There is no need to pre-kill or clean them. Thaw frozen crabs entirely before cooking with them. Either fresh or frozen blue crabs will work here. How long do you cook frozen blue crabs for? How long you steam the crabs for depends on how many you put in your pot and how big your pot is. How long does it take to steam a whole crab?Ĭook the crabs in a steamer until they are completely done check on them after 15 to 20 minutes. After that, swiftly move them to a cooler environment (ice or water). If salt water is available, we utilize that otherwise, we add salt to regular tap water. How do you cook blue swimmer crabs in boiling water?īlue Swimmer Crabs are often cooked by plunging them headfirst into a kettle of boiling water and leaving them there for 10 minutes, or until they float.
#Steamed blue crab how to#
Notes: How to Steam Blue Swimmer Crabs, How to It's vital to have a pot of boiling water ready when you remove the crabs from the ice bath so that you can submerge them while they are still in their dormant state. The crabs should be kept in an ice bath until just before cooking.Put it back in the freezer and add additional ice if it's still wriggling around. Remove one crab from the ice bath using the long metal tongs. But first, make sure they are completely dormant before you get rid of them. The crabs will have plenty of time to enter hibernation at this point. Allow the crabs to chill in the cold water for 5-10 minutes.This not only facilitates getting them into the hot water, but also makes the operation more humane. Crabs go into a hibernation-like state when they are submerged in icy water. You should take precautions to avoid getting pinched. The claws of crabs are very keen, and you can count on the crabs being very active right up until the moment you immerse them. With long metal tongs, lower the crabs into the icy water.Having enough ice and water will guarantee that the crabs are completely immersed. If you're going to be storing the crabs and ice water in the same container, make sure it's big enough. Prepare ice water in a vacant sink or pail.
Oftentimes prepared to an oven, steaming allows the crab meat to cook in its natural juices for the ultimate crab taste. By removing the direct contact of liquid, you maximize the sweetness and texture of the delicate meat. Sometimes, boiling crabs can result in overcooked wet crab, making it increasingly more difficult to clean and eat.
By steaming, you protect the natural taste of the cooked blue crab meat, while adding a touch of salt. When boiling your crabs, the sweet meat becomes overwhelmingly seasoned. Blue crab-enthusiasts swear by this method and if asked whether they’ve ever thought of boiling, be prepared for some strong words.Ĭrab steamers can agree that steaming blue crabs using a good light beer and some Old Bay seasoning, cooks the crabs faster and more efficiently without the concern of water logging. Marylanders, like myself, have decided that there is only one way to cook a crab and that is by steaming. Not only does boiling crabs create a great texture to the sweet meat, but once the feast has finished, you are left with an incredible seafood broth that can be used as repurposed stock in soups, dipping sauces, etc. On the other hand, when steaming crabs, they are unable to soak up the mix. By pouring your go-to seafood salt, you create a delicious bath concoction, evenly distributed throughout, for your blue crabs to remain moist. Seasoning becomes much easier when boiling crabs. When steaming, the flavors get lost and remain only on the surface of the crab’s shell. Other times, it will be doused in buckets of Cajun seasoning for those that can get with the heat.įor those who that let the blue crabs take the plunge, they argue that boiling water results in more flavor due to the crab soaking in the liquid, thus absorbing it all and making it much tastier to eat. Most of the time, its straight into boiling water, no seasoning added. Majority of blue crab eaters on the eastern coastline tend to stick to one method of cooking crabs: boiling. Today, we’ll dive deep into both sides of the argument to hopefully inspire you to make a decision. Much like lots of other food recipes and ingredients, individuals from varying regions of the country pick a side and do anything to defend their stance. Everyone has their own opinion on whether boiling or steaming your blue crabs produce the best results.
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