1. Shellfish

2. Inspection and Grading
Inspection is required but grading is not
USDC (U.S department of commerce) grades seafood
Grading is done to ensure standards are met for flavor and appearance
Three grades:
A – best with no defects
B – good quality
C – fairly good quality

3. Structure
Shellfish have no bones, but have hard shells covering their bodies
Two types of shellfish: Mollusks and Crustaceans

4. Mollusks No internal skeletal structure Three groups of classification
Univalves – single shell
Bivalves – two shells
Cephalopods –thin internal shell with tentacles attached to the head

5. Types of Mollusks Oysters Clams Mussels (no these aren’t on your arms)
Have a rough, hard, gray shell.
Come in various sizes
Sold live or shucked (out of shell)
Clams
Two shells hinged at the back with edible flesh inside
Sold live (in the shell) or shucked
Mussels (no these aren’t on your arms)
Thin, oblong shell
Flesh is creamy tan and not as tender as oysters or clams
Sold live in the shell
Scallops
Grown in fan shaped shells
Only the muscle that hinges the shell is sold
Two types of scallops
Bay – very tiny, sweet, and tender
Sea – larger and not as tender

6. Crustaceans Hard outer shell and jointed skeletons
Tend to be expensive because of the hard work to produce the small amount of meat

7. Types of Crustaceans Lobster
Have long jointed bodies with four pairs of walking legs and two large claws, all covered with a hard shell.
Average weight is from 1 ¼ lbs – 2 ¼ lbs
Maine lobster is the most popular
Can be bought fresh, live, or frozen

8. Types of Crustaceans cont’
Shrimp
Vary in size and color
Classified by count; the smaller the shrimp the higher the count
Usually sold frozen or thawed, with or without the shell as well as cooked
Crayfish
Freshwater crustaceans
Also called crawdads, or crawfish.
Look like small lobsters
Sold whole, live, or cooked

9. Types of Crustaceans cont’
Crab
Have an oval shell, four pairs of walking legs, and two claws
There are six types of crabs: blue crab, soft shell, Alaskan king, Alaskan snow, Dungeness, and stone crab
Crabs can be sold whole (live, cooked, or frozen), legs, and claws (cooked or frozen)