Blue Crabs Steamed Maryland Style

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 80 -100 live jumbo male blue crabs
• 1 -2 gallon cider vinegar
• 1 -2 can old bay seasoning (use nothing else!!)
• 1 box morton's coarse kosher salt (large box)

Recipe

• 1 also need 1 large pot with a raised rack at least 2-4 inches.
• 2 over high heat in a large crab pot with a raised rack bring equal ammounts of cider vinegar and water or beer to a boil.
• 3 (the total ammount should be just below the raised rack about 2-3 cups of each vinegar and water or beer.) mix equal ammounts of"old bay" seasoning and"kosher" salt (about 2 cups of each to start) add 4-6 live jumbo male crabs for each layer and add the combined "seasoning" on top of the crabs.
• 4 continue with crabs and a layer of seasoning until at least 12- 14 crabs are in the pot, cover and steam 25- 30 minutes.
• 5 with the lid on!
• 6 (chop off anyones hand that tries to lift the lid too soon!) when done use tongs to lift out steamed crabs to a table covered with newspapers or brown paper.
• 7 repeat until all crabs are steamed, changing the vinegar and water and adding new "seasoning" to each new batch.
• 8 serve at once with extra "seasoning" and "crab mallets" to break open claws.
• 9 or store in brown paper bags in the fridge until needed 4-5 days (no longer!!!).