Recipe: Maryland Style Steamed Shrimp

Do-It-Yourself has never tasted so good as with this quick and easy recipe for steaming shrimp – in the Maryland “style” of course – often called “Old Bay Shrimp.” Here’s what it takes…

Ingredients:

SouthBmore Shrimp on a Plate
Steamed Shrimp Ready to Serve
  • 1 pound raw shrimp (the shell can be on or off)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup beer (Don’t use an expensive brand. A simple Budweiser will do.)
  • 3 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning

Directions:

  1. Combine water, beer, and Old Bay Seasoning in a large pot and bring it to a boil.
  2. Place a steaming rack in the pot over the water and add the Shrimp. If you would like your shrimp to be a bit spicier you will want alternate layers of shrimp and sprinkling Old Bay Seasoning to taste.
  3. Cover and steam for 2 to 3 minutes until they are done. You will know they are done when they have turned pink.

Variations:

  • You may wish to use ½ cup of water instead of beer.
  • Some people like to add a couple of celery stalks chopped into large pieces to the pot. If you choose to do this, add the celery when you add the water, beer, and Old Bay Seasoning.

Recipe: Steamed Maryland Blue Carbs

Do-It-Yourself has never tasted so good as with this easy recipe for steamed crabs. So, you want to know how to cook crabs? Here’s what it takes…

Ingredients:

Steamed Crabs with Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 dozen Maryland Blue Crabs
  • 1 cup beer (Don’t use an expensive brand. A simple Budweiser will do.)
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1/4 cups Old Bay Seasoning (or more if you like them spicy!)
  • MORE Old Bay Seasoning!

Directions:

  1. In a large pot, stir together the beer, white vinegar, and Old Bay seasoning.
  2. Place a steaming rack in the pot making sure that the steaming rack is above the liquid.
  3. Bring the liquid to a boil then place Maryland Blue Crabs in the pot on the steaming rack.
  4. Sprinkle your desired amount of Old Bay on top of the Maryland Blue Crabs.
  5. Cover and steam until they are done, approximately 20 minutes (for large crabs). You will be able to tell if they are done because they will be bright orange in color instead of blue/green.

Variations:

  • You may wish to use 1 cup of water in place of the cup of beer. However, true Marylanders use the beer.

Tips:

  • The best way to eat Maryland Steamed Blue Crabs in to expect to get messy! Lay down some newspaper or brown craft paper, get out some knives and mallets (used in helping to open the crabs and to get the meat out, and enjoy!
  • Wait until the crabs have just started to cool down to a comfortable temperature for touching them and that is the time when you will have your best shot at pulling big chunks of crab meat out when you pull the legs off.
  • You may choose to serve Maryland Crabs with little cups of melted butter or extra Old Bay Seasoning for dipping.
  • Marylanders love to have their steamed crabs with fried chicken and corn on the cob on the side.

Maryland Steamed Crabs

A Baltimore and Blue Crab Favorite…

Maryland Steamed Crabs and Cold Beer certainly go together and there’s no better place to find this great combination than at a “local” South Baltimore crab house such as L. P. Steamers Crab House on Fort Avenue in SOBO’s Locust Point. That’s a fine go-to place when you get the urge for some good-eatin’ seafood from the local waters of the Chesapeake Bay – Blue Crabs in particular. The fun and relaxing atmosphere of a locally owned and managed crab house are filled with an ambiance and friendly spirit that combine to make your crab-picking a pleasure.

However, if you would like to enjoy dining at home – having your own “crab feast” or just a hot bowl of Maryland crab soup – be sure to check out the Recipe Collection – Click HERE.

Baltimore Maryland Steamed Crabs
Baltimore, Maryland Steamed Crabs

What else is here about Steamed Crabs in SouthBmore and surroundings?

A Baltimore Crab House is the place to be for that authentic crab-picking experience – not at a chain restaurant “claiming” Maryland Crab…
…but if you cannot get there you do have alternatives…like having crabs and crab cakes delivered to your door. Give it a try – order something today.


NOW SHIPPING STEAMED CRABS. Steamed just for you and shipped in a “cold pack” from The Crab Place in Crisfield, Maryland – the Crab Capital of the World – directly to your door.


Most crab houses are open seven days a week (some are closed on Sundays so call ahead to check) and some (but not all) have crabs all year ’round. They also have a variety of cold beverages and a lot of other seafood and non-seafood choices to fulfill everyone’s appetite. Be sure to visit the page on Picking Crabs and the representative, or sample, Menu Page to see what we get to choose from and enjoy when we “go out for crabs.”