Charcoal Grilled Maryland Crabs

Ingredients

Typically Chesapeake bay blue crabs are steamed or boiled in a mixture of vinegar, water and Old Bay seasoning. Through much experimentation we have discovered a super simple innovative way to charcoal grill these delicious crabs that adds a wonderful smoky flavor.

• The key to cooking these crabs is to have a very hot charcoal fire. You may add soaked wood chips if you desire a more smoky flavor.
• This recipe was tested using a weber kettle grill. When building the fire offset the coals to one side of the grill and then add an aluminum pan in the section without the coals. This pan will catch any crab juices.
• Once the coals are grey and very hot add the live crabs on the  grill grate in the section that is over the aluminum pan.
• The crabs will be jumping around but don’t worry about that. Sprinkle the crabs liberally with old bay seasoning and place the cover on the grill.
• It will take about 15 minutes to cook the crabs. They will be done when they are bright red.
• Remove from grill and serve.

Note: This recipe may be doubled or tripled as long as you have enough room under the grill top.