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The Best Places to Buy Fresh Blue Crabs Online and In-Store

As a Maryland native, enjoying juicy, freshly-steamed blue crabs is one of my favorite summer traditions The sweet, succulent meat picked straight from the shell and dipped in molten butter is sheer bliss But finding high-quality blue crabs isn’t always easy, especially if you don’t live near the Chesapeake Bay.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share the best places to buy fresh blue crabs, whether you want them shipped right to your door or pick them up in-store. I’ve also included tips on identifying the best crabs, how to store them, and how to cook these delicious crustaceans once you get your hands on them. Let’s get ready for a fantastic blue crab feast!

Where to Buy Blue Crabs Online

Purchasing live or steamed Maryland blue crabs online is the most convenient option for enjoying them anywhere in the country. Here are my top recommended sources that overnight ship fresh crabs nationwide:

Crab Dynasty
Crab Dynasty has been praised for their incredibly fresh, high-quality live blue crabs shipped fast. Their crabs arrive lively and active thanks to excellent packing and overnight shipping. Choose from male and female crabs in sizes from standard to colossal. Live crabs are priced very competitively starting at $48.74 per dozen. Get free shipping on orders over $200.

Cameron’s Seafood
For over 30 years, Cameron’s has been hand-selecting plump Maryland blue crabs daily and shipping them nationwide. You can order live crabs or have them steamed first. They have a great selection of sizes from Premium Large to Colossal Jumbo. Steamed crabs start at $59.99 per dozen and live at $74.99 per dozen.

Prestige Crabs
This company specializes in harvesting pristine crabs from Tangier Island waters in the Chesapeake Bay. They offer premium live crabs as well as Maryland crab cakes, soft shells, and picked meat. Live male and female crabs start at $79 per dozen.

Lukka’s Crab House
Lukka’s crabs are caught daily in the Chesapeake Bay for the freshest quality. Choose from live or steamed #1, #2, or female crabs. Live crabs are competitively priced starting at $70 per dozen. Get FREE shipping on orders over $150.

Chesapeake Bay Crabs
For 35 years, this family-owned business has been hand-picking and steaming Maryland crabs to deliver the true blue crab experience across America. You’ll find an amazing selection of live and steamed crabs fromJimmy (#1) to female Sooks. Live crab prices start at just $60 per dozen with regular promotions.

Maryland Crabs Delivered
This company specializes exclusively in live crab delivery. Their crabs are caught fresh daily in Maryland waters and carefully packed to survive the journey. Live male and female crabs start at $50 per dozen for large crabs. Expect good prices and knowledgeable service.

The Crab Place
Known for their impressively large sizing, The Crab Place offers farm-raised premium live crabs from Texas and Louisiana. Live male crabs are affordably priced from $50 per dozen. You can choose next-day or 2-day shipping.

Linton’s Seafood
Founded in 1954, Linton’s has been providing Maryland crabs across the country for generations. Their crabs are wild-caught in the Bay. Choose from perfectly steamed or premium live blue crabs packed expertly for shipping. Starting prices range from $59.99 to $69.99 per dozen.

Online buying tips:

  • Order early, crabs sell out quickly in peak season
  • Live shipping varies by location, check estimated delivery date before ordering
  • Steamed crabs have a longer shelf life, while live crabs taste most fresh

Where to Buy Fresh Blue Crabs In-Store

If you live closer to blue crab territory, you also have the option of picking up fresh crabs from local seafood markets and restaurants. Here are the best places to buy blue crabs in-store:

In Maryland and Virginia:

  • Cameron’s Seafood – pick up fresh live/steamed crabs from their shop in Capitol Heights, MD
  • Jimmy Cantler’s Riverside Inn – a local favorite for cooked crabs in Annapolis
  • Harris Crab House – an iconic crab shack in Grasonville, MD
  • The Crab Claw – a top spot for steamed crabs in St. Michael’s, MD
  • Graham & Rollins – this Hampton, VA market has live and steamed crabs

In Delaware:

  • Henlopen City Oyster House – great for cooked blue crabs in Rehoboth Beach
  • High Tides Crab Shack – causal spot for steamed crabs in Bethany Beach

In New Jersey:

  • The Crab Shack – lauded for steamed whole crabs in Cape May
  • Ravioli House – buy live crabs at their seafood market in Atlantic City

Beyond the Bay:

  • New Orleans Fish House – live and cooked Louisiana blue crabs in Dallas, TX
  • Quality Seafood – renowned for Maryland crabs in DC, VA, MD locations
  • Blue Crab Seafood – live Gulf and Chesapeake crabs in Houston, TX
  • Lobster ME – next-day shipped Maine crabs nationwide

No matter where you buy blue crabs, inspect them closely before purchasing or cooking. Choose crabs that are lively, heavy for their size, and without unpleasant odors. Now let’s get into the details on how to pick quality crabs and prep them.

Shopping for the Best Blue Crabs

While all blue crabs share the characteristic brilliant blue hues on their claws, there are a few key distinguishing features to look for in determining quality:

Sizes – Blue crabs range from 4 inches on up. The largest sizes are the most coveted for their generous meat content.
#1 Jimmy Male – 5.5 to 6.5 inches – Most desirable, meaty
#2 Male – 5 to 5.5 inches
Female Sooks – 5 to 6 inches

Shell Texture – After molting, a crab’s shell will be soft until it hardens again over 1-2 weeks. Choose hard-shell versus recently molted soft-shell crabs for peak flavor.

