Quality Steamer Pot?

Derwood · April 14, 2021, 08:45:42 AM

Greetings fellow crabbers.

This will be my second season of crabbing! I learned a lot of lessons last year and spent the off season investing in some quality gear.

The one thing I still need is a good steamer pot. I went through two bad quality aluminum steamers last year and would like to buy something really nice that will last me for years. I've already got a good jet burner, just need a good steamer and pot.

What do you recommend? I'd love to get something from a local shop to support the business, but could order online of course. I'm prepared to spend some money on it to get good quality.

I've seen some really cool keg conversions on this forum. I'd love to get one of those but it seems like something you've got to make on your own and I don't have tools for that kind of thing.

Can anyone point me to a shop or website that sells a high quality stainless steamer? Thanks and crab on!

nhunter344 · April 14, 2021, 11:14:28 AM

Im by not means an expert, but Ive never had issues with my steamer pot from Bay Country Crabbing Supplies. Pricey, but fits the Made in USA and small business marks on your list.

http://www.baycountrycrabbingsupply.com/steamer-pots-home-decor.html

shedking · April 14, 2021, 01:55:14 PM

First a jet burner is a bit of overkill for a steamer. I know first hand. The water rolling too fast will make the crabs mushy. Cut the heat to bare minimum. Bay country makes good products. You may be able to find a good keg steamer completed on Craigslist at times too. Good luck.

Josman · April 14, 2021, 02:08:25 PM

I have purchased two stainless steel pots from Fishbones in Pasadena. Very pricey, but still like new after 10 years for the one and 20 years on the other.

I like the newer steamer better as it has a hanging basket that you lift out of the steamer when the steam is complete. The older model has a platform, and you must unload each crab individually. Each steamer will steam a bushel of crabs and a dozen ears of corn in one steam.

Locally made, and a small local bait shop.

****I am in no way affiliated with Fishbones, and am not a paid endorser.

bassman349 · April 14, 2021, 03:05:24 PM

I thought I would save some bucks and buy a stainless Bayou Classic with basket. When the box arrived, the first thing I saw was 'Made IN China'. No need for me to speak further on it.

firstin · April 14, 2021, 05:09:14 PM

Google Harford Metal Products. Their pots will last a lifetime or two.

Derwood · April 14, 2021, 08:21:34 PM

Quote from: shedking on April 14, 2021, 01:55:14 PM
First a jet burner is a bit of overkill for a steamer. I know first hand. The water rolling too fast will make the crabs mushy. Cut the heat to bare minimum. Bay country makes good products. You may be able to find a good keg steamer completed on Craigslist at times too. Good luck.

Tell me about it! Hahaha. One reason I'm in the market is I literally caught my first one on fire within ten minutes of trying out the jet burner for the first time. It was a total shame—I went from preparing go feast on my catch of a few dozen crabs to watching them burn up.

Quote from: firstin on April 14, 2021, 05:09:14 PM
Google Harford Metal Products. Their pots will last a lifetime or two.

I think this is the company I was looking for. I remembered the name Hartford but couldn't find the site. Thanks! Pricey for sure but one of these is cheaper than the cost of the the aluminum one that burned up and the Chinese "steel" piece of junk I already went through.

bgfishhook1 · April 14, 2021, 11:08:57 PM

I did not mess around i bought a stainless steel Strohs beer keg
and cut it apart and Tig welded it back together . Then I took
a piece of expanded stainless steel and made the basket for
inside of it . Everything fits inside of my perfect steamer, and
it is over 45 years old and shows no wear what - so - ever .

Oh I almost forgot it also is a great steamer / cooker for a lot of Sweet Corn too .

