Cooking fresh dungy crab

[Stein]

I chuck them in whole, boiling saltwater, 13 minutes and out into icewater.  If it's not broke, don't fix it.  My boiler is awful rusty though, boiling saltwater must be the most corrosive thing around.  The biggest thing is to not overcook, like anything else worth eating.

[NRA4LIFE]

Ditto.  I go 12 minutes after the water comes to a boil.  Used to use 8-2 water,  but now use fresh and some salt. Old bay and you've ruined them. Sorry.  That stuff tastes terrible to me.

[swanderek]

So does the ice water plunge  help them not stick to the shell?
I cook mine live and fresh, I don’t over cook. But I noticed at times I get the sticking to the shell.
I usually just go boiling pot to fridge in a bowl

[Westside88]

I was told by someone who usually knows, one handful of rock
Salt per gallon of water.  The crabs I’ve cooked were darn tasty and we did em whole. My Dad’s been doing them with my uncle by busting them in half
and cleaning them before cooking. Also very good

[dilleytech]

I was told by someone who usually knows, one handful of rock
Salt per gallon of water.  The crabs I’ve cooked were darn tasty and we did em whole. My Dad’s been doing them with my uncle by busting them in half
and cleaning them before cooking. Also very good

When cooking whole I think anything you put in the water is basically moot. Since it’s not penetrating the shell. Cleaned halves are where the proper salt content is important.

[rodell]

I steam rather than boil. Beer, vinegar, old bay or a crab boil mix. Steam them for 15 minutes (cleaned first).

I haven’t thrown them in an ice bath, I may give that a whirl.

[Wingin it]

I boil them in sea water with old bay seasoning or Zatarains if I want to get more spice into it. Usually use the Zatarains if I throw in other seafood, corn, and potatoes. Get the water boiling hot and throw crab in and cook for 10-12 minutes.

[Special T]

I cook most of my crabs on the beach or deck anymore so its whole crabs and saltwater. HOWEVER i have tossed a ring pot or 2 when at depot bay in Oregon, and when we do that and get some, I clean them first toss in halves with rock salt when cooking in the house.  I prefer the crab cooker on the beach or beach fire, but cleaning  makes it so it doesn't stink as bad inside the condo or house.

[ASHQUACK]

So does the ice water plunge  help them not stick to the shell?
I cook mine live and fresh, I don’t over cook. But I noticed at times I get the sticking to the shell.
I usually just go boiling pot to fridge in a bowl

I think it has to do more with over cooking them.

[whtbck]

boil them and cool them in the water they live in,we clean ours before cooking.

[Angry Perch]

I steam rather than boil. Beer, vinegar, old bay or a crab boil mix. Steam them for 15 minutes (cleaned first).

I haven’t thrown them in an ice bath, I may give that a whirl.

This is exactly what we've been doing. A tamale pot works great.

[Stein]

Ice bath is key to keep them from overcooking as well as not having to wait or deal with burned fingers.