The Best Ways To Eat Maryland Crabs This Crab Season

Crab season is in full swing! While Maryland crab season starts in April and ends in October, some of the best months to gather crabs are July, August, and September. Luckily, these months coincide with some of the biggest holidays in the US, including the Fourth of July and Labor Day — and summer vacation.

Make your next family gathering extra special with Maryland blue crabs from Crab Dynasty. We’ll show you the best ways to prepare hard-shell crabs, soft-shell crabs, and succulent crab meat for your Labor Day barbecue, family beach trip, or backyard pool party!

How do you cook hard-shell crabs?

One of our favorite ways to enjoy hard-shell crabs is to steam them and season them with your favorite seasoning (J.O. Spice or Old Bay). Order live Maryland crabs online and add 1 part water and 1 part apple cider vinegar or 1 part beer to a large pot or crab steamer. Bring liquid to a boil. Add the hard shell crabs and sprinkle dry Old Bay seasoning on each layer. Cover the pot and wait for steam to escape the lid (about 10 minutes). Steam the crabs for 20 to 30 minutes until the crabs turn orange. If shells are dark red or green in spots, then they are not fully cooked yet. Remove fully-cooked crabs from the pot and coat as desired with your favorite seasoning. 

Want to make things even easier? Then leave the preparation to us! We will delicately pack freshly steamed crabs in cold containers and ship them to your door for your next get-together. Reheat over boiling water for no more than 8 minutes, adding vinegar or beer for added flavor.

How do you cook soft shell crabs?

Soft shell crabs harvested from the Chesapeake Bay are a delicacy. A soft shell crab is at its prime once the hard shell has molted and before it hardens — this means optimum flavor and consistency.

Crab Dynasty cleans, dresses, and immediately freezes soft shell crabs once they have molted to ensure maximum freshness. Place frozen soft shell crabs in a refrigerator to thaw slowly overnight. Thawed soft shell crabs can be prepared by baking, sauteing, or frying.

Rinse soft shell crabs well with cold water and dry them. Heat oil to 365 degrees in a fryer. Beat an egg and some milk in a bowl. In another bowl, add pepper, salt, and flour. Lightly coat each crab with flour. Dredge crabs in the egg mixture and coat in flour once more. Place each crab in the fryer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until golden brown. Serve on a roll with tartar sauce, lettuce, and tomato.

How do you cook crab cakes?

Crab Dynasty’s authentic Maryland crab cakes are handmade and filled with luscious chunks of pure Chesapeake Bay jumbo lump and lump crab meat. We use an industry low of 10% filler for the highest quality Maryland crab cakes delivered right to your front door.

You can prepare crab cakes by broiling, frying, or even air frying. To broil, place crab cakes on a baking sheet and pour a small amount of melted butter on each. Broil until the top turns golden brown, about 12-15 minutes, and serve with lemon and tartar sauce.

Fry crab cakes in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Coat the pan with oil before adding the crab cakes, cooking until they are golden-brown on both sides (3-5 minutes per side). To cook crab cakes in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees and spray the basket with cooking spray. Place the crab cakes into the basket and coat the tops with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown and crispy on both sides (8 minutes per side). Serve fried crab cakes on a kaiser roll with cocktail or tartar sauce!

If you prefer to make crab cakes at home, you can buy fresh lump crab meat from Crab Dynasty. Combine in a bowl two large eggs, 2 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 ⅓ teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, and 1 ½ tablespoon parsley. Add 1 pound of fresh crab meat and ⅓ cup of breadcrumbs by gently folding ingredients into the bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. This recipe yields six crab cakes. 

Enjoying crabs all year long

You can enjoy crabs in the off-season with frozen products from Crab Dynasty. Our soft shell crabs and soup crabs are shipped frozen all year. Maryland crab soup will hit the spot when a craving for crab strikes. 

When you’re ready to make your frozen soup crabs, thaw them in lukewarm water and rinse them in cold water. Heat an oiled pan on medium-high heat, add onion, and stir until softened. Add 1 ½ cups of frozen vegetables, 1 ½ cups of cubed hash brown potatoes, Old Bay seasoning, and 1 tsp black pepper. Stir in tomatoes and their juices along with 2 cups of chicken or beef broth and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a slow boil and lower the heat. Cook for 6-7 minutes, add 10 ounces of crab meat, and cook 4-5 more. 

Crab Dynasty is your year-round source for fresh, delicious Maryland crabs. No matter when you develop a craving for soft-shell or hard-shell crabs, order from Crab Dynasty and enjoy fresh crabs as soon as the next day.