Mate this is only a personal preference. Put em to sleep with the ice slurry, pull the back off, lift up the flap and jam your thumb in with your other fingers spread across the carapass(sic) once that is off, break the crab in half, pull all the feathers off then just put in a bucket of water, or if u r still onsite over the side of the boat and slouch it around to get all the guts out, make sure all that orange stuff is out, taints the flesh. from there u need to keep them cool until cooking.
I think BR65 is even more drunk now cause I never cook mine more than 12 mins, that is once the water is back to the boil after dropping them in.
Soon as u pull them out u need to get them into ice water to stop the cooking process.
Whow, that was an effort.
Pete
"Don't look back, something might be gaining on you" - Satchel Paige
You should also find that these making dark tides up to the new moon are the pick of the tides in the cycle for full crabs.
Rob
HI THERE, a couple of years back I purchased a crab cooker while holidaying in SA. It was made by a local and consists of a large plastic bucket with lid.A hole was cut in the side just above the bottom and a large electric element inserted and the hole sealed.A wire basket is shaped to fit inside and hold the crabs above the element.
To cook, the element is covered by a couple of cm of fresh water and brought to the boil.
The crabs are placed on their backs in the basket and then into the container.Sit the lid on top - not tightly or you may have an explosion when the pressure builds up.
I cook sand crabs for about 15 min - muddies would take longer. Place straight into ice slurry after removing from cooker
You can steam a dozen or more at a time,depending on size, in a fraction of the time it takes to boil them as only a small amount of water is brought to the boil and there is no waiting for it to come back to the boil after the crabs go in.
I clean mine after cooking - the flavour is stronger
ps dont put the lid back on after the crabs are removed and the cooker is turned off.As the steam condenses the cooker will be crushed by air pressure ( I know from experience.I blew mine back to shape by boiling with the lid on)
If you can get hold of a large stainless urn like found in offices all you need is to make a wire basket to fit.
Cheers Mick.
pps I will try to take a couple of photos .
aspire to inspire before you expire
Hi there, hope this makes it clear
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http://s722.photobucket.com/albums/w...rrent=0142.jpg
I think I may have stuffed this up but will send it anyway.
Some of the results
aspire to inspire before you expire
Interesting cooker Mick. Plastic never struck me as a good thing to cook em in hey.
Steve
Finally got one