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How can I Prepare Dungeness Crab?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: Jan 25, 2024
Views: 18,007
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Dungeness crab is in season in the Pacific Northwest from mid-November to June, and is eaten with delight in California, Oregon, and Washington, and shipped to other locales as well. The finest crab is caught between November and March, so try to get meat early in the season, if you can. The meat is rich, savory, and so delicious that many people enjoy eating Dungeness crab plain, although there are a variety of tasty preparations for it including salads, sandwiches, crabcakes, and seafood stews like cioppino.

The important thing to remember when cooking this type of crab is that the meat has an excellent and unique flavor which should not be overwhelmed by other ingredients; less really is more. Taste the meat plain before adding seasonings, and use a light hand to dress crab, allowing your guests to actually taste it. Preferably, crab should be cooked live, so clean it after it comes out of the boiler or steamer by splitting it down the middle and removing the center section, along with scraping away the gills on either side.

Steamed crab is one of the most basic preparations, along with boiled crab. In both cases, you want to start out with a live, healthy crab; for consumers too squeamish for this, Dungeness crab can be found precooked in many markets and along piers during crab season. Steaming is a great way to allow the delicate flavor of the crab to come through — steam the crab for approximately 15 minutes, or until it turns orange with cooking. For a unique flavor, you can steam crabs in white wine or sake. To boil crab, throw live crabs into heavily salted boiling water and cook for around 15 minutes. When boiling crab, you can also boil it with seasonings which will lightly flavor the meat. In both cases, immediately cool the crab with cold water or ice to stop it from cooking, keeping the meat moist and tender.

Once you have cooked the crab meat, you have an assortment of options for it. The most basic preparation is, of course, plain, but you can also serve the crab with heated garlic butter, aioli, sweet chili sauce, or another similar dipping sauce which brings out the great flavor of the meat. Dungeness crab can be eaten hot or cold, and many residents of the Pacific Northwest like to pack it into their lunchboxes for daytime snacking. Shredded Dungeness crab can be added to salads and sandwiches, or thrown into a pot of cioppino at the very end of the cooking process, so that the meat retains texture and flavor. It can also be used to make won tons, spring rolls, and other Asian fusion dishes.

One of the most popular preparations for Dungeness crab is crab cakes, which combine crab meat with bread crumbs and spices. Mildly flavored finely ground breadcrumbs such as panko crumbs are an excellent choice, and make sure not to use too much, as you want the crab cakes to taste like crab, not bread. Mix crab meat with breadcrumbs and add spices like green onions, dill, chives, celery, pepper, or Cajun spices for a Southern feel. Fry or grill the crabcakes and serve with a mild dipping sauce and lemon.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments
By anon132413 — On Dec 06, 2010

We "like to pack crab into our lunchboxes" as a snack? I've never heard that before, but maybe non-native Northwesterners do it, because those of us born here likely would not. Leftover crab would probably be inoffensive if it were well wrapped, kept in the fridge, and eaten while it was still well-chilled, but I'd use the leftovers for crabcakes, or crab salad to be consumed at home. Most co-workers would object to the odor, I can almost guarantee it.

By Babalaas — On Jun 29, 2010

If you enjoy rich and creamy dishes, you can make bisque or Newburg with Dungeness crabs. These dishes are simple and you can make them in about 15 to 20 minutes.

You can make crab bisque by mixing two parts fish stock to one part half-and-half for the base. Add shallots, a few tomatoes, and garlic sautéed in a tablespoon of butter to the soup base. The next step is to thicken the soup with a few tablespoons of roux. Finally, add the crab and a splash of dry sherry.

Newburg is just as simple, but recipes vary. Newburg can be served over biscuits, toast points, pilaf or any other starch of your choosing.

Dungeness crab is such a versatile food, and can be cooked a thousand different ways. My personal favorite is Dungeness steamed in white wine with shallots, dipped in clarified butter and garlic.

By parmnparsley — On Jun 29, 2010

Once you have cooked and cleaned your Dungeness crab you can roast the crab and serve it with grilled artichokes, cloves of roasted garlic, grilled bread, and butter.

Roasting Dungeness crabs is easy. Take your cracked and cleaned crabs and place them in a glass baking dish. Drizzle he crabs with generous amounts of butter. Next, add minced shallots and garlic, red pepper flakes, and a little bit of crab or lobster stock. Roast in a 450 degree oven until the stock evaporates, turning once (about 10 minutes).

While the crab is roasting, heat a cup of orange juice, a star anise, and a couple of tablespoons of sherry. Boil the mixture until reduced by half. Strain and drizzle the orange syrup over the roasted crab.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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