PM Update: Scattered showers and thunderstorms through the early evening. Much cooler on Monday. You may have to dodge some raindrops through about 8 tonight. A cold front moves through tomorrow morning and ushers in much more seasonable weather.
Only cook live crabs, because they deteriorate very quickly after they have expired. You can simply throw the crabs in a pot of boiling water to cook them. Depending on the size of the crabs, it will take between 6 and 10 minutes for them to cook thoroughly. If the crab is alive when you start, the amount of cooking time has very little to do with safety  it s more a question of whether the meat is underdone, overdone, or cooked just right.
Steaming live crab. 1  In a large pot or steamer pour 1 cup of vinegar, 2 cups of beer or water and 2 tablespoons of salt, so that you have 3 - 4 inches of liquid. 2  Bring the liquid to a rapid boil. 3  As the liquid is heating up, place the live crabs into the freezer or into a large bowl of ice water for about 3 minutes. In a large pot or steamer pour 1 cup of vinegar, 2 cups of beer or water and 2 tablespoons of salt, so that you have 3 - 4 inches of liquid. 2  Bring the liquid to a rapid boil. 3  As the liquid is heating up, place the live crabs into the freezer or into a large bowl of ice water for about 3 minutes.