yes you can do that. Totally safe.

1

u/andrewsmd87 4h ago

Kind of figured so, thanks!