5 Ways to Cook Crab Legs

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Crab legs are easy to make at home and can be prepared using a variety of different cooking methods. Since most frozen crab legs are pre-cooked, the only thing you're really doing is heating them up and adding a little extra flavor. Here's what you need to know about making crab legs using a few different methods.

Ingredients

Makes 3 to 4 servings

3 pounds (1350 g) crab legs, frozen and precooked
1 tbsp (15 ml) salt
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) garlic powder
1 tbsp (5 ml) dil
1/4 cup (60 ml) unsalted butter

Step

Method 1 of 5: Boiling

Step 1. Defrost the crab legs

Place the crab legs in the refrigerator the night before and let them slowly thaw

While slow defrosting in the refrigerator is recommended, you can also defrost crab legs by placing them under a cool, running water for a few minutes.
Most frozen crab legs have not been cooked. If you prefer raw crab legs, your only option is to buy live crabs.
Cook the crab legs as soon as possible after the crab legs are thawed. They are only good for about two days in the refrigerator and should not be refrozen.

Step 2. Fill a large pot with water and seasonings

The water should be filled to half of the pot. Add the salt, garlic powder, and dill, and heat the water to a medium-high simmer until very hot.

You can also use a Dutch oven instead of a heavy pan.
In addition to using garlic powder and dill, you can use up to 2 tbsp (30 ml) of generic mixed seafood seasoning or any other seasoning you often enjoy with crab legs.

Step 3. Add the crab legs

Reduce the heat to medium and cook the crab legs for 3 to 6 minutes

Leave the lid on the pot while the crab legs are cooking.
The crab legs only need to be cooked long enough to heat the crab legs. Cooking the crab legs too long will spoil the taste of the crab legs.
The water should boil steadily where the crab legs are cooked.

Step 4. Serve warm

Remove the crab legs with tongs and place them on a plate to enjoy them immediately.

If desired, you can also serve the crab legs with melted butter

Method 2 of 5: Steaming

Step 1. Let the crab legs thaw

Let the frozen, uncooked crab legs sit in the refrigerator overnight to slowly thaw.

You can melt crab legs by placing them under a cool, running water for a few minutes

Step 2. Fill the bottom of the steaming pot with water and salt

Add about 2 cups of water (500 ml) to the bottom of a large steaming pot along with 1 teaspoon (15ml). Salt and set the heat to medium-high until hot.#* You need enough water to cover the bottom, but not so much so that it touches the bottom of the rack to steam.

You can also use a heavy pot, as long as you have a steaming basket or steamer rack that will fit over it

Step 3. Place the crabs on the steaming rack

Arrange the crab legs in even layers on the steaming rack and position the rack over a pot of boiling water.

Ideally, you should use a steamer rack or basket that can be lowered into the pot so that the pot can be covered

Step 4. Cover and cook

Cover the pot of boiling water with a lid and cook the crab legs for about six minutes.

Make sure that the water boils before you cover the pot and start the timer.
The finished crab legs should have a "cooked smell."

Step 5. Serve warm

Remove them from the basket with the barrel and serve them warm one side with melted butter.

Method 3 of 5: Burning

Step 1. Defrost the crab legs

Allow them to thaw from the fridge overnight.

Alternatively, you can also thaw crab legs before cooking by placing them under cold water for a few minutes

Step 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius)

Prepare a shallow pan by filling the bottom 1/8 inch (3.175 mm) with hot water.

Since this pan will go into the oven, it is better to use hot water instead of cold or room temperature water. The hot water is close to the temperature in the oven. If you cook the crab legs in cold water, you may need to wait a few minutes to allow the water enough time to heat up in the pan

Step 3. Add the crabs to the pot

Arrange the crab legs in a single layer in the water.

Cover the entire pan with foil after adding the crab legs.
Note that water can be added to the pot before or after you set the crab legs.

Step 4. Bake until hot, turning once

ref>https://www.thefreshmarket.com/departments/seafood_snow_crab_legs.html The crab legs will only need to bake for about 7 to 10 minutes total.

While not strictly necessary, flipping the crabs at 4 minutes of lifting is even cooking. Make sure that you place the foil back in the pan before putting it back in the oven

Step 5. Serve warm

Immediately transfer the crab legs to a serving plate and enjoy with melted butter and salt, to taste.

Method 4 of 5: Slow Cooking

Step 1. Defrost and rinse the crab

The best way to thaw crab is to let it sit, covered, in the refrigerator overnight.

Crab legs can also be thawed by running them under cold water for a few minutes. You don't even have to put the crab legs under cold water to thaw them, so it can also help remove any remaining ice crystals or slime. Knock dry with a clean paper towel before use

Step 2. Transfer the crab legs to a slow cooker

Arrange the crab legs in even layers inside the slow cooker and add enough water to just barely cover them.

You will need to make several layers of the crab legs, but these layers should at least be present.
Due to the shape of the crab legs, an oblong slow cooker usually works better than a single turn.
You only need enough water to cover the crab. Too little or too much can result in crab legs that are too dry or not hot enough.

Step 3. Mix butter, dill and garlic

Melt the butter in a small bowl and stir in the garlic powder and dill.

If you prefer a strong garlic taste, you can use 4 minced garlic cloves instead of concentrated garlic powder.
Due to the slow cooking of the crab legs, the flavor of the spices has a greater chance of penetrating the clam shell legs and the flavor of the meat underneath.

Step 4. Add butter flavor to the crab legs

Pour the melted butter mixture over the crab legs in the slow cooker.

Try to spread the butter more than the crab legs. You can stir them to coat the crab completely, but this is not necessary

Step 5. Cook on high pressure for 4 hours

Cover the slow cooker and cook the crab legs until they are steaming hot and almost melted in their shells.

If you don't have time to thaw your crab legs and cook them frozen right away, add another 30 minutes of cooking time

Step 6. serve hot

Use tongs to remove the crab legs from the slow cooker. Transfer them to a large serving plate and enjoy while hot.

If desired, you can serve the crab legs with melted butter or a lemon wedge

Method 5 of 5: Using the microwave

Step 1. Find the crab legs

The quickest way to thaw crab legs is to place them under cold, running water for a few minutes.

The recommended way to defrost is the way it takes longer. Place the crab legs in the refrigerator and let them thaw from freezing for 8 hours or overnight.
While a microwave can be used to cook crab legs, it is not recommended for seafood defrosting purposes.

Step 2. Transfer the crab legs to a microwave safe container

. Place the crabs in a microwave safe container, arranging them in a single layer if possible.

If you can't arrange all the crab legs in one layer, you may want to cook them in separate batches. You can arrange them in multiples of even layers, but if you do this, you will need to stir them with a fork once or twice in the middle of the cooking cycle to ensure even cooking.
A glass crock pot with a lid is the standard option, but a few microwave safe vessels will suffice.

Step 3. Add water

Fill a vessel with 1 teaspoon (15 ml) of warm to hot water for every 8 oz (225grams) of crab legs.

For this recipe, which uses 3 lbs (1350 g) of crab legs, you will need to add 6 tbsp (180 ml) of water.
It is better to use warm to hot water than cold water.

Step 4. Microwave on full power

Cook the crab legs for 3 to 4 minutes per 8 oz (225 g) of crab legs.

For 3 lbs (1,350 g) of crab legs, microwave 100 percent for 18 to 24 minutes.
You may need to stir or slide the crab legs halfway through the cooking process to lift them while cooking.