Most people in Maryland consume crabs in the spring and summer with crab consumption reaching its peak between June and through August.
Do you feast on crabs every summer? These Maryland delicacies are a staple in the Old Line state. Here is everything you should know about Maryland crabs!
Key Crab Facts
The waters surrounding Maryland aren’t the only places where you’d find blue crabs. They reside in the waters of Nova Scotia and Uruguay as well, in addition to other locations. Despite this, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports that about 50 percent of the crabs we eat in Maryland come from the waters that surround the state. There are few other things that Maryland is as closely associated with as crabs. That’s because they are known for having a deliciously complicated flavor delicate texture. To ensure that you’re getting the real deal when purchasing crabs, look for or ask about the True Blue certification.
The Soft Shell Story
Think of soft shell crabs as the sibling of hard shells. They are considered a delicacy by many as there’s no need to pick the meat from the soft shells. You can actually bite right into the crab. They are soft because the crabs have molted within the past 12 hours, which means that they shed their exoskeleton. Soft shell crabs are usually fried or sautéed and served on a sandwich.
Best Times to Eat Crabs
The season for hard shell crabs runs between April and through December. Most people in Maryland consume crabs in the spring and summer with crab consumption reaching its peak between June and through August. The season for soft shell crabs runs between the middle of May through September.
How to Pick Crabs
If you were to ask 10 people the proper way to pick crabs, you would end up with 10 different answers. Techniques sometimes change between families, regions, and individuals. The tools for picking crabs include the mallet and sometimes a plastic knife. While some people pick the meat and eat as they go, others like to pile it up and enjoy it at the end.
YOUR SEAFOOD 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!