Just kept them damp and cool - but don't submerge them in a bucket of water! FTC Disclosure:  If you make a purchase via a link on this site, I may receive a small commission on the transaction - at no added cost to you. Tip: Serve the crab wrapped in parchment paper or in a brown paper bag to make it look like a classic Southern seafood boil.

Another way to check if the crabs are finished cooking is if the bottom of their bellies start to pop out and away from their body. 1. Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. wikiHow's.

Blue crabs are super-simple to prepare. Put an couple inches of water into a big, sturdy pot. Insert thumb under shell by apron hinge; pry off the top shell, and discard it. Crack the claw; don't obliterate it. I can't imagine why anyone would want to alter that flavor!

Click here to see how we catch blue crabs on Cape Cod. If alive, look for the friskiest ones. Beachfront HotelsVacation RentalsBoston - Cape CodWhale WatchingOctober Events. "Bad" crabmeat can make you very sick. Keep the bag damp until cooking time. Combine 1/2 cup seafood seasoning, salt, beer, and vinegar in a large stockpot over high heat. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker.

Put the lid back on the pot, and continue to cook over high heat for  about 20 minutes. There's only one thing about cooking blue crab that can pose a bit of a challenge.

When the water is boiling, drop your crabs into the pot. Boiling crabs tend to make the meat a bit more “mushy” and watery which is not ideal. Preparation: Whisk together first 5 ingredients. When it comes to cooking fresh-caught blue crabs, I'm definitely a purist. All you'll need for your own yummy crab-fest is some basic crabbing equipment, a little crab-catching talent, and a stove or campfire where you can boil up a big pot of water. Some folks like to add other stuff to the pot - a little vinegar, a cup of beer, or maybe some "crab boil" spices like Old Bay Seasoning. You can go the extra step and use a scrub brush on their shells, if you'd like.

Spoon mixture into lettuce leaves, and serve with reserved dressing. Blue crabs are hard-shelled crabs that turn bright red when cooked. If you are cleaning a live crab, boil it in water for 1 minute to kill it. Make sure frozen crabs are completely thawed before you cook them. References. It keeps in a refrigerator freezer 2 months or in a deep freezer for 6 months. Try mixing other liquids into the water, such as lemon juice, light beer, or vinegar, to add more flavor. If you've purchased your blue claw crabs from a seafood market, they should be nice and clean already. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. From selection to storage, here's how to properly enjoy this seaside favorite. If cooked, check for a fresh, sweet aroma. Use live crabs on the day they're purchased or caught; refrigerate until just before cooking. This summer on Cape Cod, new outdoor movies are springing up everywhere! After grading and sorting the Maryland Blue crabs we steam them in large steaming pots with Cameron’s special seasoning blend.

When the water is boiling, drop your crabs into the pot. Store the crate in a cool, shady spot, and keep the burlap damp. Thank you! Wear a bib or tuck a napkin into your shirt so you don’t spill crab on yourself. Last Updated: May 20, 2020 Related Pages:Digging Your Own ClamsJackie Kennedy's New England Fish Chowder Recipe, Photo Credits: Basket of Blue Crabs courtesy of Photobulb|Dreamstime.com. Drain crabmeat mixture, reserving 1/4 cup dressing. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Learn more... Blue crabs are common shellfish in the Atlantic Ocean named for their bright colors and are a popular coastal food. If they aren't finished after the first 20 minutes have passed, check on your crabs every 5 minutes after to see if they're ready.

Other than rinsing them off, there's not much else you need to do. Add crabmeat and next 4 ingredients to dressing, tossing gently to coat. Want to keep your crabs alive overnight and cook 'em tomorrow? They're frequently freshly steamed, coaxed from the shell, drenched in clarified butter, and heartily devoured with little more than the aid of a crab cracker, cocktail fork, and plastic bib to protect the connoisseur's clothing. Wieldling my tongs, I grab the crab from behind, top and bottom of the shell, claws pointing away from me. Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil for an easy cleanup once you’re done cooking. Turn crab right side up again. 3. Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Catching and cooking blue crabs, fresh and feisty from our Cape Cod waters, is one of our family's favorite ways to have a simple, delicious summer meal! Cooked crab lasts in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. They travel well in an ice chest, but should be used the day they're caught. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year.

Pull away the inedible gray gills; discard them along with internal organs. By using our site, you agree to our. Here's my tried-and-true method for cooking blue crab: Put an couple inches of water into a big, sturdy pot. You could break the shells with your bare hands (risking a bit of bloodshed), or ...Use these handy shell crackers and meat-picking forks. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 16,829 times. To make canned crabmeat taste fresher, soak it in ice water 10 minutes, then drain, and pat dry. To get to cooked meat, first twist off crab legs and claws intact. There are two reasons for that. Never cook a dead crab. You do not need to kill them or clean them beforehand. Here's my tried-and-true method for cooking blue crab: Spread newspaper across your table for easy clean up, melt some butter for dipping, and enjoy!

Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, The Best Casserole Recipes for Cozy Nights In, Use These Quick Tricks to Keep a Halloween Pumpkin from Rotting, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. The crabs don’t need to be cleaned before. So, how do you get to all that yummy meat? We suggest 1 pound of blue crabs or 3-4 ounces per person if buying flaked or lump crabmeat. The taste of blue crab meat is sooooo sweet just as it is. That's usually enough to remove any lingering seaweed or gunk. This helps remove some of the metallic taste. Test Kitchen Tip: Keep crabs cool and moist until you're ready to cook them. Bring to a strong simmer. Please click the "Like" button to let me know you've enjoyed this page. Invert the crab, and pry off the apron (or tail flap), and discard it. Crack claws, and remove meat with a small cocktail fork. I'm a total woosie when it comes to putting live crabs, live lobsters, or live anything, into a pot of boiling water. Don't add water or they'll drown. All other photos on this Cooking Blue Crab page are copyright Affordable-Cape-Cod-Vacations.com, If you make a purchase via a link on this site, I may receive a small commission on the transaction - at no added cost to, As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All other photos on this Cooking Blue Crab page are copyright Affordable-Cape-Cod-Vacations.com. This piece will function as a handle for the eater to hold as they strip the meat from the rest of the claw with their teeth—at least, that’s the way we eat claws down South. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. You can find steamer pots online or in specialty kitchenware stores. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. You can use either fresh or frozen blue crabs. Cover the pot, put it on the stove or over a hot campfire, and bring the water to a rolling boil.

A few minutes in a bowl of ice water puts live crabs into a dormant state, making their ultimate demise a bit less harrowing for all involved.