Boil or steam blue crab? (bbq, shrimp, boiling, better)

[Humble and Kind]

Would like the kids to try blue crab again, was a long time ago I steamed about a dozen. Some friends would also like to try them.

We like doing Louisiana style crawfish boils and have done quite a few. We all like that flavor.

Is it better to steam them like they do on the east coast, or have a cajun crab boil?

Would like your opinions of which you like and any other helpful tips.

Thank you everybody!

H&K

[AK76]

If you want them to experience unadulterated blue crab, then steam them, want them to experience the influence of the cajun seasoning, then do the boil.

[Dirt Grinder]

The best blue crabs I've eaten were deep-fried and dusted with a Cajun seasoning spice powder (Port Arthur, TX). However, that's not what you asked. I prefer steamed over boiled, as the sweet crab flavor stays within the shell.

[softcrunch]

Steam! Crabs are not supposed to be boiled unless you want crabs in hot soup!

[MrRational]

STEAM.

Use some sort of trivet or even just some corn cobs to hold the crabs above the water line.
Old Bay or JO

Always cook extra and then do other things with the crabmeat.
https://www.amazon.com/Chesapeake-Ba.../dp/0767900286

[Calvert Hall '62]

Steamed blues with Old Bay Seasoning, one of Maryland's finest delicacies.

[NYC refugee]

Steamed.

[hellpaso]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

The best blue crabs I've eaten were deep-fried and dusted with a Cajun seasoning spice powder (Port Arthur, TX). However, that's not what you asked. I prefer steamed over boiled, as the sweet crab flavor stays within the shell.

YES! We call those fried crabs "BBQ crabs"! (Bet you had them at Sartin's--in Nederland outside Port Arthur )

If you're just having crabs, probably steaming them would be best. But if you want to do other stuff like shrimp or crawfish (a little late in the season for them), might as well boil them together. Just use way more crawfish boil seasoning than the package says, or it could turn out a little bland.

[Daewon404]

Steamed!

[lieqiang]

Boiling is for crawfish, for blues you gotta steam.

Make sure to have enough Old Bay caked on 'em that your fingers tips start stinging from handling them while eating.