Keeping Blue Crabs Alive

I've also heard keeping them all shell side up will help them live longer. They tend to die quicker upside down.

ETA: When and where you boiling?

I'm actually going to a crab boil down the street in a few.

Empty a few two liter coke bottles and fill with water and freeze, put bottles at the bottom of the cooler, crabs over the bottles. Keep lid open and cooler in the shade, try not to smother the crabs by putting too many in a cooler. Spread them out in different coolers.

Make sure you don't get them too cold. Anthing below 45 degrees can kill them. Crabs should be kept anywhere from 48-55 degrees.

I would put a layer of ice in the bottom of the cooler and then the crabs on top. Then put a small oyster sack (or something to keep them moist) and close the lid or keep it just a little open and put a little ice on top of them.

I've also heard to keep them tight so they don't fight with each other and kill each other. Another thing you want to do is pick out the dead ones because most likely they will be mushy and won't taste as good.

I put a wet towel on top of the crabs, then a layer of ice.

quote:

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pick up the first skank you see.. They will stay alive for days..

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Yes........they........will.