How to Cook Dungeness Crab

Freshly caught Dungeness Crab

When in the Puget Sound area in the summer, you’re going to hear lots about crabbing. I’m pretty sure that the question, “are you going crabbing?” is a local greeting that everyone uses. Just like talking about the weather, or asking, “how’s the family?” It’s just friendly a way to greet people and start a conversation.

Freshly cleaned Dungeness Crab waiting to be cooked

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If you’d rather skip my helpful tips, tricks, essential cooking information, and delicious similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this recipe – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card. It’s right there with a pretty bright yellow background.

If you have any questions about how to make this recipe, or if you try it, please come back and leave a comment below letting us know how it goes.

Since I’ve learned quite a bit about Dungeness Crab, I thought I’d share how to cook it. Thus, How to Cook Dungeness Crab

Now, if you want to catch it, here are some great guides from the state of Washington: How to Harvest (catch) crab; How to Clean Crab; and Crab Identification and Biology (which I found to be really interesting!).

I won’t go into detail on cleaning crab, but I will say that I prefer the “clean it, then cook” it method. I feel that this is a better way to enjoy it, and a more humane way to treat the crab.

Now, if you don’t want to catch Dungeness Crab, you can find them at well-stocked fish markets. So, whether you catch it or buy it, here’s my guide to How to Cook Dungeness Crab. With special thanks to Ken, Barb, and Matt for sharing their techniques, time, and letting me take pictures of the crab.

In the recipe I suggest using sea water. If this bothers you, or you don’t have access to it, use about ¼ cup of salt per gallon of fresh water.

I like the unusual ingredient in this recipe. The fennel. The fennel makes the crab meat white and a bit firmer, but doesn’t really add any noticeable flavor. Since I’m not a big fan of the flavor of fennel, I was a little worried about it the first time I ate it, but now I’m a fennel believer.

How to Cook Dungeness Crab -- add fennel to the cooking liquid to get whiter & firmer crab meat

Cut the green ends off the fennel bulb (thanks Barb, for being my hand model!)

Slice the fennel

How to Cook Dungeness Crab -- add the sliced fennel to the cooking liquid

Drop the sliced fennel into the pot, and bring the water to a boil

The cooking set up, outside

Drop the cleaned crab into the boiling water

If the water starts to boil over, as this is starting to, turn the heat down a bit

You’ll want a crab cracker and some crab forks to help get all the crab meat out of the shell. You can make lots of different dishes with the cooked crab meat. I’ve collected a bunch of different recipes I for you below the recipe card.

You can make lots of different dishes with the cooked crab meat:

Make cooked crab into Crab Cakes (follow this recipe substituting crab for tuna)

How To Cook Dungeness Crab -- crab cakes

Crab cakes served with avocado slices!

Seafood Chowder (follow this recipe either adding the crab along with the tuna or substituting crab for tuna)

Crab Imperial Appetizers

Hot Crab Dip from Serena Bakes Simply from Scratch (which is delicious! I’ve made it multiple times!)

Crab Sushi

Crab Cake Sandwiches

Crab & Shrimp Enchiladas

Crab mac & cheese from Will Cook for Smiles

Seafood gnocchi from Brown Sugar Mama (which I can’t wait to try!)

Seafood Shepherd’s Pie (just add the crab into the mixture)

Crab Rangoon from Spend with Pennies

Crab Alfredo from food.com