Smoked Crab

Getting ready for a great season. Wanted to put this out there. Has anyone smoked crab while in shell? I'm thinking after crab is cleaned, and legs lightly cracked to allow smoke to get to meat. Any thoughts?

Haven't tried smoking the crab, but serving fresh crab with smoked butter is the shiznit. I'm so ready for next month!

Creekside smokehouse in El Granada sells the smoked butter.

I bbq'ed a crab once because I was getting sick of steamed.  Best crab ever! 

I am going to try this. Hot smoke at ~175 for 30-40 minutes sound right?  Alder, maybe pecan?

I was thinking pecan, but Adler sounds right also. Having not tried this yet, I am guessing you are right in there with times and temp. Let's all report back with results until we perfec it. Should be good, and different!

When you say smoked, are you thinking a more traditional smoke (longer exposure to low heat and smoke) or are you thinking a quicker cook over hotter coals and wood chips ? I've tried both and find that the latter is the better way to go. A true smoke usually seems heavy and overwhelms the delicate flavor of the crab.

The choice of wood is key ... stick with subtler choices like fruit or alder. Peach is great if you can find it (compliment the crab's sweetness) but I usually go with an equal mix of apple and alder because they're easier to find.

I take the cleaned, halved, and lightly cracked crab and generously toss them in a melted butter, olive oil, garlic, and fresh parsley mix. Put the halves on a foil lined cookie sheet and place that right on the BBQ. I try to keep the coals on one side of the grill and place the cookie sheet as far to the opposite side as possible to keep the heat as indirect as possible. Make sure your chips are putting out a good flow of smoke and close the lid. Cook for about fifteen to twenty minutes, flipping them halfway through.

Dig in !

I've tried, but it is hard to keep the shell it. 

I've tried, but it is hard to keep the shell it. 

That's cause you're doing it wrong Scott.   

I bbq'ed a crab once because I was getting sick of steamed.  Best crab ever!

Agreed .

I've tried, but it is hard to keep the shell it. 

That's cause you're doing it wrong Scott.   

If I ever get a tattoo, it will be of a crab smoking a cigar.

Smoking crab... Now that's funny!

BBQing crab is f-ing awesome is done right; too much heat or cooking too long will dry the meat out and have it stick to the shell.

Having tried many different methods for q-ing crab, the best turn out was when I pre-soaked cleaned halved crabs in sea water before putting it on the grill. Then brushed it with garlic butter while turning it on the grill. Once the tips started char'ing (getting burned) it was done...

My kids claim this is the best way they like there crabs cook'd, but they have yet to turn down steam'd crab too; think they like it Q'd because it's halfway cleaned for them .

Agreed Glen.  I also think that BBQing the crab brings out a different flavor in the meat too.

I've tried, but it is hard to keep the shell it. 

That's cause you're doing it wrong Scott.   

Guess we are going to have to get together at Crabfest and you can show me how to do it right.