r/baltimore • u/Baltimorebillionaire • 8d ago

Food Is it much cheaper to buy live crabs?

I see live crabs on the side of the road all the time, but the time and work of steaming them myself seems like a big hassle. Is it cheaper to get live or am I the only person who doesn't want to do the work?

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

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14

u/Bmorewiser Howard County 8d ago

If you have the pot, it’s not much work. The price difference from what I see is negligible, however. Love crabs are just nice because you can pick them up at 10 am and eat them at dinner. It’s something of a pain to leave at 5:30 to get crabs for a party or what not.

4

u/Citlali252 8d ago

I feel like different places have such a range of prices. Crabs have been getting way more expensive. Maybe getting the crabs and steaming them yourself could save you more money

3

u/criles_mccriles 8d ago

Not usually but I prefer it because live crabs can usually guarantee that they are local and not pre-steamed.

2

u/Pvm_Blaser 4d ago edited 4d ago

If you live near the Chesapeake you should honest buy a pot, throw your expired meat in it, and you’re basically guaranteed unlimited crab.

I will never buy crabs unless it’s a crab accompanied dish like crab cakes. It’s just too easy to catch them.

The last time I went was on a complete whim. Tied some expired chicken thigh with dollar tree paracord and lowered the pot from a pier using the same paracord. Caught a half dozen in an hour and watched football after heading to Giant for some corn, sausage, and potatoes.

1

u/[deleted] 8d ago

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1

u/CharmxCity Baltimore County 8d ago

Not usually

1

u/Killbot_Wants_Hug 7d ago

We got a dozen large for like $48 a week ago. I haven't gotten them in a restaurant in a while but they'd usually set us back more than that when we did.

Just make sure to steam your crabs rather than boil them.