Chesapeake Bay Steamed Blue Crabs
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The Tale of Chesapeake Bay Steamed Blue Crabs
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Steamed blue crabs are a Chesapeake Bay tradition in Maryland and Virginia, built around the bay's abundant blue crab population and the seasoning blend Old Bay, created in 1939 by German Jewish immigrant Gustav Brunn. Crabs are steamed whole and dumped onto newspaper-lined tables for hands-on picking.
Ingredients
Scale:· 4 servings
- 2 dozen live blue crabs
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 2 cups water or beer
- 1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning, plus extra for serving
- Melted butter, for serving
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- 1Pour vinegar and water or beer into a large steaming pot fitted with a rack.
- 2Bring the liquid to a boil.
- 3Layer the crabs in the pot, sprinkling Old Bay seasoning generously between layers.
- 4Cover tightly and steam 25-30 minutes, until the shells turn bright red-orange.
- 5Pour the crabs onto a paper-lined table and let cool slightly.
- 6Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, and extra Old Bay for dipping.
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