Recipe: Steamed Maryland Blue Carbs

Do-It-Yourself has never tasted so good as with this easy recipe for steamed crabs. So, you want to know how to cook crabs? Here’s what it takes…

Ingredients:

• 1 dozen Maryland Blue Crabs
• 1 cup beer (Don’t use an expensive brand. A simple Budweiser will do.)
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cups Old Bay Seasoning (or more if you like them spicy!)
• MORE Old Bay Seasoning!

Directions:

1. In a large pot, stir together the beer, white vinegar, and Old Bay seasoning.
2. Place a steaming rack in the pot making sure that the steaming rack is above the liquid.
3. Bring the liquid to a boil then place Maryland Blue Crabs in the pot on the steaming rack.
4. Sprinkle your desired amount of Old Bay on top of the Maryland Blue Crabs.
5. Cover and steam until they are done, approximately 20 minutes (for large crabs). You will be able to tell if they are done because they will be bright orange in color instead of blue/green.

Variations:

• You may wish to use 1 cup of water in place of the cup of beer. However, true Marylanders use the beer.

Tips:

• The best way to eat Maryland Steamed Blue Crabs in to expect to get messy! Lay down some newspaper or brown craft paper, get out some knives and mallets (used in helping to open the crabs and to get the meat out, and enjoy!
• Wait until the crabs have just started to cool down to a comfortable temperature for touching them and that is the time when you will have your best shot at pulling big chunks of crab meat out when you pull the legs off.
• You may choose to serve Maryland Crabs with little cups of melted butter or extra Old Bay Seasoning for dipping.
• Marylanders love to have their steamed crabs with fried chicken and corn on the cob on the side.