Appearance – Select crabs that are robust and heavy for their size. They should be free of spots, unpleasant odors, and caked mud or debris. Live crabs will be active when handled versus sluggish or lifeless.

Once you’ve selected prime specimens, proper storage and preparation are key. Here’s how to handle blue crabs for maximum enjoyment:

Storing Blue Crabs

Live crabs:

  • Keep live crabs cool at around 40°F, but not directly on ice which can be too cold and kill them.
  • Place them in a bushel or large cooler, layering with a moist towel but not immersed in water.
  • Give them plenty of air circulation.
  • Keep them in the shade outdoors or a dark pantry indoors.
  • Cook live blue crabs within 1-2 days for best flavor.

Cooked crabs:

  • Eat steamed blue crabs immediately for ultimate taste.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 2 days. Pick out the meat into an airtight container.
  • If freezing cooked crab meat, consume within 3 months for ideal quality.

Cooking Fresh Blue Crabs

Now for the best part – digging into gorgeously cooked blue crabs! Here are a few key tips for preparing them to perfection:

  • Steam crabs for 20-30 minutes in a large pot with about 2 inches of water and seafood seasoning. Use a propane cooker outdoors for large batches.

  • Check for a bright orange shell color and remove promptly when done to prevent overcooking.

  • Serve warm with melted butter, Old Bay seasoning, lemon wedges, and plenty of napkins or paper.

  • Use wooden mallets to gently crack the shell and pick out sweet chunks of meat with your hands or small forks.

  • Try dipping the tasty meat in drawn butter, vinegar, mustard, or cocktail sauce.

  • Don’t forget to scoop out the prized yellow crab mustard and lump backfin meat.

FAQs on Buying Blue Crabs:

Where can I buy Maryland blue crabs online?
Top online retailers like Crab Dynasty, Cameron’s Seafood, and Linton’s Seafood overnight ship fresh live and steamed blue crabs.

What’s the best place to buy fresh crabs in Maryland?
Iconic local crab houses like Jimmy Cantler’s Riverside Inn, Harris Crab House, and The Crab Claw in Maryland serve cooked blue

where to buy blue crab

Regular price $495

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Buying LIVE & Steamed Maryland Crabs Online (What You Need to Know) – The Wolfe Pit

FAQ

What month is best to buy blue crab?

While summer is the most well known season for crab feasts and enjoying special times with family and friends, The fall months of September, October and November are traditionally the best time of year to get the largest and heaviest Maryland blue crabs at the best prices.

Are blue crabs worth money?

Last summer’s prices peaked at $60 for a pound of jumbo lump meat and $100 for a dozen medium hard shells. And experts expect higher prices this summer. Maryland crabber C.J. Canby on his boat, the Miss Paula, on the first day of crabbing season in 2022.

Is blue crab better than Dungeness Crab?

Taste is subjective, but blue crab is generally regarded as sweeter and Dungeness a little more salty. Both are favorites for eating simply seasoned and steamed, off a table covered with paper, using mallets and crackers to extract the meat before dipping it in drawn butter.

How are blue crabs sold?

Hard-shell crabs are sold live or steamed to restaurants and seafood markets. They are also sold to picking houses, where the delicate meat is extracted from the shell, usually by hand. Picked crab meat is available fresh or pasteurized. Live blue crabs should have some leg movement when purchased.

Which blue crabs taste the best?

Which Blue Crab tastes better: female or male? Many believe that the female crab’s meat boasts denser, sweeter flavor, but agree that the amount of meat differs. Point-to-point comparison weighs the male crab at heavier, but flakier meat.

What states official food is blue crab?

Blue crabs are the most valuable fishery in the Chesapeake Bay. They are also major predators of benthic communities and are prey for many other fish species. Blue crabs are so treasured in the region that the blue crab is the Maryland state crustacean.

Where can I buy Maryland blue crabs?

Buy Maryland blue crabs for sale through our online store or give us a call at 888-404-7454 and we’ll be glad to take a phone order. Displaced Marylanders can get the little taste of home they’ve been longing for and seafood lovers nationwide can finally experience what many consider to be the best crabs in the world!

Where can I buy colossal blue crab?

Richard P, Seattle, WA Our Colossal Blue Crabs are 6-1/4″+ from tip to tip with sweet, buttery flavor. Order these Maryland style crabs from Chesapeake Bay today at Cameron’s Seafood.

Should I order blue crabs steamed before shipping?

We strongly recommend ordering your blue crabs steamed prior to shipment instead of getting them live. When you buy live Maryland crabs online, dead loss is expected and we can not refund any money for dead loss. Normal mortality rates can be in excess of 15% or up to the entire order.

Does blue crab Ranch have crab mallets?

Get our Blue Crab Ranch crab mallets free with every order! Famous Maryland steamed crabs deliver right to your door, Fresh! Blue Crab Ranch offers high quality live and Maryland Style Steamed Blue Crabs delivered nationwide in 1-2 days. Get fresh live or steamed Blue Crabs and other seafood delivered right to your door.

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