Crab Boil

January 21, 2014
Food,Recipes

You’d be surprised to know that growing up, my parents weren’t much into cooking the way my sister and I are. In fact, I’d characterize their meals as simple and utilitarian, but always fresh and homemade. I have a couple childhood favorites that my dad makes, but nothing beats the steamed crabs he’d make when Dungeness crabs were in season that we’d eat simply with Chinese black vinegar and ginger– it’s why I cook! I love any kind of food you have to work for– the tedious shell cracking and meat plucking is so gratifying. I know not everyone is into it, but the liver and pancreas in the head, also known as crab butter, is one of my favorite parts– rich and delicious. I usually buy one 2-pound crab per person and add lots of hot sauce, lemon, vinegar and beer!

Crab boil

You’ll need:

  • 4 live Dungeness crabs
  • Stock pot, 5 gallons or larger
  • Salt
  • A large bowl of ice cubes

Live dungeness crabs

Fill your pot about 3/4 of the way full with water. Bring to a boil and liberally salt the water with a heaping handful of salt. The water should be salty and briny and taste like the ocean. While the water is coming to a boil, place your live crabs in the freezer to sedate them for 20 minutes. This makes it easier to handle when boiling them.

When the water comes to a boil, take the crabs out of the freezer and place them into the pot. Cover the lid and cook for 7 minutes per pound. If boiling multiple crabs, take the average weight of your crabs and calculate cook time based on that weight. The average weight of my 4 Dungeness crabs was 2.5 so I cooked mine for 18 minutes.

Crab ice bath

Meanwhile, plug the sink and fill with cold water and fill with ice. When the crabs are done, remove them and place them in the ice bath to stop cooking.

Crab liver and claw

Drain crabs and break apart and clean the crabs.

Dungeness crab

Enjoy with some hot sauce or lemon juice.

Tabasco and crab

I eat it simply with black vinegar and ginger.

Vinegar dipping sauce

Enjoy, but waste nothing and save those shells– they make a great shellfish stock as a base for crab chowder. Summon all your will power and reserve some crab meat for the chowder too!

Crab boil

(images by HonestlyYUM)

Conversation

Once you boil your crabs and clean them. Can you give them a quick shake in fresh sea water to give them a salty taste ? Or are there too many micro organisms that can make you sick to quickly shake cooked and cleaned crabs in it.

I love crabs, and this looks soooooo delicious. I think I could live on sea food, but I’m not sure if I’m ready yet to prepare them myself. It’s still somehow intimidating for me. :/

Don’t worry it was for all of us too. We did the boil together and needed the support– can definitely be intimidating!

When I lived in DC I would go up to Maryland all the time with friends to have crabs and beer. It’s seriously the BEST thing to do to kill an afternoon so I truly resonate with this post 🙂 x

That sounds amazing and I’ve never tried crabs in Maryland– can only imagine what a great afternoon you had!

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