What,'s old bay rub?
I've heard it mentioned before, but what's in it?
In the US, it's
the iconic blue crab seasoning, particularly around the Chesapeake Bay area on the East Coast. Supposedly, it's a mix of 18 spices, but they only list celery salt, specifically. The rest is a trade secret. Lots of people have developed copycats, but it's not expensive and just so much easier to buy the real deal. We buy it by the 1.5 lb container. It's also great for shrimp, chicken (like the wings I'll be making), French fries, and other things as well.
OLD BAY® Steamed Blue Crabs Recipe | McCormick
Copycat versions include celery salt, paprika, black pepper, red or cayenne pepper, bay leaves, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and allspice, plus whatever anyone can figure. If you go down the rabbit hole among blue crab aficionados, the best crab seasoning is hotly contested. Some swear by Old Bay (me), others Zatarain's, and yet others swear by much smaller local brands or homemade concoctions. I've had many versions, but Old Bay still reigns King my book. It's probably not unlike the battles between Marmite vs. Vegemite, lol.
