Live Crabs on Ice

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f I remember right you are supposed to put a burlap sack or something between them and the ice and make sure the water drains out of the chest.

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This is correct. I boiled crabs for my dad last year in St. Louis, picked up Friday, drove Saturday, boiled Sunday, zero issues with doing it this way. I did have to add extra ice over the top during my trip due to the heat and them being in the bed of my truck for travel.

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Also keep them upright, I believe upside down will kill them quickly.

All upright, drain pulled, lean ice chest against the wall at a slight angle so it can drain better. Don't push the lid down all the way.

I put ice straight up - basically freeze them bastards. Fine every time. Good luck!

I never had luck with them pass 24hrs. Always mushy. Will need to try the burlap sack thing. Always iced them where it could drain.

I try to keep them alive, keep them on top of frozen bottles but you can ice them and they will be fine too, even killing them in a slurry. We use to crab all day with my grandparents, never a bit of ice in August heat, drive them to Baton Rouge and the majority lived just being under a damp towel. I have also had them in an ice slurry and you couldn't tell the difference.