Frequently Asked Questions

Ask a Marylander how to eat crabs and you are sure to get a variety of answers. Step-by-step instructions are included with every crab order, and you can also read our guide to eating Maryland blue crabs or watch our how-to videos.

Our hard-shell crabs are steamed to order on the day they ship and packed cold for delivery. Dry ice used on some routes can partially or fully freeze crabs in transit without changing the product that was prepared.

We do not recommend freezing steamed hard shell blue crabs, because the meat becomes tough and chewy. If necessary, pick the crabs first and freeze only the fresh crab meat.

Keep them refrigerated and eat your crabs within 2 to 3 days.

Our traditional crab seasoning is a proprietary blend of spices with a flavor similar to JO Spice or Old Bay.

Our Harbour House Crabs blend follows the traditional Chesapeake flavor, while Baltimore's famous Obrycki's seasoning leans on black pepper. Both are well known in the crab world, and both have loyal fans.

Yes, we have blue crabs available year-round. Maryland crab season runs from early April into late November and December. In the other months, when crabs are not available from the Chesapeake Bay, we source blue crabs from the Carolinas or Louisiana. They are steamed to order on the day they ship and packed cold for delivery; dry ice used on some routes can partially or fully freeze them in transit.

Maryland crab season typically runs from April 1 into late November and early December. Outside that window, or when Chesapeake crabs are not yet available, we source blue crabs from the Carolinas or Louisiana.

Summer is the best-known season for crab feasts, but September, October and November are traditionally when Maryland blue crabs are at their largest and heaviest.

Male blue crabs, called jimmies, have a long, thin apron on the underside of the shell shaped like the Washington Monument, and blue-tipped claws. Mature females, called sooks, have a wide, rounded apron and red-tipped claws.

Female crabs are traditionally lighter, with less meat than a male crab of the same size.

Hard shells and soft shells are the same blue crab at different stages of its life cycle. For a short time after a crab molts, its whole body is soft; before long it grows a new shell, so there is a limited window to enjoy that delicate, tender meat. Hard shell crabs are typically enjoyed steamed, while soft shells are usually battered and fried. Read more in our hard shell vs. soft shell guide.

No, we do not sell live crabs at this time.

Maryland blue crabs are measured point to point across the shell. We offer five size classes online, from #2 males at 5–5½ in up to our popular 7+ in heavyweights.

It depends on the size of the crabs. We sell full and half bushels in small, medium and large: a full bushel holds about 7 dozen small, 6 dozen medium or 5 dozen large crabs. Our bushel guide covers counts, servings and sizing in detail.

Yield varies with crab size, how full the shell is and picking technique. For meal planning, use the stated crab grade and count instead of assuming a fixed meat weight per crab.

Plan for 6 to 8 crabs per person on average, and more for heavy eaters. Appetites vary with experience and with how much other food is on the table.

Unless the product description says so, crab paper and mallets are not included and can be purchased separately. You can find these and other popular extras in our accessories section.

Every blue crab and perishable seafood order is sealed inside an insulated foam cooler and placed in a sturdy outer box. Depending on the products, destination, transit time and season, we use a mix of gel ice packs and dry ice so your package arrives fresh, and we pack orders to last extra days in transit in case of a shipping delay.

If you live in or are visiting Maryland during crab season, steamed blue crabs are everywhere: restaurants, crab shacks, food trucks and more. Outside the area, grocery-store crabs are generally lower quality and less fresh. For most people, the best option is to order online and have steamed-to-order Maryland blue crabs shipped straight to your door anywhere in the USA.