Buying the best crab steamer pot for your specific need is the best thing you can do for yourself. This is especially true if you love to cook sea food or similar dishes.
If you are wondering why the need for specific cookware, then most definitely you are not an expert or connoisseur of sea food. but not to worry. That is why we have taken the time to put together this review.
There are many uses for a crab steaming pot. Apart from using it to prepare seafood, it is can be used to steam vegetable and parboil seasonal foods before freezing. It is can also be used for cooking pasta and preserving vegetables and fruits in a can.
This review of 7 products in different categories will help you make a good choice when buying a specialty cookware for steaming crab.
Best Value For Money Product
Product Name: Bayou Classic 4060 60-Quart All Purpose Aluminum Stockpot with Steam and Boil Basket
Product Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Features
- It is specially designed for boiling seafood
- Multi-purpose function of boiling, steaming and frying.
- It is a 3-in-1 set with base for steaming and a vent cover.
- Well-made doubly riveted handles
- Base of the stock pot is indented to enable the steamer basket rise about 3 inches off the base.
The Bayou Classic 4060 60-Quart All Purpose Aluminum Stockpot with Steam and Boil Basket is a uniquely designed pot. It comes with a stainless steel punctured container and an untainted metal cover. This pot is made of standard measurement and superior metal grade for eateries.
It has an indention which lifts the brace pot (steamer) away from the base. This affords you approximately three inches away from the base for proper steaming. This Bayou Classic pot is multipurpose as you can use it to boil your crab and other seafood as well as steam and fry your fish, chicken etc.
The Bayou Classic 4060 60-Quart All Purpose Aluminum Stockpot is one of the most consummate and complete accessories for your kitchen. It comes with an even flat cover that has vents as well as welded handles.
This pot is large enough to be used for commercial purposes in your restaurant or eatery. It is a highly recommended product.
We equally recommend this pot as one of our best especially for its large capacity as well as its multi functionality.
Best High End Product
Product Name: All-Clad E796S364 Specialty Stainless Steel 3-Piece Cookware
Product Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Features
- It is a 12-quart capacity pot with punctured insert for ease of straining.
- It has an exclusive, smooth, strand stainless steel built.
- Has dense metal buckle repellent bottom for quick, equal boiling.
- It offers a better stick friction and easy repair without reaction with food.
- It lasts longer than native pots, has steel cover, stainless metal hand grip and tightly held with stainless metal pin.
The All-Clad E796S364 Specialty Stainless Steel 3-Piece Cookware is a stainless steel cookware with great diversity. This multicooker comes with severally punctured or perforated insert made of stainless steel. For a cookware that performs dependably under heavy use, its sizeable capacity is an advantage.
It is suitable for parboiling vegetables briefly and for preparing large quantities of stew and soup. You can also use the pot to preserve your food by heating it up in a sealed can or jar.
This multicooker is handy for the easy preparation of your local sauces, pasta, vegetables etc. The steel insert will immediately drain the water from what you are cooking.
The pot has two conspicuously outstanding handles by both sides which ensure the safe grip of the pot and safety of the carrier. The inclusion of the steamer basket made of steel into the insert further enhances your cooking convenience for foods like seafood and vegetables.
The All-Clad E796S364 Specialty Stainless Steel 3-Piece Cookware is merger of premium quality design and durability with a smooth and brightly polished outside surface. This set of cookware is resistant to distortion or physical mutilation because of the strength of the material used.
It can be used on all stovetops as well as electric burners. This set of pot is great for your daily cooking as well as for festive occasions and you can easily clean it with a dishwasher.
We recommend this pot for its versatility , great quality and capacity.
Cheaper Option Of High End Product From All-Clad
Product Name: All-Clad 4512 Stainless Steel Stockpot with Lid / Cookware
Product Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Features
- It is made of a 3-ply twisted and molded material.
- It is safe for the dishwasher but must cool before it is washed.
- The outside of the pot is compliant for use on both electrical and other forms of cooking energy.
- An important cookware for new and well experienced chefs.
- Ideal gift item for newlyweds and housewarming occasions.
The All-Clad 4512 Stainless Steel Stockpot with Lid / Cookware is an important cookware needed by anyone involved in the cooking business. It is also ideal for folks who steam crab and sea food in large quantities and comes in different sizes.
The pot is elevated in height and this prevents liquid from evaporating easily from the pot. In this way enough steam is available in the pot to properly cook different kinds of stocks.
With the expanded base of the pot, you can quickly do your frying of ingredients over high temperature before adding liquid and other items.
This stockpot is ideal for cooking vegetables briefly and also for preserving food by heat processing.
This vigorously wielded stockpot is made of a dense, compact aluminum center which makes the stockpot heat up fast. The stainless steel attribute of the material used makes heat to be evenly distributed round the pot. The result of this is that your food is consistently cooked or boiled.
