Crab Guy blogs about Maryland blue crabs, the Chesapeake Bay, and all things seafood.

Crabs are delicious, especially when they are fresh off of the docks or you have just caught them yourself. If you are not in an area that will allow you to catch or buy live crabs, a great alternative is ordering them steamed. When crabs are steamed before they are shipped, half of the work has been done for you and you don’t have to worry about freshness because they are always cooked immediately after they are caught to ensure the best taste.

Blue crabs, especially on the East Coast have been a regional favorite since crabbing began. Their sweet, delicate taste will inevitably make your mouth water. Whether you prefer East Coast blue crab or West Coast dungeness crab or for that matter anything in between, you are in for a delicious feast. Many people enjoy the feat of digging into a pile of freshly cooked crab with their friends and family. Although it may take some effort, it is usually a fun a memorable experience for all that partake.

No matter what type of crab meat that you prefer, you are in for a delectable treat. Depending on your personal preference you can prepare crab the way that you like best, whether it be steamed, boiled, fried, broiled, baked or grilled. There are better ways to cook different types of crab however. If they are soft shell crabs, people generally prefer to pan fry them. For snow crab and dungeness crab, they are usually prepared steamed or boiled. King crab can be boiled, steamed, broiled, baked or grilled (although they usually come cooked and flash frozen to protect their flavor). As for the infamous blue crab, especially for those native Marylanders and those on the Chesapeake Bay the only way is to steam them!

Crab is a special treat, not because of the cost but more so because of the effort involved in picking the meat out and the amount of effort in cooking and preparing the little critters. It can be quite the task to take on, but it is equally rewarding. When eating the crab meat, make sure not to overdo the spices that you use for seasoning as this can easily overwhelm the taste of the crab meat. Catch, cook and enjoy!

Learn fun and interesting facts about all varieties of crab, from East Coast Blue Crab to West Coast Dungeness Crab. Mention these anywhere from the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland to the town of Dungeness, in Washington State or at your next crab dinner party, and you are sure to spark lively conversation and impress even the crabbiest experts!

Fun Facts:

• America has more varieties of crabs than anywhere else in the world!
• Crabs do not hibernate; rather they lie dormant for the long winter (usually from November through May.)
• Blue crabs love to lie in mud. When a predator comes they can camouflage themselves in it to escape!
• Male crabs with one large claw use this to attract females. This claw is not used for defense or to attack, but to lure the females for mating purposes.
• Crabs’ teeth are in their stomachs!
• If a crab loses a limb, it will grow back. In fact, only the claws of the Stone Crab are eaten. So, if a crabber catches a Stone crab he/she will tear off the claws and throw the rest of the crab back to sea where it will regenerate the claws within 18 months.
• America’s best selling crab is the blue crab from the East Coast, followed by the West Coast Dungeness crab, King Crab from Alaska and Florida Stone Crabs.
• A single Alaskan king crab can yield over 6 pounds of meat. They can measure up to a 6-foot leg span.
• The blue crab’s shedding process is repeated up to 25 times during a crab’s lifetime.
• While the female blue crab is in her molted state (soft shell crab), the male blue crab will protect her. The female however, will devour any male that comes along her way.
• Blue crab is the only crab that is eaten in both the hard and soft-shell form.
• Only male Dungeness may be kept. This is true throughout the United States. In 1897 possession and sale of female Dungeness was prohibited.
• A tagged blue crab was recorded swimming 35 miles in 48 hours!
• Crab is good for you! A 3-½ ounce serving is 110 calories and just 1.2 grams of fat. Crab is also an excellent source of chromium, which helps raise the levels of HDL (good cholesterol.) And, crab contains antioxidants and detoxifying substances.