Have
you had your Dungeness crab fix yet this year? Dungeness crab is a West
Coast tradition that’s making its way across the country thanks to the
ease of buying fresh and live Dungeness crab through an online seafood market.
The taste Pacific crustaceans are easy to prepare, easy to cook and
deserve a place on your kitchen table. Here’s what you should know when
you buy Dungeness crab.
Dungeness Crab Season
The
Dungeness crab season is a long one, running from November through the
end of July in California this year, so you’ve still got plenty of time
to buy live Dungeness crab before the season runs out. And since crab
season got a late start further north this year, you’ll have even more
time to enjoy Dungeness from Oregon and Washington waters.
Sustainable Seafood
Multiple
watchdog groups have rated Dungeness crab as a best choice sustainable
seafood. They’re plentiful with no risk of depleting the crab
population. Since the crabs are caught in pots rather than by trawling,
there’s also little risk of catching up more delicate or endangered
species in the nets. The sustainable seafood rating means you can enjoy
your Dungeness crab guilt-free.
Where to Buy Dungeness Crab
If
you live in the San Francisco Bay area, you probably don’t need any
help finding Dungeness crabs to buy. Most local folks have their
favorite spots to buy live Dungeness crabs – the preference of most fans
of the taste shelled creatures. Sometimes, as the season winds down,
it’s harder to find live Dungeness, and you may have to settle for
cooked whole crabs or picked Dungeness meat.
If
you’re not lucky enough to live within easy driving distance of a fresh
fish market, look for an online seafood market with a physical location
on the bay or the docks for the freshest seafood possible. You can
usually buy just about any type of seafood online that’s typically in
stock, and have it shipped directly to your door.
How to Prepare Live Dungeness Crab
The
best way to cook live Dungeness crab is to boil them whole. Fill a big
pot with salted water and bring it to a boil. You can add spices or
seasoning to the water before adding the crabs, if you like – a lot of
folks swear by Old Bay seasonings, but others have favorite crab boil
spice mixes they prefer. When the water is at a rolling boil, drop the
crabs in one by one. Cover the pot and let it boil for about 15 minutes,
or until the crabs float. Wait about two minutes longer, then remove
the crabs from the water with a pair of tongs.
How Much Should I Buy?
Most
experts recommend figuring on two to three crabs per person. The
typical Dungeness weighs about 2 pounds, but you’ll only get about ½
pound of the buttery, creamy meat out of that.
Buy Dungeness crab for your next cookout, and chill a nice bottle of German Reisling, a Chardonnay or an edgy white California wine and enjoy.
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