Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (2024)

by RetroRuth | May 6, 2015 | Appetizers, co*cktail Party, The WORST | 33 comments

This week I made a parfait out of canned grapefruit and canned crabmeat. And topped it with sauce.

This is Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail!

Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (2)AuthorRetroRuth
Rating

Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (3)

From Mary Margaret McBride Encyclopedia of Cooking, 1959

Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (4)

Tested Recipe!

2 ½ cups canned or fresh grapefruit sections

6 ½ oz can crabmeat

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp vinegar

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tbsp ketchup

1 drop Tabasco sauce

1

Chill grapefruit and crabmeat in cans. Drain grapefruit. Flake crabmeat, removing bony tissue.

2

Alternated grapefruit and crabmeat in co*cktail glasses.

3

Mix remaining ingredients. Pour over grapefruit and crabmeat.

Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (6)

CategoryAppetizers and SnacksCooking MethodNo-CookTags#crab, #grapefruit, #ketchup, #mayonnaise, #tabascosauce, #vinegar

Ingredients

2 ½ cups canned or fresh grapefruit sections

6 ½ oz can crabmeat

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp vinegar

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tbsp ketchup

1 drop Tabasco sauce

Directions

1

Chill grapefruit and crabmeat in cans. Drain grapefruit. Flake crabmeat, removing bony tissue.

2

Alternated grapefruit and crabmeat in co*cktail glasses.

Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail

IngredientsDirections

I was intrigued by this recipe from the moment I read it. I wanted to see if crab and grapefruit really did taste good together.

But honestly, I mostly made this recipe because I wanted to use my awesome starburst glasses. Though it is obviously too big. I can’t see anyone eating this much crab-grapefruit co*cktail. This is probably enough for a whole party full of people.

This sauce smelled horrible! It was so bad that I had it in my fridge, uncovered, for 15 minutes and the stench slapped me in the face when I opened the door.

“What the…is this grapefruit?”

“Yes. It’s supposed to be from a can, but all I could find were the fridge packs of grapefruit.”

“Great. That’s just great.”

“Sooooooooo, how is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I think my taste buds just died.”

The Verdict: Horrible

From The Tasting Notes –

The sauce was awful. It smelled awful, it made the fridge smell awful, and the initial taste of the stuff was just the worst. The crab and grapefruit combo was actually not that bad together. The grapefruit helped to get rid of the “canned” taste of the crab meat. It was almost like using lemon juice. But then there was sauce. Horrible, mayo-ketchup sauce that didn’t match anything ever. This might actually be good if you ditch the stupid sauce and did a light dressing, like a vinaigrette. Double points if you use fresh grapefruit.

  1. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (13)

    mary lewison May 6, 2015 at 4:14 am

    Your husband must have a cast iron stomach!!!

  2. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (14)

    Jazmineon May 6, 2015 at 5:39 am

    That sounds awful. What a brave man.

  3. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (15)

    Mark.on May 6, 2015 at 6:04 am

    Considering how odd canned orange juice tastes, canned grapefruit sections (can’t recall having seen any, or indeed any such canned citrus apart from mandarin oranges) must be even worse. I’ve been underwhelmed by most canned crab. But that sauce would definitely make those even worse. I’m glad you didn’t get refrigerated crabmeat… total waste of a good ingredient.

  4. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (16)

    Yinzerellaon May 6, 2015 at 8:49 am

    You are doing the Lord’s work, Ruth.

  5. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (17)

    Bethon May 6, 2015 at 9:01 am

    I have the Mary Margaret McBride cookbook, too! In the ’50s, my mom collected each section as it was offered at the grocery store. It’s huge and I absolutely love and treasure it. Some of the recipes are very good.

    If you haven’t already, check out the section on feeding infants, which includes making your own formula!

  6. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (18)

    Anneon May 6, 2015 at 9:54 am

    I think this is a mid-century attempt to use canned products to emulate a fresh food recipe. One of the best salads I have ever had was at a restaurant on the Seattle waterfront. The salad was composed of fresh Dungeness crab and fresh grapefruit sections on a bed of lettuce, with a traditional Louis dressing (similar to Thousand Island but lighter). Like so many of the “oh, look we can now buy anything frozen or canned!” recipes from the 50s and 60s, this one is a total FAIL.

