Homemade Seafood Stock Recipe (using seafood shells) (2024)

FAQs

Can you use mussel shells for seafood stock? ›

* Both raw and cooked shells are a wonderful addition to the seafood stock pot. Stock made of shrimp, crab and crawfish shells is one of the secrets of Cajun cookery. Lobster, clam and mussel shells make wonderful stock as well.

You can use shrimp shells, crab shells, lobster shells, even fish bones. Once you've made the stock, you can use it in any recipe that calls for any kind of seafood stock. That's right, lobster shell stock, shrimp shell stock, fish stock; whatever they ask for, you've got it covered right here.

Stock and Broth

Lobster shells are rich in flavor and can be used to make seafood stock or broth. Simmering the shells with water and aromatic ingredients like onions, garlic and herbs can create a flavorful base for soups, stews, risottos and sauces.

Crab shells, carcasses or even whole crabs can all be used to make a simple crab stock which will add depth and flavor to seafood soups.

Some people do boil their leftover mussel shells with herbs and seasonings of their choice to make a seafood stock. And, of course, it can be reduced to use as a sauce or as a part of one.

Shells can be used as compost, soil additive or mulch. First, boil the shells to sterilize them. Next, crush the shells to increase their effectiveness in the soil. Sprinkle into your soil.

Generally speaking, a seafood broth is the same thing as a seafood stock, especially when we're referring to store-bought versions. In the culinary world, the word stock is more common when referring to fish, lobster, crab, and shrimp stock.

Supports Joint Health: Crab shells are a rich source of chondroitin sulfate, a compound that has been shown to support joint health and reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Boosts Immune System: Crab shells contain a type of carbohydrate called chitosan, which has been found to have immune-boosting properties.

If you don't have time to make the stock when you are using the shrimp, don't discard the shells. Put them in a heavy-duty freezer bag or container and freeze them for later use. If tightly closed, they'll keep for about three months until you're ready for them.

Don't limit yourself to only serving crab-based recipes in the shells. Once you've cooked and enjoyed the meat, save the shells for later and use them for saucy pasta dishes, herbaceous bisques, and fishy ceviches. Remember, the world is your oyster.

What is done with the shells of lobster? ›

Lobster Bisque

Lobster shells from the tail, claws, knuckles, and legs are full of flavor and, when very gently simmered in water, yield a clean-tasting, briny stock. Former F&W editor Mary-Frances Heck seasons this classic bisque with mirepoix, sherry, and herbs and then thickens with fragrant jasmine rice.

Process at 11 pounds pressure—Pints 20 minutes and Quarts 25 minutes. For processing above 2,000 feet altitude, see chart for recommended pounds pressure. Weighted Gauge Canner.

Chicken broth is a versatile and suitable substitute for fish broth. It won't have the flavor of the sea like fish broth, but it adds a background umami flavor that won't overpower other flavors in your soup. It's a common substitute in many seafood soup recipes.

“It's best to freeze crab in the shell, or in preparations such as crab cakes or casseroles for up to three months. Without the protection of the shell or other ingredients, frozen crab meat loses its tender texture and becomes stringy. Cook the whole crab before freezing, and never thaw and then refreeze.”

Just as we outgrow our clothing, crabs outgrow their shells. Prior to molting, a crab reabsorbs some of the calcium carbonate from the old exoskeleton, then secretes enzymes to separate the old shell from the underlying skin (or epidermis). Then, the epidermis secretes a new, soft, paper-like shell beneath the old one.

As the mussels steam, the broth gets trapped inside the shells. It's divine, plus the leftover broth is fantastic for soaking up with a good loaf of bread.

Where to throw them, then? Once the spaghetti is finished and the mussels have been cleaned, the shells must be disposed of in the dry undifferentiated waste bin.