Boiled Hard Shell Blue Crabs Recipes

HOW TO COOK BLUE CRABS

Steps:

• Fill the bottom of a steamer pot with water, salt, and other seasonings. Fill your steamer pot with 4 cups (950 ml) of water so it's surface is below where the rack sits. Stir in ½ cup (54 g) of seafood seasoning, 1 tablespoon (17 g) of salt, and whatever other spices you want to include with your crab. You can find steamer pots online or in specialty kitchenware stores. Try mixing other liquids into the water, such as lemon juice, light beer, or vinegar, to add more flavor.
• Put the rack inside the pot and bring the liquid to a rolling boil. Set the steamer rack on the lip inside the pot. Put the steamer pot onto your stove over high heat. Reduce your stove to medium heat once the water starts boiling. If the water level is above the rack, drain some of the liquid. If your steamer pot has a basket instead of a rack, set the basket inside so it's above the water.
• Set a layer of whole crabs on the rack and season them. Grab the crabs with a pair of tongs to transfer them into your steamer pot. Create a single layer of crabs before sprinkling each with 1 tablespoon (7 g) of extra seasoning. If you need to make more crabs, continue layering them on top of one another and seasoning them. Once you have all of your crabs in the steamer, put the lid on so they can cook. You can use either fresh or frozen blue crabs. Make sure frozen crabs are completely thawed before you cook them. You do not need to kill them or clean them beforehand.
• Cook the crabs for about 20 minutes or until they're bright orange. Leave your steamer over medium heat for at least 20 minutes. Remove the lid and check the color of the crabs' shells. The shell should change from a dark blue to a bright red or orange. 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.Tip: Having more crabs in your steamer pot can affect the cooking time. 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.
• Remove the crabs from the pot and serve them hot. Grab your crabs with a pair of tongs and set them on a clean baking sheet. Let the crabs cool for 5 minutes so they're easier to handle. Break apart the shell so you can eat the meat inside. Wear a bib or tuck a napkin into your shirt so you don't spill crab on yourself. Cooked crab lasts in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

DELAWARE BLUE CRAB BOIL

Steps:

• Crush the dill seed, mustard, and cumin in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle. Pour the spices into a 5 gallon stockpot along with the chili powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, rosemary, thyme, dill, sage, and parsley. Fill the pot 3/4 full with water, and bring to a rolling boil over an intense flame.
• Add the blue crabs, cover the pot, and boil until all of the shells turn red, and the meat is no longer translucent, about 20 minutes. Stir the crabs occasionally as they boil to ensure even cooking.

WHOLE BLUE CRABS NEW ORLEANS-STYLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add bouquet garni, crab boil, lemons, halved garlic, corn, and sausage. Add blue crabs and cover. Cook for 10 minutes or until crab is cooked through.
• In a small saute pan over medium heat, melt butter with the 3 peeled garlic cloves. Simmer the butter for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard the garlic cloves.
• Remove the crabs, corn, and sausage from the crab boil and serve on newspaper, with butter sauce over top.

BOILED HARD-SHELL BLUE CRABS

Steps:

• Make Cocktail Sauce.
• Heat water to boiling in stockpot or canner. Drop 4 crabs at a time into water. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer 10 minutes; drain. Repeat with remaining crabs.
• Follow directions for How to Eat Crabmeat. Serve with Cocktail Sauce.

STEAMED BLUE CRABS

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup seafood seasoning, salt, beer, and vinegar in a large stockpot over high heat. Bring to a strong simmer.
• Right before cooking, carefully place each crab upside down and stick a knife through the shell, just behind mouth.
• Fit a screen over the beer mixture and layer the crabs on the screen. Be sure that the crabs are above the simmering liquid. Cover.
• Steam crabs until they turn bright orange and all of the blue/green color is gone, 20 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup seafood seasoning before serving.