Moreover the inside of the stockpot is naturally nonstick because it is made of stainless-steel. Since this stockpot is non-reactive, you don’t need to bother about your food contacting any metallic taste.
We recommend this pot because of its affordability , multi-function and large capacity.
Cheaper Option Of High End Product From Another Brand
Product Name: CONCORD Stainless Steel Stock Pot w/Steamer Basket
Product Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Features
- Comes in 24 Quart size
- Stockpot comes with stainless steel Basket and cover.
- The stainless steel stock pot with the basket are amply polished.
- The basket is elevated 1.5″ from the pot base for steaming
- It is available in different sizes
The CONCORD Stainless Steel Stock Pot w/Steamer Basket is a stockpot that is ideal for steaming crabs, veggies and other sea food. It is also good for preserving food by heat processing.
This stainless 3-ply stockpot is made of a dense, compact aluminum center which makes the stockpot heat up fast. The stainless steel attribute of the material used makes heat to be evenly distributed round the pot. The end result is that your food is cooked or boiled evenly and not haphazardly.
The CONCORD Stainless Steel Stock Pot w/Steamer Basket is ideal for caterers and folks who cook in large quantities (especially crab and other types of sea food). Another reason it is ideal for caterers is because this stockpot comes in various sizes; so you can choose which size is appropriate for your needs.
The height of the pot is so elevated that evaporation of steaming liquid from the pot is prevented. Thus enough steam is made available in the pot to properly cook different kinds of stocks with the desired result.
With the expanded base of the pot, you can quickly do your frying of ingredients over high temperature before adding liquid and other items.
We recommend this pot because it is a high end product that is affordable and multi –functional.
Best Product Made Of A Different Material
Product Name: Granite Ware 19-Quart Enamel-on-Steel 2-Tier Clam-and-Lobster Steamer
Product Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Features
- 19-quart enamel-on-steel pot with removable steamer insert
- Has two oval shaped handles to enhance safe and accident-free handling.
- The cover of the pot is made tight enough as not to permit escape of hot steam from the pot while boiling.
- It is easy to wash by hand or clean with a dishwasher.
- It can be used on all stovetops as well as electric burners.
The Granite Ware 19-Quart Enamel-on-Steel 2-Tier Clam-and-Lobster Steamer is good for steaming your crab, dough stuffed with meat mixture as well as other choice and appealing seafood. You can be sure you are eating healthy food when you use this pot.
The cover of the pot is made tight enough as not to permit escape of hot steam from the pot while boiling. In this way your seafood or other food gets well-cooked by the steam trapped in the pot.
Since the porcelain surface is made of translucent ceramic, it will not change the color or taste of what you are cooking. Even distribution of heat round the pot is also assured because of the durable steel material with which the midpoint of the pot is made.
The pot has two oval shaped handles on both sides of the pot to enhance safe and accident- free handling of the pot.
This pot is recommended both for your daily cooking as well as for festive occasions and it is easy to wash or clean with a dishwasher.
We recommend this pot because of the material it is made of and the features that it comes with as mentioned above.
Commercial Value Product
Product Name: Houston Seafood Company Professional Grade 80 Quart All Purpose Boiling Pot with Basket
Product Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Features
- Made with top quality and durable materials such as dense and compact aluminum material.
- Comes with a filter or sieve basket for draining liquids.
- Included with purchase is a 12-quart stock pot with cover.
- Ideal for picnics, tailgating and other types of large scale cooking and steaming.
- Comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.
The Houston Seafood Company Professional Grade Boiling Pot with Basket is an expertly designed pot of superior grade. The pot is made of thick dense and compact aluminum material and has a filter or sieve basket for draining liquids.
The handles are fastened to the pot by a durable aluminum material. These handles ensure that the pot is carried with safety. The secure fixing of the handles would also make the pot last long as the handles cannot easily remove from the pot.
This large boiling pot is versatile and comes in handy for making large sized sea food such as Alaskan king crab legs, Maine lobsters, Shrimp,
There is a complimentary gift of a portable stock pot for every Houston Seafood Company Professional Grade 80 Quart All Purpose Boiling Pot with Basket purchased.
This offer however has a limited period. You get a refund in full within 30 days of purchase if you are not satisfied with your purchase.
We recommend this pot because of its extra-large size which makes it ideal for commercial use.
Best Budget For Extra – Large Capacity And Outdoor Stove
Product Name: King Kooker 5012 Portable Propane Outdoor Boiling and Steaming Cooker Package with 50-Quart Aluminum Pot and Steaming Basket (3-(Pack))
Product Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Features
- Comes with an outdoor cooker that has a flat top and can be screwed.
- Outstanding for steaming shellfish and other sea food
- Design is certified by CSA
- Massive 50-quart convex shaped aluminum pot with steaming basket that has a cover
- Has cooker top ring of 15-inch circumference
The King Kooker 5012 Portable Propane Outdoor Boiling and Steaming Cooker Package is another impressive steamer that is worth looking at. This extra-large boiling pot is versatile in use and comes handy for all your seafood cooking.
