Go crabbing. Get your fishing license and set out some crab traps! Buy a fresh crab. Your local farmers’ market might have a fresh crab stand. Seafood shops, yuppie grocers, and Asian grocery stores may also carry fresh crab.
Start your timer when the water starts to boil. Base your number of minutes on the average crab weight, not the sum total of the crab you will be cooking. Round times down whenever necessary; undercooked crabs can always be cooked further, while overcooked rubbery crab is inedible. Add some seasonings to your water when using the boiling method. Add salt, a bay leaf, some celery chunks, a carrot, some pepper corns, and any other whole spices you’ve got on hand. Pre-mixed crab boil seasonings are available, but not necessary.