  7. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (19)

    Lassieon May 6, 2015 at 9:55 am

    ‘Real’ crab from the seafood freezer at the grocery store is VERY expensive. ‘Canned’ crab is also expensive, teeny little ground up bits. Maybe back when this recipe was written, crab was better, or more affordable, because a lot of retro recipes call for a can of crab. So, maybe grapefruit and imitation crab would have been a better fit (if you like the imitation crab, some people think it’s the work of the devil). And a lighter, sweeter lemon vinaigrette.

  8. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (20)

    RetroRuthon May 6, 2015 at 12:41 pm

    See Also
    Fresh Lemon Syrup Recipe

    Ha! Thanks, mary! Sometimes I think you are right! 🙂

  9. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (21)

    RetroRuthon May 6, 2015 at 12:41 pm

    Yeeeeeah. It wasn’t the best. 🙂

  10. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (22)

    RetroRuthon May 6, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    Yep. I was not tempted at all to sub refridgerated crab meat for the canned. I was really interested in seeing if canned crab meat could be improved. 🙂

  11. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (23)

    RetroRuthon May 6, 2015 at 12:44 pm

    Amen!

  12. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (24)

    RetroRuthon May 6, 2015 at 12:46 pm

    Hi Beth! I only have two of the sections of the cookbook, and I am always on the lookout for more. I totally agree that the recipes are for the most part good/excellent, so I was hoping this would be a revolutionary canned crab recipe 🙂 I guess I should just stick to the old favorites!

  13. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (25)

    RetroRuthon May 6, 2015 at 12:51 pm

    Yep, Anne. I think you hit the nail on the head. I think it was also supposed to be one of those quick recipes for when unexpected company drops by. And that salad you had sounds delicious! It’s nice to know that crab and grapefruit can be done right.

  14. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (26)

    RetroRuthon May 6, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    Hi Lassie! From what I have read, it seems to me like canned crab used to be a lot like bone-in skin-on cans of salmon. So I bet it was cheaper. And I like imitation crab, that is a good suggestion!

  15. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (27)

    Lassieon May 6, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    (off topic, we went to Niagara Falls and went to a restaurant – I must add there were hundreds of Japanese tourists there ) and went to a fancy buffet restaurant. It was very elegant, expensive. and very dark in there! … Well, we helped ourselves and found out (thanks to the Japanese tourists, I think) much of the buffet consisted of surimi – artificial crab/lobster, made into many forms.) I like it myself, some is better than other brands. There will soon be no fish in the ocean, so…make do.

  16. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (28)

    OLD&GRUMPYon May 6, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    You should post pictures of your taste tester with a thought bubble over his head and let us fill it in! A new contest? I am a old man and I have become hooked on this sight. I remember some of this stuff! That’s not always good. Remember that the mid century American was a do it your self-use what you have type.They all lived through the depression and the war and did not complain.

  17. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (29)

    Poppyon May 6, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    I will add this to my list of foods I imagine being served in hell.

  18. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (30)

    Lassieon May 6, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    Maybe in its current form. With ‘real’ fresh ingredients it is probably delish.

  19. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (31)

    Erica Retrochefon May 6, 2015 at 9:31 pm

    Yargh. Good thing taste buds grow back quickly!

  20. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (32)

    Lisa B.on May 6, 2015 at 10:27 pm

    Ach, he is SUCH a good sport. What trepidation Tom must feel approaching the table and expected to put one damn thing after another in his mouth. I can’t help but feel concern – what sort of Pavlovian response are you inflicting upon the poor dear boy?

    Canned grapefruit, while nothing like fresh, is actually pretty darn tasty.