It is rugged in nature though quite light and flexible in use. You can use this set of pots for almost every occasion especially outdoor programs.
The pot comes with an outdoor cooker that has flat top that can be screwed. The design of the pot is certified by CSA.
This massive 50-quart convex shaped aluminum pot with steaming basket has a cover and a cooker top ring of 15-inch circumference. It is also appropriate and outstanding for cooking steaming shellfish, other seafood and vegetables but not ideal to be used to fry turkeys.
We recommend this pot because of its extra-large size and outdoor stove facility which make it ideal and convenient for commercial use.
Buying Guide
It is important to consider some of the following features when you want to buy a steamer pot for most seafood.
Capacity
The question of the size of pot to purchase is important. Steaming one crab is not the same as cooking as many as 6 at the same time. It’s important to observe the need to cook as much quantity of your seafood at once to get the best flavor from your cooking.
In view of the above position, it is more advantageous to buy a steamer pot that would take more than what you may cook at any one time than one you will be forced to cook in batches. The important thing is that your burner or stove can conveniently carry the pot.
Inasmuch as it’s good to have pots of several sizes to cook your seafood, available resources may dictate you buy a large one to do all the cooking. The fewer your cookware in your kitchen, the less clumsy your space becomes.
Material Used
Since kettles are usually heavy when filled with water, it becomes imperative to use light materials in making them. Aluminum is undoubtedly the lightest material in the manufacture of cookware.
Serious health concerns associated with the metallic material has however provoked a second thought regarding the pride of place it enjoys. It is in view of this that that stainless steel and its various variants and hybrids have become popular.
Crab and lobster pots made of stainless steel are longer lasting than other regularly used materials. So the first choice for material for pots to steam crabs is stainless steel.
Frequency of Use
The frequency of use of the steamer pot you intend buying is a factor that should affect the quality and corresponding resources you might want to invest in this pot.
You may not heed a high end priced pot if you only use it at intervals whereas regular use would dictate you go for something durable. Prices will in most cases reflect the quality we are referring to here.
Spigot
A spigot is a regulator used in controlling the flow of liquid from a pot or big container. And this is important for most steamers especially the large and extra-large sizes. This is because it makes draining easier than attempting to carry the whole pot when it is hot.
The liquid with which meat and vegetable are simmered can also be drained from the spigot for further use.
Steamer Baskets
Stockpots do not normally come with basket for steaming but cookers for crab and other kinds of seafood usually do. For people who preserve food by heat processing in cans or jars, you need a steamer basket.
A steamer basket will also be required to briefly heat up or parboil vegetables or fruits before freezing them. Since you are looking for a pot for steaming crab (and by extension seafood), it is best to buy one with a steamer insert.
Location
The location of your cooking will play a great role in the choice of steamer pot you will want to purchase. You can afford to use your expensive steamer pot in the comfort of your kitchen but may not be disposed to using it over camp or wood fire.
There are particular products that are best suited for outdoor use such as the Houston Seafood Company Professional Grade 80 Quart All Purpose Boiling Pot with Basket . While others such as the CONCORD Stainless Steel Stock Pot w/Steamer Basket are best suited for indoor use.
Budget/Cost
The amount you have budgeted for a product would greatly influence your decision. The guiding principle in shopping generally is to get the best with the available or budgeted funds.
In this case however, the purpose and frequency of use of the steamer pot may affect your choice of what to buy. Do make sure you make up your mind on how much you are willing to spend on a steamer pot before you go shopping.
With the above in mind, consideration need be given the following:-
- Good quality products do not come cheap so you have to be prepared to adjust your budget to get the right product for you. It is better to spend a little bit more than budgeted and get a durable, functional and top quality product than have to replace a low quality product.
- Prices have to match the features, quality and accessories of what you intend purchasing before you do so. Do not just buy a product because it is pricey; you can get a top quality product without robbing the bank.
Conclusion
The King Kooker 5012 Portable Propane Outdoor Boiling and Steaming Cooker Package comes top on this list. It stands out as our best pot for steaming crab because of its extra-large size which makes it ideal for commercial use.
The Bayou Classic 4060 60-Quart All Purpose Aluminum Stockpot is our second best steamer pot. This is especially for its large capacity as well as its multi functionality.
The Houston Seafood Company Professional Grade Boiling Pot with Basket comes third in our rating. This is because of its extra-large size which makes it ideal for commercial use
We hope that this concise guide on the best pots for steaming crabs would help you make the best decision for your specific needs.
We also would advise that you check out reviews of whatever product that you decide to buy. Read reviews by verified buyers and see what they have to say about the performance of the product.
You can also read our post on the best pot for boiling pasta. There are some pointers in the article that would come in handy on your shopping expedition.
