Cooking Blue Crabs

[CaptainHook]

I am just curious as to everyone's technique for timing their crabs. when do you start to time them, when you put the pot on heat, when you first see steam? And how long does everyone leave them on.

I am just asking because I was told to time them from the first you see steam in the pot and to let them go for 20 mins......

I have been doing so and most of the claws have been falling off. I thought this was because I left them on to long. They didn't seem over cooked or anything. In fact they have been wonderful. Just wondering about all the claws falling off. I tried less time but the all came out mushy and weren't good to eat. So I am back to 20 mins.

[polar1]

when you buy crabs from a store already steamed they either icepick them or soak them in ice water, this is why most of them retain their claws takes some extra time but it depends how bad you want them to keep their claws

[tattoo]

give em an ice bath b-4 you cook them .

[horsefly]

The cooking time is right from the time it comes to a rollling boil with steam if lids on. 20/25 mins is fine for a bu of crabs. The best way to keep them (the legs and claws) from falling of is ice bath. Fill your vessel up with ice and water with crabs in there and let stand for about 10 to 15 minutes. Pull them out quickly (so they don't warm up and become lively) coat them with seasoning in layers in the pot. If you had freezer space, you could do it that way also, but ice works best. There is a quicker way, but a tad bit dangerous. A lot of larger carry outs do it too. You get a power interupt switch (I think thats what it is called) it's wired to your breaker box. Well anyway, the method is electric shock stunning. It kicks on for about 30 seconds and all the crabs are stunned, they won't blow legs off that way. Plus you'll be able to pick out the older dead ones too. (they won't have their claws in the air) GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY EATS!

[olclamman]

the way i was told  if you put  room temp crabs in boiling water    they will
  throw off  their claws  BUT  if you start them in cold water     ( steaming or boiling )
   they will keep their claws    dont forget to add the pennies   
                                           oc

[CaptainHook]

So the ice bath soundslike the answer to my question then. No big deal. Extra time just means a couple more beers for me in the process. Thanks for the info again guys. I am really glad I found this forum.

I think I will stay away from the high voltage with the crabs. I deal with it enough at work and I don't see it being part of my cooking process!!!!

Why would I add pennies?? Is that serious or some joke I don't understand?

[annsar]

  My fool proof way to cook crabs is to use a spaghetti/steam pot.  It has the lift out handles and holes in pot to drain.  I fill the bottom of the pot just til it touches the bottom of the strainer bottom.  I wait til it boils and then add the crabs.  Next set the timer for 20 minutes which is sufficient to steam the crabs.

After I clean the crabs, I then use Old Bay sprinkled on each one and place in a large bowl and then the fun begins!

I tried using Old Bay in the water as well as beer and throwing the crabs in but the steam method is by far the best I've ever had.  Old Bay goes a long way my way.  I used to go through so much Old Bay or not have enough left when I caught a big catch.  The steam pots are pretty cheap, probably under $10 and a good investment.  You can use it for spaghetti or steaming vegetables too!
Ann

[crabber12]

might want to read some previous posts on this matter some claim 5 minutes would not be long enough to kill the bacteria most crabs carry i believe the required time is 15 min for boiling and 20 min for steaming

[CaptainHook]

20 mins but no pennies??

[horsefly]

  Next set the timer for 5 minutes which is sufficient to steam the crabs.

                  SUSHI       
 
ANYONE CARE FOR A BIT OF IT??? I much rather take my chances on ceveche

[CaptainHook]

Yeah, five minutes sounds a little short to me. 14 minutes and they weren't done yet!

[tattoo]

I steam mine for 20 min +. 

[jrccrab]

I steam mine for 20 min +. 

I agree with tat!!

[madcrabber1113]

I steam mine for 25 minutes come out perfect 

[Oscar D]

Steamed in Miller High Life (& other ingredients) for 20 minutes when the boil starts to roil.

And I put my crabs in the beer fridge for a good 2 hours before cooking, those guys never see water again once they've been caught.

[stilllearning]

I steam mine for 25 minutes and they always come out great.  I use Old Bay, Rock Salt, black pepper and red pepper for flavor.  Put them in the pot in layers with each layer covered with old bay, rock salt, and peppers.

[tattoo]

JO. for me. 

[horsefly]

JO -or- Old Bay but I put either coarse sea salt or rock salt in it (not much) and also extra black pepper. When we go up and make deliveries, I pick up a case of either a blend for Jessie Taylor (like JO) OR from Pete's Crab House. Great stuff, layer it on thick, and sprinkle some back on if some came off after steaming. The trick is to take a water bottle with a sprayer and mist the crabs then coat them. Those guys  at carry outs do the same thing -or- pre-steam them and then mist them coat them and reheat to order.

[jack1747]

I steam mine for 20 min +. 

me 2

[SHELLFISH]

20 minutes, JO#1

[CaptainHook]

20 minutes and a ton of JO#2 this weekend and they were some of the best I have had. Thanks for the help guys!

[tattoo]

Glad you Enjoyed them. 

[Potty Mouth]

Keg Steamer
water vinegar and beer in pot
ice em
Start pot to steam in ~10 min.
Add cool crabs
spice layers with mix.. I add extra mustard powder, garlic, black pepper and rock salt to old bay (perfect spice building in process btw)
20+ min steam time
good to go!

[PHU BAI]

Good ole steam pot(canning type) with a rack to keep the crabs about an inch or so above the bottom of the pot.
  Layer or two  of the "stunned by cold" crabs, hand full or two of Old Bay, handful of kosher salt and a half handfull of Colemans dry mustard..another layer or two of crabs
handful or two of Old Bay etc etc etc till pot is full
  Two  bottles of beer(your choice) poured over the crabs. and two or three cups of cider vinegarpoured down the side of the pot .top off with several pages of well soaked newspaper....if available throw some cleaned ears of corn on top of the newspaper.
  On the stove over two burners, high heat about 15-20 minutes till crabs are nice and red....sneak a claw off, crack and test...meat should be firm
  Remove from heat and have at um!!!

[CaptainHook]

I think that by the end of this season I have finally perfected my own cooking technique. I can keep the claws on and they are perfect. thanks to everyone who offered info. I kind of took something from everyone and wrapped it up into my own steaming process. It is great and so are you guys. Thanks again!!!!