CRAB BOIL recipe

First thing, make sure you have them on ice a little while before the boil. If they're "alive" when you drop them in the water, they will throw the claws and they'll all end up in the bottom of the basket.

Secondly, place the crabs belly up in the basket

Yes

You can put cold crabs in hot water, you can put hot crabs in cold water but if you put hot crabs in hot water they will drop their limbs.

By brother in law boiled some tonight. 1 1/2 bags Chackbay, 2 boxes salt, 8 oz Zattarains liquid, they were really good. Boiled them 5 minutes, soaked them till they sunk.

Thanks for the advice!

So what I've gathered:

Ice the live crabs for an hour before boiling, bring to boil with said ingredients, drop shell down, rolling boil for 11-15 min.

Profit

15 is a little long. Closer to 11.

If the crabs are skinny you can subtract 3-4 minutes. If you don't know how to tell if they are skinny, see if any of your buddies can. Don't ask the guy you're buying them from....he'll say they're fat no matter what.

Other than that you're on the path to success.

Fool proof? Who are you trying to impress?

I doubt this is gospel around here, but here's what we did growing up for prepping the crabs.

Remove claws and get a small hammer and put a crack in the 2 parts of the claw. Poke holes in the tops of the shell of the body. This allows more seasoning to get to the meat.

Someone please tell me that we were doing this all wrong and it's a terrible idea. I honestly don't know any better.

quote:

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rolling boil for 11-15 min.

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Do this if you want them over cooked. Boil for 5 minutes and then soak for 20.

How much vinegar???

I've seen folks down the Bayou in Houma use vinegar