If you’ve never hosted a crab boil before, then you’ll want to make sure everything is perfect. Here is how to ensure everything goes off without a hitch!
If you’ve never hosted a crab boil before, then you’ll want to make sure everything is perfect. Here is how to ensure everything goes off without a hitch!
Float the Crabs
Now that the water is at a rolling boil, the next step is to add the crabs. No matter what crabs you have selected for your first crab boil, keep your eye on them. While it’s true that a watched pot never boils, you don’t want the water to start boiling over, or you’ll get an unpleasant surprise. Make sure that each crab goes in one at a time. Sometimes, small batches of crabs are all you can cook at once, even if you are planning to have a big get-together.
Once the crabs go in, the water will start to cool down. This is an indicator that you need to let the water come back to a boil. Let the crabs cook for ten to fifteen minutes. Once they float, they are almost done. Another two or three minutes should suffice before you turn the burner off.
Allow Them to Cool
Even though the crabs are done, you can’t serve them just yet. Let them cool down first. Use long tongs to pull them out of the water. The water could still be hot, and you don’t want to hurt yourself. This is where the baking sheets and boards come into play: as somewhere to set the crabs once they go out of the pot. One of the tastiest ways to eat boiled crab is to break one open and start hunting for the meat. Alternatively, you can wait until they cool completely and then dig in at that point.
Time to Enjoy
It’s time to eat! Most of the time, a crab boil is the centerpiece of a crab feast. But that doesn’t mean that needs to be the only way you prepare for such an event. Mallets, crackers, picks, and napkins will all come in handy. But any leftover crabs can be used for other dishes, such as a savory mix of herbs, spices, crab meat, rice, and veggies!
YOUR SEAFOOD DESTINATION
Costas Inn has been a Baltimore tradition since 1971. You may recognize our restaurant, which was recently featured on the Food Network with Michael Symon on Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que! We were also voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today, as well as #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal. You may have also spotted Costas Inn during one of our 9 appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass.
You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for any time eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube!