“Those mallets are not worth 5 cents.” And Betty Tall of Toddville, perhaps the state’s premier claw cracker, said the mere sight of a crab hammerer clobbering crab shells makes her uneasy.

Nutcracker tools can be used on crab claws to get to the claw meat. First thing, cover the table with those old newspapers. Then grab a crab and remove the legs.

Indeed. Beneath their black pincers, crab claws come with the promise that, with a quick crack from the wood mallet delivered alongside them, they’ll reveal their rich, subtly sweet meat. “If ...

To throw a successful crab feast, you don’t need a lot of tools, just the right ones. Aside from making the crab itself easier to eat, they all but guarantee built-in entertainment for your guests.