Authentic Maryland Blue Crabs Recipe | Better Than Any Crab House!

 

Authentic Maryland Blue Crab (Cleaning and Steaming

Serves 4-6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

For the crabs:

·         live Maryland blue crabs, 1 dozen

·         water, 500 ml

·         apple cider vinegar, 500 ml

·         lager, 250 ml (optional)

·         Old Bay seasoning, 125-180 ml, or Maryland crab seasoning

·         Lemon wedges, for serving

·         Melt butter, for serving (optional)

Cleaning the live blue crabs:

Keep the crabs chilled

Keep the live crabs in a cooler or refrigerator until ready to cook.

Important: Cook only live, active crabs.

Rinse thoroughly

Place the live crabs in a sink or large basin.

Rinse them under cold running water.

Cleaning the Shells

Using a stiff kitchen brush:

Scrub the top of the shell.

Scrub the underside/belly.

Clean around the claws and legs.

This removes:

Mud

Sand

Debris

Seaweed

Final Rinse

Rinse the crabs one last time under cold water.

Drain them well.

Chef's Note:

In traditional Maryland restaurants, crabs are usually steamed whole after being washed.

Some home cooks clean them after steaming, but the authentic preparation is to cook them whole.

Detailed Cooking Instructions

Preparing the Steaming Liquid

In a large pot fitted with a steamer basket, combine:

Water

Vinegar

Beer (optional)

Bring to a rapid boil.

The liquid should remain below the steamer basket.

Arrange the crabs, belly-down, in layers.

Sprinkle generously with seasoning between each layer.

Repeat until all the crabs are stacked.

Steaming the Crabs

Cover tightly.

Steam for 20 to 25 minutes, until:

The shells turn a bright orange-red

The crabs are cooked through

They have a rich, spicy aroma

Finishing Touches

Transfer to a platter.

Sprinkle with additional seasoning during steaming, if desired.

Serve immediately.

How to Enjoy Maryland Blue Crab (Traditional Method)

Remove the top shell

Discard the gills (the "deceased's fingers")

Snap the body in half

Crack the claws

Extract the tender meat

Chef's Tips

Do Not Soak in Fresh Water

Never soak live crabs in water:

It kills them quickly and diminishes their quality.

Steam Fresh

For optimal flavor, steam crabs the same day they are purchased.

Season Generously

Maryland blue crabs should be seasoned generously on their shells.