How Many Crabs Are in a Bushel?
There is nothing like a good crab boil during a beautiful summer evening. With all the delicious flavors mixed, it is a fantastic feast. But when you buy your crabs, how do you know the number of crabs in a bushel?
The number of crabs in a bushel depends on the size of the crabs, but the average is 62 to 74 crabs. Factors such as gender and time since molting will determine the number of crabs that fit in the bushel. When buying a bushel, avoid immature females and crabs with soft abdomens.
This article will explain what a bushel is, how many crabs come in one based on size, and what kind of crabs are typically sold in a bushel. It will also discuss the effects of gender and molting on the number of crabs in a bushel. Read on for everything you need to know about bushels of crabs.
What Is a Bushel?
When referencing crabs, a bushel is a basket used to catch them. However, it is also a measurement. It is equal to 8 gals (36 L). So, a half bushel is a half basket measured at 4 gals (18 L).
A bushel can vary based on your state, so if you are going crabbing, it is best to buy your crab basket directly from a tackle shop to ensure you have the legal size. This is important because there are often regulations on how many crabs you can catch.
Crabs are counted by the dozen. In the crabbing world, one dozen is also equal to 12.
How Many Crabs Come in a Bushel?
The number of crabs in a bushel depends on the size of the crabs being caught. Smaller crabs take up less space so you will fit more in the bushel. Larger crabs offer more meat, but fewer will fit in the basket. Here’s a look at the typical number of crabs in a bushel by size:
- Small: 8 – 9 dozen
- Medium: 7-8 dozen
- Large: 6 – 7 dozen
- Jumbo: 5 – 6 dozen
- Colossal: less than 5 dozen
This number can vary based on factors such as whether the crab has just molted and its gender. A significant number of females in the bushel will result in more crabs; however, the amount of meat may be reduced because of their smaller size.
What Kind of Crabs Are Sold in a Bushel?
Not all crabs are sold in a bushel. Some crabs are sold individually because of their large sizes, such as the Dungeness and King Crabs. Other crabs are sold by the bushel because, no matter how big they get, they are too small for individual sale.
The most common crabs to be sold in a bushel are blue crabs. They come in various sizes but are too small to be sold individually.
How Gender Affects the Number of Crabs in a Bushel
The gender variation throughout your bushel can affect the number of crabs you have. Females are smaller than males; however, they also have more regulations around their capture than males.
For instance, a female blue crab must be at a specific physical maturity level to be caught. Immature female crabs offer little meat and may cause you to be fined. If you are buying crabs and find these on offer, steer clear of them, as they will not be worth your money.
Blue crabs allow for easy discernment between males and females based on size. The females are typically much smaller than the males and feature red-tipped claws. Both genders have minimum size requirements for catching, and capturing immature females may come with a fine, depending on where you are crabbing.
The Effects of Molting on Bushel Counts
As crabs grow, their shells do not. Because of this, once annually, they molt their chitinous outer bodies. Both genders go through this process, which begins with strict fasting. Eventually, the carapace splits, allowing the crab to exit the old shell.
During the following days, the crab will find a hiding spot, typically in the dirt, where it will regrow its shell. While undergoing this final step, the crab will still not eat.
Because of all the fasting, there will be little meat on the crab’s body. By pressing on the crab’s abdomen, you can easily check if molting has recently occurred. It will be spongy with water and easily depressed. In cases where the crab has not been molted, the abdomen will be firm.
How Many People Does a Bushel of Crabs Feed?
The average serving size of crab meat is ½ pound, and each blue crab offers approximately 1 ounce of meat for the standard consumer. Taking into account the variations in sizes of each crab, you will need around nine crabs to feed each person, give or take a couple.
With the average bushel containing 62 to 74 crabs, you can comfortably feed up to 10 people. Adding extra foods on the side will allow you to stretch the crab meat further and feed more than ten people.
How Long Does It Take To Cook a Bushel of Crabs?
To quickly cook a bushel of crabs, you will need a large stock pot. It needs to hold at least 60 quarts of water. This size pot will allow you to cook the entire bushel at once, taking only around 30 minutes.
Using a smaller pot will require multiple boilings, taking longer, as all the crabs will not fit together at once. If you are on a schedule to make your dinner, you may want to opt for getting the larger pot from somewhere.
Buying Crabs by the Bushel Simplifies the Process
Instead of counting out 70 crabs, buying crabs by the bushel makes things easier. All you have to do is fill your basket to the level you want, half or full, and you are ready to go. Then you can divide the crabs by the number of people eating the dish you are creating.
You can also read:
