Steaming Crabs: A Beginner's Guide To Cooking Perfection

Steaming crab is a simple and delicious way to enjoy this crustacean. It is also one of the best ways to cook crab legs, as it helps preserve the pure, sweet taste and tender texture of the meat. This guide will teach you how to steam crab to perfection, ensuring that you end up with a tasty and tender dish every time.

How to prepare crabs for steaming

Preparing crabs for steaming is a simple process, but it does require a few steps to ensure the crabs are ready for cooking. Here is a detailed guide on how to prepare crabs for steaming:

Firstly, it is important to keep the crabs chilled until you are ready to cook them. If you have live crabs, you can store them in an ice chest or cover them with a saltwater-soaked towel or burlap, placing ice on top. Do not submerge crabs in water, as they need oxygen to survive.

Next, you will need to clean the crabs. Remove the apron or abdomen by pulling off the shell flaps on the crab's belly. This is the triangular shell piece at the crab's tail. You can use your hands or a knife to do this. After removing the apron, take out the crab's back or carapace by sticking your thumb into the hole left from removing the abdomen and lifting firmly. The shell and guts should come away together.

Now, remove the gills. These are the leafy, spongy parts on both sides of the crab, and they can be thrown away.

Once the crabs are cleaned, give them a rinse with water. You will want to rinse out any remaining green-brown guts and break off the mouth parts on either side of the crab. Turn the crab upside down and, gripping it on both sides, place your thumbs underneath along the back midpoint. Crack the crab along its centre by pulling down with your hands while pushing up with your thumbs.

If you are using frozen crab legs, you will need to defrost them before steaming. Place them in the refrigerator for about eight hours, and do not leave them for more than two days without cooking. It is best to use a watertight container to avoid making a mess in your refrigerator.

Now your crabs are ready for steaming! You can steam them in a single layer or layer them with seasoning between each layer. Enjoy!

What equipment to use

Steaming crab is a great way to cook this crustacean without it becoming waterlogged. It is also a good way to reheat crab without overcooking it. To steam crab, you will need a pot, a steamer basket, and a lid.

The Pot

The size of the pot will depend on the number of crabs you are cooking. The pot should be large enough to hold the crabs and a steamer basket, with the lid fitting securely on top. A 6-quart pot is a good size, but you can also use a large stockpot or pasta boiler.

The Steamer Basket

A steamer basket is placed on top of the pot, allowing the crabs to be exposed to the steam without touching the hot liquid. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a colander or create a steaming rack by placing a few clean, empty metal cans upside down on the bottom of the pot or inverting a colander in the pot. You can also use tin foil to create a steaming rack.

The Lid

The lid is important to trap the steam inside the pot. If your pot doesn't have a lid, you can use aluminium foil to create a tight seal.

In addition to the pot, steamer basket, and lid, you will also need a pair of tongs for handling the crabs. It is recommended to have two pairs of tongs: one for handling raw crabs and one for removing cooked crabs from the pot.

How long to steam crabs

The length of time you steam crabs depends on the type of crab, the size of the crab, the number of crabs, and the size of the pot. For example, crab legs will cook in 4-8 minutes, whereas blue crabs can take 20-30 minutes. Dungeness crabs will take 10-20 minutes, and whole Dungeness crabs can take up to 20 minutes.

Crabs are done when their shells turn a reddish-orange colour and the meat flakes when tested with a fork. You will also be able to smell their aroma when they are done. Be careful not to overcook crabs, as this will affect their taste.

How to tell when crabs are cooked

There are several ways to tell when crabs are cooked. Firstly, the colour of the shell is a good indicator. Crabs are cooked when their shells turn bright red or orange. If the shell is green or brown, the crab is likely undercooked or uncooked.

You can also tell by the texture of the meat. Fresh crab meat is plump, juicy, and white with a reddish rind where the meat meets the shell. The meat should also be tender and easy to separate from the shell. If the meat is dry or sticks to the shell, the crab may be frozen or overcooked.

Another indicator is the smell of the crab. Fresh crab meat should have a mild, sweet odour. If the meat smells sour, bitter, fishy, or rancid, it has likely gone bad.

Finally, cooked crabs will be warm, and you will be able to smell the aroma of cooked crab meat.

What to serve with steamed crab

There are many side dishes that can be served with steamed crab. Here are some ideas:

Sauces

Clarified butter is the most iconic and widely used sauce to serve with crab. It enhances the flavour of the crab meat and takes it to a new level of deliciousness. You can also enhance the butter with fresh lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, parsley, or Worcestershire sauce. Other sauces to try include mustard with dill, mayonnaise, lemon and salt and pepper, spicy diablo dipping sauce, hollandaise, and cocktail sauce.

Salads

Salads are a great option to serve with crab, as crab is a light dish when steamed. A mandarin orange salad is a nice combination of crunchy and refreshing with a bit of sweetness. A crab Louie salad is another option, which features olives, hard-boiled eggs, cucumber, avocado, tomato, and other fresh vegetables.

Vegetables

Vegetables have refreshing and earthy flavours that complement the sweet meat of crab. Some of the best vegetables to pair with crab include asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, and onions. Roasting them will caramelise them and bring out their natural sweetness. Another fun pairing is steamed artichokes, which is a similar eating experience to crab, as you use your hands to pull it apart and eat the meat.

Starches

Mashed potatoes are a crowd-pleasing side dish that pairs well with crab, as are French fries. Any type of corn can pair nicely with crab, but corn on the cob is a good choice as it is refreshing and requires your hands to eat, just like crab.

Frequently asked questions