Best Steamed Crabs Recipes

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.

DRAWN BUTTER FOR STEAMED LOBSTER, CRABS, OR CLAMS

Steps:

• Place the butter in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 minute.
• Set the saucepan aside and let the butter settle, undisturbed. The milk solids will come to the top of the butter and the watery whey will collect on the bottom. Skim off the milk solids with a spoon and pour the drawn butter into a serving bowl or several small ramekins, taking care not include the watery liquid in the bottom of the pan. Serve.

STEAMED MARYLAND BLUE CRABS FOR 14

Steps:

• Eating guidelines: It is easier to learn how to eat crabs from an expert, but if none is available, here are step-by-step instructions. First, pull off claws and legs. Break legs and check for meat. Sucking is okay. Some like to save the claws for last because they are rather dessert-like, although the "lump" meat from the body is prized most. Next, turn the crab on its back. You will see an elongated part of the shell that looks like a "T." Some call it the key, even though it doesn't look very much like one. The female key is plumper; the male's is more elongated. Pull the key back, breaking it off, which makes the rest of the shell easy to remove. Now the body of the crab is shell-less. You will now see the long rib-like strips on either side of the cavity. These are the crab's gills. Edible, but not very good. Pull them off, and you will more easily be able to break the crab in half. When you do this, you will most likely now see a good amount of white, fleshy "lump" crab meat. Continue opening the small sections to expose more meat. You will not need mallets or hammers for this. When you are ready for the claws, break them in half at the joint. Take a wooden mallet and whack the large half hard. Don't be shy. Other helpful hints: Don't wear your Sunday best. If it tastes good, you can eat it. Plates and cutlery are unnecessary; the brown paper is a communal plate. Bibs are for babies. When finished, steamed hand towels are very welcome. The easiest way to dispose of the mess is to roll up the brown paper with all the shells, etc. on it -- taking care to "rescue" knives, bowls, etc. first -- and discard in outdoor trash can. The garbage may attract animals, so be sure to keep the lid on tight. Note: Leftover crabs are excellent cold, served with a mayonnaise based dipping sauce. Cooked crabs will keep in refrigerator for a few days.
• Cover tables, preferably outdoors, with brown packaging paper and tape. For each pot of crabs, add water, beer, and approximately 1/4 packet of crab boil seasoning to pot. Bring to boil. With gloves on, remove crabs from bushel, you may have to pull them apart (carefully!) and put/shake a few at a time into pot. It is best to grab them from behind to avoid the claws, as their legs only move forward. Add enough crabs to fill bottom of pot. Sprinkle more crab boil seasoning over first layer of crabs. Continue, alternating crabs and seasoning until pot is nearly full, leaving about an inch at the top. Cover tightly. Steam over high heat for 14 to 16 minutes, or until shells are bright orange. Halfway through cooking time, shake pot to redistribute seasoning. When done, remove pot from heat. Drain over sink the accumulated liquid from pot. Spread crabs onto large tray; place in center of table where guests help themselves. Serve with small dishes of melted butter and, for those who like added seasoning, place small bowls of extra crab boil seasoning on table.

BLUE CRABS STEAMED MARYLAND STYLE

Steps:

• Also need 1 Large Pot with a raised rack at least 2-4 inches.
• Over high heat in a large crab pot with a raised rack bring equal ammounts of Cider Vinegar and water or beer to a boil.
• (The total ammount should be just below the raised rack about 2-3 cups of each Vinegar and water or Beer.) Mix equal ammounts of"Old Bay" seasoning and"Kosher" Salt (About 2 cups of each to start) Add 4-6 LIVE JUMBO male crabs for each layer and add the combined "seasoning" on top of the crabs.
• Continue with Crabs and a layer of seasoning until at least 12- 14 crabs are in the pot, cover and steam 25- 30 minutes.
• with the lid on!
• (Chop off anyones hand that tries to lift the lid too soon!) When done use tongs to lift out steamed crabs to a table covered with newspapers or brown paper.
• Repeat until all Crabs are Steamed, changing the vinegar and water and adding new "seasoning" to each new batch.
• Serve at once with extra "seasoning" and "crab mallets" to break open claws.
• Or store in brown paper bags in the fridge until needed 4-5 days (NO LONGER!!!).

MARYLAND STEAMED CRABS RECIPE - (4.7/5)

Steps:

• For Steaming The Crabs: You will need a large pot with a raised rack to keep the crabs out of the water mixture. I have been known to use wadded-up foil. Add the water and/or Beer and vinegar to the pot and bring to a boil. The depth of the water mixture could vary due to pot size. You may not be able to cook all the crabs at once. While boiling watch the level of water in your pot making sure not to boil dry. If you run low remember its equal parts beer and/or water to vinegar. Carefully layer the crabs in the pot grab from behind. Between each layer of crabs season with the spice mixture you have made. Steam blue crabs for 20 minutes until done If crabs are extremely large maybe longer, but no longer than 30 minutes. Allow to rest until the crabs have cooled some and are safe to crack and enjoy. Ensure you have someone around that knows how to clean a crab and can show you how to do that.

STEAMED BLUE CRABS

Steps:

• Place a steamer pot or any large, heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid on the stove. (In the latter case, improvise a rack on the bottom of the pot that will keep crabs a few inches from the bottom.) Add the beer, vinegar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Put a layer of crabs on the rack in the pot. Sprinkle with a generous amount of seasoning, then repeat with another layer, and another, until all 12 crabs are in pot (and well seasoned). Cover and steam over medium-high heat until the crabs are bright red, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the crabs with tongs. Serve over newspaper, with mallets and picks.

STEAMED MARYLAND BLUE CRABS

Steps:

• In a large hotel steaming pan, add water and bring to a boil. Add crabs in one layer. Cover crabs with the seasoning, about 1/4-inch thick. Let steam for 20 minutes.

STEAMED BLUE CRABS WITH BLACK GINGER DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 inches water to a boil in pot. Add cilantro stems, then carefully add half of crabs using tongs and return to a boil. Cook, covered with lid, 8 minutes (for 1/4-pound crabs) to 10 minutes (for 1/3-pound crabs) from time they enter water. (Break shell of 1 claw to check for doneness; crabmeat should be opaque.) Transfer crabs with long-handled tongs to a large platter, reserving cooking liquid in pot, and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Cook remaining crabs in same manner.
• While crabs cook, stir together ginger (to taste), soy sauce, sugar, water, vinegar, and salt in a small bowl until sugar and salt are dissolved.
• If necessary, dip crabs in cooking liquid to remove any external residue, then transfer to another large platter. Serve crabs hot, with dipping sauce.
• *We recommend Gold Plum brand, available at Asian markets and Kam Man Food Products (212-571-0330).

DUNGENESS CRABS STEAMED ON THE GRILL IN GINGER, LIME, MIRIN AND SOY

Steps:

• Prepare a grill to medium-high heat.
• In a large roasting pan over high heat, add the stock, mirin, soy sauce, ginger, toasted sesame oil and lime juice and bring to a boil. Add the crabs, shell-side up, and place the pan on the grill. Cover the grill and steam the crabs until they are just cooked through, about 30 minutes, flipping the crabs halfway through cooking. Remove the crabs to a platter.
• Strain the steaming liquid into a bowl. Return the liquid to the roasting pan and whisk in the honey, black pepper and chile flakes. Bring to a boil and simmer until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Whisk in the butter. Halve the crabs and put 2 halves into 4 serving bowls. Pour the sauce over and garnish with cilantro.

STEAMED BLUE CRABS

Steps:

• Get a dozen or so live and kickin Blue Crabs a large heavy seafood steaming pot (at least 4" larger than the crabs piled inside) turn on stove or outdoor burner to high (preferably an outdoor gas burner made for steaming or frying turkeys) add water and vinegar about 2" high in the bottom of pot,put pot onto burner ,heat until steam comes out of the top,add crabs and seasoning to cover crabs,replace lid on pot,bring back to steaming time about 20-25 minutes after steaming again (you can also put sweet corn in the husk right on top of crabs during last 15 minutes of steaming also throw some seasoning on the corn as well it will be the best sweet corn that you have ever tasted if you like crabs!) after time is up remove crabs from pot onto some newspaper etc. let them cool about ten minutes or so then serve with extra seasoning,crab claw mallets and your favorite beverage(beer seems to be the most popular but I prefer water.Dig In and Enjoy!

STEAMED CRABS

Steps:

• Pour the vinegar and water into the bottom of a steamer. Place it on the stove to come to a boil.
• In the meantime, make a layer of six very lively crabs in the top half of the steamer. Liberally sprinkle about three to four tablespoons of the seafood mixture over the crabs. Then make another layer of crabs and again spread the seasoning over the crabs. Continue alternating layers until all the crabs and seasoning are packed into the steamer.
• Place the top half of the steamer over the bottom half. Place the cover securely over the top. Reduce the heat and let the crabs steam for 20 to 25 minutes.
• When the crabs are ready, they will turn an orange-red color. Remove the crabs with long-handled tongs, place them on metal trays and serve immediately.

STEAMED BLUE CRABS

Steps:

• 1. Mix seasonings, vinegar and beer or water well. Put 1/2 crabs in a very large pot with rack and tight fitting lid
• 2. Pour 1/2 seasoning mixture over top Add rest of crabs and remaining liquid
• 3. Steam covered until crabs turn bright red color about 20-30 minutes
• 4. Serve hot or cold Feeds 9-12 depending on size of crabs

BEER STEAMED CRABS

Steps:

• Bring water, beer, crushed red pepper, bay leaves and Old Bay Seasoning to a boil in a 6 qt pot.
• Drop in crabs.
• Cook 15-20 minutes once liquid returns to boil.
• Serve hot.

OLD-FASHIONED STEAMED CRABS

Steps:

• Sprinkle the combination of spices listed above, dry mustard and Old Bay first, and rock salt last, to the layered dozen crabs. Steam in the combination of liquids above (the cheaper the beer, the better). Separate the lid from the pot top with several old T-shirts, or a burlap bag. This allows for a steam seal, while providing enough escape to prevent the crabs from becoming soggy. Remember to use a double boiler, never immersing the crab in the boiling liquid. To the extent possible, tuck the claws into the crab upon placement in the pot, to minimize the prospect of claws popping off during steaming. It helps to have the crab in a stunned state (through icing or refrigeration) when you attempt this.

STEAMED CRABS

Steps:

• Combine beer, vinegar, Old Bay seasoning and celery seed. Rinse crabs. In large deep pot with rack, place 12 crabs. Pour 1/2 of beer mixture over crabs. Add the remaining 12 crabs and pour in the remaining beer mixture. Cover and steam crabs for approximately 25 minutes or until crabs are bright red. Drain. Serve hot; or bring to room temperature and refrigerate.