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A Steamed Crabs Favorite...

Chesapeake Bay Blue CrabsMaryland Blue Crab Sex
How to tell the boys from the girls.

STEAMING and EATING CRABS: Live and Steamed Crabs are usually "priced" according to their sex and their size. The large males bring the highest prices because they (usually) contain a larger quantity of crab meat. Females are uasually priced lower than males and are not (usually) as readily available as are the males.


Female Crabs: A mature (adult) female blue crab, known as a "Sook," is identified with an inverted "U" or bell-shaped apron and red-tipped claws. The red tips, of course, blend in with the overall color of the crab once it has been cooked, or steamed.

Female Blue Crab

More simply, the bottom of a female crab has a shape like the U.S. Capitol building.


Male Crabs: A male blue crab, known as a "Jimmy," has a long, narrow, inverted "T" shaped apron and blue-tipped claws. Of course the color of the claw tips on steamed crabs are not the same as on live crabs.

Male Blue Crab

More simply, the bottom of a male crab has a shape like the Washington Monument.

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