Here in Baltimore, we all take crab dip pretty seriously. It’s a cultural landmark but perhaps, more importantly, it’s downright delicious!
Here in Baltimore, we all take crab dip pretty seriously. It’s a cultural landmark but perhaps, more importantly, it’s downright delicious! While Costas Inn loves serving up delicious crab dip for our community, we also know that sometimes, you just want some quick crab dip at home. There are plenty of recipes out there that require simple cheese sauces and canned crab meat that are all available and affordable. We want to offer you some tips for making your crab dip as delicious as can be!
What’s in the Can?
Quality canned crab meat doesn’t actually come in a can—take a gander at the seafood counter of your local grocery store and look for a plastic tub of crab meat that’s fresh. Fresh crab meat goes a long way. Lesser grades of crab meat will include words like “special,” “backfin,” and “claw meat,” which will be visibly minced and end up tasting fishier. Steer clear! Instead, look for jumbo lump crab meat, or just lump crab meat.
Choosing Cheese
Some crab dips involve making a roux, but if you want to make things easy for yourself, you can just use cream cheese. Cream cheese adds that familiar flavor but also thickens the crab dip and helps everything come together. Saute up some green onions, garlic, cream cheese, cheddar, and cream and your crab dip will make your party one to remember.
Serving and Storing Your Crab Dip
You’re going to have a 2-hour window to serve your crab dip to make sure everything is up to food safety standards. Timing everything to come out of the oven once your guests arrive is key, though you could always use a crockpot to keep everything warm for as long as you need. Crab dip can be kept for up to two days, though if you leave it out for a party, you should just discard it afterward. Serve it alongside the right chips, toast, or crackers and you’ll have quite the snack!
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 the2015 #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!