How to Eat a Maryland Steamed Crab

Ever have steamed crabs and you don’t know how to eat them? I believe that every child on the East Coast is taught to eat a steamed crab at an early age. Do not be intimidated by that crab, the meat inside is beckoning you.

Things You'll Need

• Steamed Crabs, butter knife, crab mallet, paper towels, paper for the table

Instructions

Enjoy a Maryland Steamed Crab

1. No forks, no frills, just a butter knife, or crab mallet is all you need. Remember to have plenty of paper towels ready to use and newspaper to line the table to throw away the crab shells.

2. Place the steamed crabs on the middle of the table, pick the one that you want.

3. Start with the legs, pull them off and put them on the side you will be able to get the meat out of them after you have finished your crab.

4. Take the crab and turn it over so that its belly is facing you, remove the apron, insert the tip of your knife or after you have the hang of it your fingers will do just fine, pull it up and back and the top shell will come off.

5. Remove the gills, you will see these as soon as the shell is removed, just take the knife and push it out of the way.

6. Break it down the center so that there are two halves, the crab meat is there waiting for you to eat.

7. Go back to the claws, use your crab mallet or butter knife to break open the shell, hit the shell close to where the pinchers are and pull back the meat will just slide out and you can enjoy.

8. Clean up after you have finished, just roll up the paper that you placed on the table put it in a trash bag and throw it away.

Tips & Warnings

• Your fingers will get dirty, but it well worth the trouble

• Do not eat the gills, throw them away