The West's best seafood

Our guide to healthy, sustainable choices from the West's amazing bounty

Dungeness crab 101

If you’ve never cooked live crabs, it can seem a little intimidating. But our paper-bag method for getting the critters in the water helps things go smoothly

 

dungeness 101 tongs
Alex Farnum

How to cook

1. Keep live crabs chilled up to 12 hours. Fill a large pot with enough water to cover crabs by 2 to 3 in., leaving 3 to 4 in. clearance below pot rim; bring to a boil.

2. Gently unwrap crabs into a sturdy paper bag (cut off any handles first), putting in no more than 2 at a time. If crabs are loose in a box, use tongs to lift from the rear between legs and put in bag.


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