There are several ways to cook and enjoy a Maryland crab.
We here at Box Hill love crabs, especially crab cakes. But when you’re in the mood for a hearty crab dinner, there are multiple methods you can use to enjoy some delicious crabs. Read on to discover the best methods for enjoying tasty cooked crabs, as well as some basic recipes for those crab cooking methods.
Boil Crabs
Boiling crabs is the most common cooking method for crabs and is good to use on all varieties of crab.
How to Boil
Bring a large pot of water to boil, adding plenty of salt. Some people will like to add beer, but you can also add any seasonings you love, including, of course, Old Bay.
Add the crabs quickly, so they cook for the same amount of time. Cook the crabs in the boiling water until they start to float. The crabs will usually take about 10 to 15 minutes to float.
Remember to use tongs to remove the crabs, and set them out until they are cool enough to touch.
Steam Crabs
Steaming crabs helps to retain the juicy flavor of the crabs, and prevents them from becoming water-logged.
How to Steam
Bring an inch of salted water to boil in a large pot.
Put the crabs in a steamer basket or pile them into the pot, letting the bottom crabs act as a platform to enable the steaming of the other crabs.
Cover the pot and let the crabs cook 10 to 20 minutes. Remove the steamer basket or pull the crabs out with tongs, and then let the crabs cool before you clean and serve them. Rinsing the crabs under cold water can help speed up this process.
Grill Crabs
Before you grill crabs, you need to clean them. It may be quicker to boil or steam the crabs first until cooked halfway, then use the grill to finish the cooking while adding some fiery flavor.
How to Grill
Boil or steam the crabs first for about 5 minutes, then let them cool and clean them.
Toss the cleaned crabs with some olive oil and maybe minced garlic, along with some herbs like rosemary and thyme.
Set the crabs on the grill until cooked through and browned, grilling each side for about 4 minutes.
Roast Crabs
You can roast crabs in your oven if it is too cold outside to grill.
How to Roast
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit while you quickly boil or steam, and clean the crabs first.
Toss the cleaned crabs with some oil or melted butter, spices, or herbs that you like.
Set the crabs in a single layer in the roasting pan and cook in the oven until the crabs are browned, sizzling, and thoroughly cooked. The roasting can take about 10 minutes.
It’s Always the Right Time for Box Hill
We are located in Abingdon, Maryland, and our crab cakes are available year-round! If you ever have any questions or comments about Box Hill or our Maryland crab cakes, use our contact form here.
Box Hill Crab Cakes is your source for the freshest, most authentic Maryland crab cakes—and we’ll ship them to your door! Our top-secret family recipe has been fine-tuned for decades, and we guarantee you will love them. Visit us online to place your order or give us a call at 410-515-3662. Want to get recipe ideas, updates, and information on sales? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Trip Advisor, YouTube, and Twitter.
Order Today!Tags: crab recipes, crabs, Maryland Blue Crab