    There’s a tasty spread that made the rounds at all the parties throughout much of the 70s:
    1 8oz brick cream cheese, room temp
    1 can crabmeat, with all the liquid
    A few drops worcestershire
    Mix thoroughly, chill
    Garnish with a good sized blob of Heinz Chili Sauce
    Serve with crackers

  21. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (33)

    Cybergranolaon May 6, 2015 at 11:08 pm

    Ugg, yuck no (sorry first reaction)

  22. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (34)

    Jennie @ TheHousewifeModernon May 7, 2015 at 12:38 pm

    Um, a post from five years ago has comments closed, but I wanted to let you know…so I’m commenting on a current post.
    You had a winner with the Tuna Jell-O pie. I do a “Throwback Thursday” section on my website. This week’s winner of “Insane Vintage Recipes” was the Summer Salad.

    It’s here if you want to check it out: http://www.thehousewifemodern.com/blog/insane-vi…

    P.s. I only used the old Betty Crocker pictures, not your new ones. And ask my readers in BOLD RED letters to visit your site to see the current ones! Thanks for daring to make this.

  23. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (35)

    Kateon May 8, 2015 at 6:24 pm

    …if you want to punish them for dropping by unexpectedly.

  24. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (36)

    Keithon May 11, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    I think the “sauce” seemed to kill the recipe. I am so curious as to why mayonnaise dominated so many mid-century recipes. It appears everywhere.

  25. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (37)

    OLD&GRUMPYon May 11, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    Mayo provided flavor for dull canned food and served as a “lube”to get dry stuff down. The fake mayo products were even worse.

  26. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (38)

    OLD&GRUMPYon May 11, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    Just wondering. What is Tom’s favorite food you make? The thing HE asks for? Or is dinner Russian Roulette?

  27. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (39)

    Keithon May 15, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    I agree that something was needed to help the taste of canned food. I also think mayonnaise was just more commonly used condiment then, much like salsa is today.

  28. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (40)

    katyaon May 16, 2015 at 10:20 am

    man, this sounds like it would actually be a delicious recipe for little appetizers if made sans gross 50s ingredients. i was imagining fresh crab, fresh grapefruit chunks, and a light dressing of the extra grapefruit juice, salt, pepper, maybe a tiny bit of honey or something else a little sweet, and something like cilantro… make it almost like a seviche. good lord, i’m hungry now.

  29. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (41)

    S. S.on May 19, 2015 at 3:55 pm

    The sauce looks pretty close to a recipe I saw for in-a-pinch thousand island dressing (mayo, ketchup, relish)- which actually taste like the cheaper bottles of the stuff. I wonder what in this sauce made it so foul?

  30. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (42)

    OLD&GRUMPYon May 19, 2015 at 8:16 pm

    Grapefruit and Honey!!!!!!! Just jumped up and sliced one of my tree ripe grapefruit and put honey on it. KILLER!!! Fresh crab plus stuff on crustini .

  31. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (43)

    Blanche Quiznoon October 1, 2015 at 12:53 pm

    Is that Tom? I’m in love. My own husband is a Tom, and he’s terrific too. OMG – these grapefruit/cream concoctions are the best! NO I’m not going to try them!!

    It’s really saying something if you can make something with crab this awful. Really.

  32. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (44)

    Akiko Fujishimaon September 10, 2016 at 10:12 pm

    I LOVE reading your blog! The convos you post between you and your husband after he’s tried the food is just adorable and hilarious, and the photos you capture of his expressions are fantastic! He’s just too awesome and an amazing sport to eat these foods, man of steel! lol! XD

  33. Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (45)

    Rachelon November 3, 2017 at 5:05 pm

    I feel like this would be a better recipe with a different sauce and fresh ingredients. It sounds like crab and grapefruit is indeed a thing according to the comments, so itd be interesting if this were ever given a second chance.

Submit a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Canned Grapefruit-Canned Crabmeat co*cktail, 1959 – A Mid-Century Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (2024)
Top Articles
Top 10 BEST Shrimp Recipes | Favorite Family Recipes
Vintage Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe {From Grandma's Old Recipe Box}
Queen Mary of Denmark Gives 'Game of Thrones' Vibes in New Portrait Showing Her Debut in Emerald Crown Jewels
Crown Princess Victoria is picture-perfect in regal feathered look with heirloom tiara
Latest Posts
Granny's Monkey Bread Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie
Easy Apple Crumble Recipe
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 6335

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.