Hard Crabs Storage and Preparation

Our blue crabs are steamed daily and are guaranteed fresh. Only the heaviest crabs make the cut and each crab is hand-selected and graded to ensure a premium product arrives at your door.  

Hard Crabs 

Steaming live crabs—Prepare a large two-part steamer pot by placing the boiler pot on the stove or grill and adding to it enough water, vinegar and flat beer in equal parts to cover the bottom by half an inch. Bring the liquid to a full boil. Add Crabplace.com hand-selected live crabs. Layer the crabs in the steamer pot and add seasoning to taste. Cover the steamer and place it on the boiler pot letting the crabs steam until they're bright red (approx 20 minutes). 

Re-heating crabs—If re-heating already steamed crabs, reduce steam time to 5 minutes and test a crab by cracking a claw. If the meat is hot, the crabs are done. If the meat is not hot, allow the crabs to steam for another 5 minutes and test again. You can also reheat steamed crabs in the microwave. Place a damp paper towel over them to keep them moist and cook on high for 1 to 2 minutes. Or warm them in the oven for approximately 10 minutes at 375 degrees. 

To Eat: cover your table with heavy brown paper or newspaper and set out crab mallets, crab knives, plastic beer cups, rolls of paper towels, and small containers of vinegar, melted butter, and extra seasoning for dipping. Dump the hot crabs (minus the liquid) in the middle of the table and grab one before they’re gone! Shelf Life: Cook live hard crabs as soon as possible! Steamed: will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator.