Steaming crabs is easy and can be a great event to get the whole family around the table because who really can resist fresh steamed crabs. Many stores sell speciality steamer pots but they are not really neccesary if you do not have one. You can take a simple aluminum pie plate and poke a few holes in it with a knife to allow steam to rise through it, place it in the bottom of a regular old pot with a lid and add your choice of cheap beer or plain water. Add live crabs, pour some old bay generously over them, put the lid on and place a couple clothpins to hold the lid on and keep the crabs in the pot of water instead of crawling around your kitchen. I usually steam them on medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes. All the shells should be red as seen in the picture above. let them cool for at least 15 minutes and let the family fun begin. If you are going to pick them for use in your favorite recipe, I highly recommend putting them in the fridge and allowing them to chill for an hour. This helps to firm the meat and makes for a better consistancy for crabcakes, crab imperial, or and other dish you want to make. ENJOY!
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