Blue Crab - Maryland steamed blue crab is the best way of cooking Chesapeake Bay crabs. This easy recipe with Old Bay Seasoning takes 30 mins to make and so delicious!
Maryland Blue Crab
Blue crab is one of my favorite crustacean; the others are snow crab, king crab, Dungeness crab, lobster tail.
I also love crab legs and crawfish.
The crab is native to the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and through the Gulf of Mexico.
They are sometimes called Maryland crab and best served steamed.
The meat has a sweet and briny flavor and tastes absolutely delicious.
When Is Blue Crab Season?
The most popular blue crabs come from The Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia. The peak season is from April to mid December in 2020.
Blue crabs are also found and harvested in Nova Scotia, Canada, Florida and the Gulf coasts.
How to Cook Blue Crab?
I have the best blue crab recipe for you: steamed blue crab with Old Bay Seasoning. It’s so easy to make at home.
First, I cleaned the crabs by rinsing with cold water. Next, I killed them by sticking a knife or chopstick at the back of the crab.
To cook the crab, I heated up a steamer with water and seasoned the crabs with Old Bay Seasoning. Steam for 20 minutes to 30 minutes, or until the crab shells turn completely orange.
How to Eat Blue Crab?
It’s very easy to enjoy the crab meat. Below is the step-by-step eating guide:
- On a flat surface lined with papers (for example: parchment paper), hold the bottom part of the crab firmly with one hand and then flip open the top shell with the other hand.
- Remove the gills on the crab.
- Snap and break the crab into halves. Remove the crab claws and crab legs from the body. Pick out the meat with a shellfish or seafood fork.
Due to its size, there are not much meat inside the crab legs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know That the Crab Is Cooked?
Blue crab is cooked when the shell turns bright orange in color, with no traces of blue or green on the shell, crab claws and legs.
Can I Eat the Yellow Stuff Inside the Shell?
The yellow stuff are called mustard or tomalley. They are hepatopancreas, a main component of the crab’s digestive system.
The mustard has great flavors and edible. If you have a female crab, you will also find orange roe inside the shell. They are edible and prized for its delicacy.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 183 calories per serving.
What to Serve with This Recipe?
Serve this dish with side dishes or other seafood dishes. For a New England style seafood fest, I recommend the following recipes.
Ingredients
- 4 blue crabs
- Water
- Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
-
Rinse the blue crab with cold running water. If the surface is dirty, use a brush to brush the body and rinse well.
-
To kill the crab before steaming, stick a chopsticks or a chef's knife at the back, in the middle of the crab.
![How to kill blue crab.]()
-
In a pot with a raised rack (minimum of 2 inches high) add equal quantities of water and vinegar to just below level of rack. Bring to a boil.
-
Carefully layer crabs on the rack. Sprinkle each layer with Old Bay Seasoning. Cover and steam for 20 to 30 minutes (depending on the size of the crabs) until the shell turn orange.
-
Remove the blue crabs from the steamer and serve immediately with melted butter and lemon wedges.
![Blue crabs cooked.]()
