Do crabs stay alive overnight?

[Tombass123]

Hi,
Supposed to get a bushel for a small family reunion on sunday afternoon... but I don't want to take any chances with not getting enough. I plan on going saturday on the magothy and if I don't get catch a bushel then go sunday morning to get enough. Does anyone know if whether crabs kept in a cooler with ice will stay alive for steaming if left an afternoon and a night in a cooler?

I'd leave the plug out to drain and check every so often to refill ice too.

Does anyone know if this will work? or will i just have a bunch of cold dead crabs?

I always steam mine immediately after catching so I'm not experienced in keeping crabs... any suggestions?
THANKS

[night nurse]

Just keep them in the fridge and you'll never have a problem

TED

[Steve F]

I have kept crabs overnight in a cooler with ice on them but I ways make sure the water drains out. I also have a wire grate about 3” off the bottom of the cooler that keeps the crabs out of any water that doesn’t drain out. I also keep the lid crack open a little for air to get in.

[BigTim320]

As mentioned below, keeping them cool is the key.......but they also have to have air as Steve said. Growing up, pops always put our Saturday catch of 1-2 bushels in a refrigerator we had in the carport. No problem with lack of air in a working fridge. We would steam them up on Sunday after getting back from church. We rarely lost any crabs. If you use a fridge overnight, keep in mind that they will be VERY lethargic acting.....which is quite normal after spending the night there.

Tim

[27 sailfish]

Crabs are right tough critters.
I had one about 6 inches get loose in the boat - unseen by me.
Three days later - he was still very much alive - hiding in the corner near a scupper.
The boat is kept in a garage out of the sun but still subject to high temps.

Kept cool and damp in the shade - wet towel over the basket ( best to use river water - tap contains chlorine ) - you should not have too much die off.
No matter what - seems 3-4 die in every bushel.- often the ones with a pinkish tinge spot on the shell.

[Stumpknocker]

Three weeks ago I caught 3/4 bushel. I put the basket in the fridge in my garage. Well I guess I didnt shut the door, because the next dau around noon I went out to check on them and I saw the door open. Only about 2 dozen were in the basket and the rest were in every little dark spot of the garage. I put on some gloves and rooted around until I found them all. Only 6 crabs died and the rest were fine and angry!! This was during a very hot weekend, and I was surprised they made it.

[BowMovements]

No crabs stay alive overnight If i have anything to say about it ;-)

[BowMovements]

It's better not to shut the door. If you do they will suffocate. crabs need oxygen, dampness, and a cool temp. 45 - 55 or so.

[crabby and son]

Three weeks ago I caught 3/4 bushel. I put the basket in the fridge in my garage. Well I guess I didnt shut the door, because the next dau around noon I went out to check on them and I saw the door open. Only about 2 dozen were in the basket and the rest were in every little dark spot of the garage. I put on some gloves and rooted around until I found them all. Only 6 crabs died and the rest were fine and angry!! This was during a very hot weekend, and I was surprised they made it.

Funny! You better hope you found all of the escapees. They really ripe after they are dead in a hot garage...........Gary

[BowMovements]

Sounds like you speak from experience Gary. :-)

[slacktide]

Refrigerated, crabs last quite a few days... Crabs come from Louisanna and Texas on trucks to Crab Houses on a regular basis... commercial crabbers catch often take days before they are steamed and sold in Baltimore... keep em moist and cool, and they will last