Need grate ideas for steaming pot

[tonylentini]

We boil them instead of steaming and they come out great.  I use about triple the recommended amount for liquid crab boil, and then add as much as a quarter of a small shake jar of cayenne.  You boil them about 15 minutes then turn off the burner and let them soak for another 15 minutes.  If you throw in some ice during the soaking phase, they suck up all the spices.  We always add whole heads of garlic (unpeeled), new potatoes, corn on the cob, smoked sausage and whole, unpeeled onions to the boil, as well as a bunch of quartered lemons.  You can also add artichokes! 

If you insist on steaming, what about a tower of those Chinese wicker steamer baskets.  Not sure if they make them big enough for an outdoor Cajun cooking setup, but you could do it on a stove.

[backfin_blues]

We made a cut on the outer permitter of a cheap Webber knockoff grill grate. Now it can become smaller but will expand back to original size. Perfect when resting on the notched rim of our converted keg steamer.

[Crabslayer]

Perforated pizza pan and 3 stainless steel nut & bolts for the legs.  Comes in 12", 14" and 16"

[Crabcruncher]

I just bought two today at the Harrisburg PA store. At $2.79 each for the 10.5" size I didn't think they would be stainless. I asked the girl and she looked it up in the computor and said that it would display SS if they were. It did not and I don't believe they are SS. Just chrome plate..I'll replace them every few years or so!

You can check it with a magnet. Stainless isnt attracted.

[Mr. Ray III]

One I made for a member a while back.

[Harford Crabber]

Not sure of the size i need since I haven't bought the pot.  I want to use stainless stell as aluminum deteriorates into the food when salt is added.  I have a turkey fryer, but I don't want to use it or an aluminum grate for this reason.  The trivet idea sonds decent.  I have seen some stainless steal pie racks.  Rocks could work as well.  And, yes I have just thrown them all in and let the ones at the bottom "soak." 

I have one pot I got after my father in law passed away. It's aluminum, one of his buddy's made him a grate out of aluminum.  He used it about 20 years before I got it and I used it several years before I got my first stainless pot.  I still use the grate in a small stainless pot I use when steaming a dozen or so. The aluminum is rough but it's still doing the job.  I rinse and brush it off after every use. It does flake a little if not used for a long period of time. I just rinse out flakes before use.   No difference in taste of crabs when cooked in all stainless pot with stainless grate, or aluminum grate or aluminum pot. no aluminum taste or anything like that.

[whaler]

  beer keg !!