Bobby G AKA BGFISHHOOK1

Harford Crabber · May 06, 2021, 07:18:27 PM

Harford Metals near Havre de Grace makes a lot of the stainless pots you see.

https://www.crabsteamerpots.com/collections/crabpots

SHELLFISH · May 11, 2021, 10:51:17 AM

It's only me eating the crabs so I bought two 16 quart Tramontina stainless pots at Wallyworld for about $45.00 each. The second pot is in case friends show up. I usually only steam a dozen crabs at a time. I don't know how many it will steam at one time but I have never had to break out a second pot. I always wanted a stainless beer keg but never got one and haven't needed it either!

flatfish4x4 · May 11, 2021, 01:19:44 PM

Quote from: SHELLFISH on May 11, 2021, 10:51:17 AM
It's only me eating the crabs so I bought two 16 quart Tramontina stainless pots at Wallyworld for about $45.00 each. The second pot is in case friends show up. I usually only steam a dozen crabs at a time. I don't know how many it will steam at one time but I have never had to break out a second pot. I always wanted a stainless beer keg but never got one and haven't needed it either!

dam that's some big crawfish

SHELLFISH · May 11, 2021, 02:23:06 PM

CT Crawfish!

Crab Shack · May 11, 2021, 07:53:31 PM

Man, that ones a lot bigger than what Ron catches in Louisiana!

Derwood · June 02, 2021, 04:42:02 PM

I still haven't pulled the trigger because it kind of hurts my soul to think about paying $400 for cookware. Then again, I've paid almost that much for a bushel before!

https://www.easternmarine.com/harford-metal-bushel-s-s-stockpot

This seems like the way to go though! I think I'm going to click order

Derwood · June 06, 2021, 11:29:45 AM

Update - I got the eastern marine steamer and am very pleased. It's an absolute stud of a pot— I could tell as soon as I lifted it out of the box that it's quality stuff. It's heavy, thick, legit welding work, everything fits tightly and the design itself is very smart.

Derwood · June 30, 2021, 09:48:19 AM

Further update: I've now used the Eastern Marine/Hartford Metals steamer pot twice and it's the real deal. I highly recommend it.

Triton · August 15, 2021, 07:23:10 AM

Bayou Classic

Harford Crabber · October 11, 2021, 05:39:27 PM

Quote from: bgfishhook1 on April 14, 2021, 11:08:57 PM
I did not mess around i bought a stainless steel Strohs beer keg
and cut it apart and Tig welded it back together . Then I took
a piece of expanded stainless steel and made the basket for
inside of it . Everything fits inside of my perfect steamer, and
it is over 45 years old and shows no wear what - so - ever .

Oh I almost forgot it also is a great steamer / cooker for a lot of Sweet Corn too .

Bobby G AKA BGFISHHOOK1

Rest in Peace Bobby.

That is one great looking rig he made.

A very good friend of mine who also died of a heart attack worked at Harford Metals. Actually had his fatal heart attack at work. He showed up in my driveway one day with a pot he had made. He told me they allowed their employees to make one pot each for their own use. I told him I couldn't take his pot and he said he'd never use it and forced me to take it. I was able to cook he and his wife crabs a few times before he passed. I still think of him every time I use that pot. RIP Ken...

moc · February 28, 2022, 07:22:20 AM

This is probably old info now, but The Bayou Classic SS pots look nice, but the stainless steel metal that they are made of is real this, and cannot take the punishment of a good burner. Mine developed multiple pin holes in the first year and every year after that. I second the opinion that the ones that are sold by Bay Country have held up well. Unfortunately, like everything else, the prices are way up on the pots.

Here is a video of when I got my Bay Country pot....

backfin_blues · April 23, 2022, 11:14:39 AM

My dad and I took a half keg and cut it. Then took hosing to seal the lid. We then took a Webber grill grate, cut it to size, then cut a few of the cross bars of the grate to you can squeeze it- and it then springs back inside the keg on the indent to hold it high enough above the steam. Does about 1/2 bushel at a time...All we really needed.

Hitting about 30 years old this year and still looks like it was made yesterday. Been trying to find a keg on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist down here in Florida to do the same, but no luck.