Free: Contests & Raffles.
always cook them right away, can't remember if there is some sort of toxin that releases if you don't or bacteria just grows on it that quick after they die... someone might be able to shed some more light on this. I have never had success vac sealing them whole with the shell, too many pointy spots that poke holes in the bags- not worth the time and wasted plastic to get them to sit in there just right. Deshell them and vac. seal them and put them in the freezer, they usually last long enough until the next season [/quoteDead crabs do emit a toxin. I am not sure how long it takes or how harmful it is however. Definitely ruins the meat though.