| Crab cakes are a popular dish along many of the | | | | crab meat generally comes packaged in a tub. If you |
| coastal areas in the United States. This is, of course, | | | | can find it, this is the type of crab meat you will |
| in part because crab is easily available in these | | | | want to use. If you are unable to find tubs of lump |
| regions. Although people from most of the coastal | | | | crab meat, canned crab meat will work for most |
| regions of the United States enjoy eating crab cakes, | | | | recipes. Often this crab meat will already be cooked, |
| crab cake recipes differ greatly among these various | | | | making the process of making your crab cakes a little |
| regions. The most noticeable difference between the | | | | easier. |
| recipes is generally the type of crab used. One of the | | | | Cooking and preparation times for your crab cakes |
| coastal regions most widely associated with crab | | | | will depend upon your recipe and how you are |
| cakes is the Chesapeake Bay area, specifically | | | | cooking your them. Some recipes will have you mix |
| Maryland. People from this region generally use blue | | | | the ingredients together and then store it overnight |
| crab meat which is considered by many to be the | | | | or for a certain period of time. Others will have you |
| best tasting crab. Blue crab is easy for people from | | | | mix the ingredients, and then cook them right away. |
| this region to use, because the crab is native to their | | | | When pan frying your cakes on the stove, after |
| area. While many people in the Pacific Northwest and | | | | shaping them into a patty, you will generally cook the |
| Northern California will use Dugeness crab in their crab | | | | patties for about four minutes on each side. You will |
| cake recipe, as Dungeness crab is native to the | | | | know that they are done when they are crisp and |
| Pacific coast. | | | | golden brown on both sides. If you are baking your |
| Basic recipes include: crab meat, bread crumbs, milk, | | | | cakes, you will probably be cooking them at 400 for |
| eggs, and seasoning. Onions, green peppers, and red | | | | anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes. You will also want |
| peppers are also common ingredients. Of course, you | | | | them to be crisp and baked all the way through |
| can always find a recipe that might call for a more | | | | before you try to eat them. Your crab cake recipe |
| unique flavors containing more exotic and less | | | | may also call for your crab cakes to be deep-fried. If |
| traditional ingredients. For example, a recipe from a | | | | this is the case, expect them to take roughly five to |
| more southern state may call for jalapeno peppers. | | | | seven minutes to cook. You will know that your crab |
| Other recipes call for things like wild rice, | | | | cakes are done when they start to float, and they |
| Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, or even cream | | | | look crispy. Most recipes will tell you to serve them |
| cheese. | | | | warm. The best crab cakes should be moist and yet |
| When making crab cakes it is important that you | | | | crispy. Even if you have added a bunch of other |
| have the right type of crab. Most recipes are going | | | | ingredients, they should be a meaty dish. |
| to call for lump crab meat. The freshest type of lump | | | | |