Now that warmer days are here again and weekends are getting longer (whether or not they’re supposed to!), it’s time to start dreaming of your first blue crab feast of the year. Preparing for a blue crab feast is one of the most exciting parts of living in the Chesapeake Bay area during the spring and summer. If you’re counting down the minutes until softshell crabs start arriving at your local crab purveyor, here are our best tips for preparing a blue crab feast.
Pre-Steam
If you aren’t going to be taking the blue crabs from the store into your kitchen, make sure that you keep them chilled until you need them. Many places that sell blue crabs can provide you with a cooler full of ice or cold packs to keep them chilly until you will be using them. Never steam a crab that is already dead.
Use a tall, high-walled steamer to steam your crabs, as you need plenty of space to work. Make sure that you have a rack to stop the blue crabs from actually touching the steaming liquid, as that leads to soggy and messy crabs. Steaming liquids for blue crab feasts vary by personal preference. Some people use plain water, but most authentic blue crab lovers enjoy a combination of vinegar and beer. Use two cans of cheap beers, not your prized homebrew, and add an equal amount of apple cider vinegar.
Season It Up
The most popular seasoning for a blue crab feast is Old Bay. Maryland is famous for its love of Old Bay, but you don’t have to be loyal if you aren’t a fan. Many other people use rock salt, dry mustard, cumin, black pepper, or nutmeg.
Your Blue Crab Destination this Summer
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 anytime 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, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!