How to Boil or Steam Crab | Best Ways to Cook Crab | Cameron's Seafood (2024)

FAQs

How do you steam or boil crab? ›

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.

In a large pot (make sure it is large enough to cook your crab, I had a 2 lb crab and used an 8 quart pot that was half filled), add water and a heavy amount of salt. Bring to a boil. Using tongs, lower your crab into the water and cook 8 minutes per pound of crab. My crab was 2 lbs, so I cooked it 16 minutes.

Depending upon the size of your pot, for each dozen crabs put 1 cup of water and 1 cup of vinegar into the pot**. If you like you can add a can or 2 of flat beer. **This is an approximate amount of liquid; adjust the liquid amount so it is a little below the rack level.

Boiling crab in salted water is pretty simple. Start by bringing a pot of salted water—about ¼ cup salt per gallon—to a boil. Once the water is boiling, carefully place your crabs in the water and cook for about 10-20 minutes.

While we normally leave crabs whole for crab boils, for other dishes we clean the crabs before cooking. It's quick and easy, and cleaned crab makes a lot less mess at the table. Cleaning the crab also allows seasoning flavors to soak into the body meat as they cook.

For boiling or steaming

Yes, you read that right — that's an entire box of Old Bay. If you'd rather add seasoning once your crab legs are cooked, simply season the water with salt and then add additional flavors after, like melted butter, garlic and parsley.

1: Bring a large pot of water to the boil and approximately 2 tablespoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Once water is at the boil place crabs in the pot upside down. 2: Cook for approximately 5-8 mins. Once they start floating & are a very vibrant orange colour it is a good indicator to tell they are cooked.

Things You Should Know

After removing the top shell from the crab's body, break the bottom in half and pick as much meat from the body as possible with a fork. Use a cracker, mallet, or knife to break open the crab's claws, and enjoy the meat inside.

Why do you use vinegar when cooking crabs? Vinegar is commonly added to the water when steaming crabs. It reduces the boiling point of the water so the crabs steam more quickly, and is also said to help the crab come out of the shell more easily.

Contrary to popular belief, the "mustard" is not fat, rather it's the crab's hepatopancreas, the organ responsible for filtering impurities from the crab's blood. Although many find its flavor distinct and delicious, it is recommended that you do not eat this since many chemical contaminants concentrate in the organ.

What do I add to the water when steaming crab legs? ›

Fill a large pot about half full with water, leaving enough room for the crab legs. Wait for the boiling water to rise. Add Old Bay seasoning, salt, vegetable oil, and beer to the water once boiling. Place the crab legs in the pot, submerged in the water, and return to a boil.

When the water boils, place the dish of crabs in the steamer or wok, cover with the lid and cook over a high flame for 10-12 minutes (you may need to steam them in batches). Larger crabs should be steamed for 15 to 20 minutes (or longer, depending on the size). While the crabs are steaming, make the dipping sauce.

You can determine this by simply inspecting the shell. A fully cooked crab claw will look bright red or orange—the color most people think of on crabs. An undercooked or uncooked crab shell will be green or brown in color.

It's Quicker (and Better!)

That's all you need. Steam is obviously a higher temperature than boiling water, therefore it cooks the crab faster and more efficiently without the concern of water logging.”

The Best Way to Prepare Snow Crab for Dipping

It's quick to do and is the easiest way to preserve the moist, tender texture of crab meat. Unlike boiled snow crab, steamed snow crab retains more of its own juices and flavors.

When steaming, you are saving calories by not including all of the extras that you may typically use when cooking another way, such as oil, butter, and other fats. Steaming helps to keep much-needed nutrients in the Dungeness crab itself, instead of it washing away into the water or cooking liquid.

Ask any Marylander and they'll tell you there is only one way to cook a crab: that way is steaming. Boiling crabs tend to make the meat a bit more “mushy” and watery which is not ideal. After grading and sorting the Maryland Blue crabs we steam them in large steaming pots with Cameron's special seasoning blend.

Start by bringing water to a boil, and add salt and any other seasoning you'd like. Then, add the crab to the water quickly bringing the water back up to a boil, and cook until the crab floats for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, remove the crab from the water and let them cool before serving. Cooking live crab is recommended.