Need to know how to cook king crab legs? You’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about cooking king crab legs.
When our Alaskan King Crab arrives at your doorstep, it will already be cooked, glazed and frozen. To keep its fresh, delicious taste, the king crab will have been cooked either on the boats or as soon as it got to land. So, you will just need to thaw the legs and reheat the crab before you start enjoying.
The first thing you should do when you get your crab legs is put the crab in the fridge to thaw overnight. The next day, it will be ready to reheat and prepare.
Cooking king crab legs isn’t difficult, and they only takes a few minutes to prepare. How you cook your king crab will depend on the flavor you want. Below we’ve listed some of the more popular ways to cook king crab. Most of these recipes are very easy to make. You only need three drops of hot sauce in butter to bring out the great taste of fresh king crab. Most of them also only need 5 to 10 minutes to warm up. Much more than that, and you risk your crab becoming overcooked. You only need to add the crab to a stew or soup for the last five minutes of cooking.
King crab is a delicacy enjoyed by seafood lovers across the world. With its sweet, succulent meat and hearty claws, it’s no wonder why this crustacean is such a popular menu item. But cooking an entire king crab can seem like an intimidating task if you’ve never done it before. In this article, I’ll provide a step-by-step guide to cooking a whole king crab from start to finish.
Selecting and Preparing the King Crab
When buying a whole, live king crab, you’ll want to make sure it’s active and has all its legs and claws intact. Avoid any crabs that appear sluggish or damaged. Plan on about 1 pound of crab per person. Once home, give the crab a cold water rinse and use kitchen shears to carefully snip off any rubber bands around the claws. This will allow the crab to move freely when cooking.
Killing and Cleaning the Crab
To humanely kill the crab before cooking, use a sharp knife to quickly plunge into the crab’s nerve center located right behind the eyes Then flip the crab over and pull off the top shell Scrape out the spongy yellow or grey gills and discard. Also remove and discard the stomach sac, which will look like a small, translucent sac behind the mouth area. Rinse out the interior.
Cooking Time Based on Crab Size
When it comes to exactly how long to boil or steam a whole king crab, it really depends on the size and weight. Here are some general time guidelines:
- 1 to 1.5 pound crab – 7 to 9 minutes
- 2 to 3 pound crab – 10 to 12 minutes
- 4 to 5 pound crab – 13 to 15 minutes
- 6 to 7 pound crab – 16 to 18 minutes
The most foolproof way to test doneness is to insert a knife into the thickest part of the crab and check that the meat is opaque. When done, the shells will turn bright red-orange.
Boiling Method
To boil a whole king crab
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Fill a large pot with enough water to fully submerge the crab and add 2 tablespoons sea salt Bring to a rolling boil
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Using tongs, slowly lower the crab into the pot. Cover and return to a boil.
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Start timing once the water is at a full boil again. Cook for the recommended time based on the crab’s size.
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When done, use tongs to carefully transfer the cooked crab to a platter to cool.
Boiling is a quick and simple way to cook a whole crab. The resulting meat will be moist, tender and sweet. Just be careful not to overcook, which can make the meat tough.
Steaming Method
Steaming is another excellent method for cooking whole crab:
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Fill a large pot with 2 to 3 inches of water and bring to a boil.
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Place a steaming rack in the pot and put the crab on the rack. Cover tightly with a lid.
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Steam for the recommended time, maintaining a steady heat so the water continues boiling.
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Use tongs to remove the steamed crab onto a platter.
Steaming helps preserve even more moisture than boiling. The meat comes out exceptionally tender when steamed. Just make sure not to remove the lid too frequently when checking doneness.
Tips for Perfectly Cooked Crab
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For the freshest taste, cook live crab on the same day it was caught or purchased. Don’t keep live crab in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours before cooking.
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Check for doneness early to prevent overcooking. You can always put a crab back in to cook a minute or two longer if needed.
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Let the cooked crab rest for about 5 minutes before cracking open the shell. This allows the meat to further relax and makes it easier to remove.
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Use a mallet or claw cracker tool to break through the tough shell and get to the delicious meat inside. Start with the claws and legs before tackling the body.
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Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges and your favorite seafood seasoning or sauce. Crab also pairs well with garlic, chiles and fresh herbs.
Storing Leftover King Crab
Any leftover cooked king crab meat should be tightly wrapped and refrigerated. Use within 2 to 3 days for the best quality. The leftover crab shells make excellent seafood stock. Simply simmer the shells in water with vegetables and seasonings of your choice for an hour or two before straining.
Enjoying King Crab Legs Instead
While whole king crab makes a dramatic presentation, king crab legs are an easier and less expensive option for home cooks. Simply steam or boil crab leg clusters for 4 to 8 minutes until the meat is opaque. Crack the legs open using a mallet or scissors. Legs can also be quickly grilled over high heat. Brush with melted butter first to prevent sticking.
A Delicious Feast for Special Occasions
From selecting and preparing the crab to checking for doneness while cooking, successfully making a whole king crab does require a bit of work. But the impressive presentation and amazing sweet flavor make it well worth the effort for special occasions and seafood-loving guests. Just follow the tips above for perfect results every time.
Recipe: Boiled King Crab Legs
Boiling is a simple method for cooking king crab. Put half of a large pot of cold water in it and bring it to a boil. This will boil the crab legs. Add a tablespoon of salt and the seasoning of your choice, if any. When the water begins to boil add the crab legs and reduce the heat to medium. Allow them to simmer for about six minutes. Take the crab legs out of the water, rinse and plate for eating. Learn everything you need to know to plan the perfect crab boil.
Try out this recipe for Alaskan King Crab Provencal.
Recipe: Grilled King Crab Legs
Is it warm outside and you want to eat outside? Grilling king crab legs is a fun way to cook them. Before you grill crab legs, make sure to brush olive oil on all sides of them so they don’t stick. Then, put the crab legs on a 300° grill and cook them for five minutes. Then, flip them over and cook for another five minutes, or until they are warm all the way through. Remove from the grill and serve with butter or sauce.
How to prepare the king crab
FAQ
Is it better to boil or bake king crab legs?
Can you overcook king crab?
How do you know when king crab is cooked?
How long does it take to cook a whole crab?
How long does it take to cook a king crab?
It takes about 10-12 minutes to cook a whole king crab. You’ll need a large pot of boiling water to cook the crab. Add the crab to the boiling water and cook for 10-12 minutes. You can test to see if the crab is cooked by pricking it with a fork. The meat should be white and opaque.
How long do you cook a crab in the oven?
If you’re going to boil the crab, place it in a large pot of boiling water and cook until the crab is red and the meat is white, about 10 to 15 minutes. If you’re going to bake the crab, preheat your oven to 400 degrees and place the crab on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 20 minutes, until the meat is white and cooked through. Enjoy!
How do you cook a whole crab?
There are a few different methods you can use to cook a whole crab. The most popular methods are boiling and steaming. To boil a whole crab, fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the crab and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the crab is cooked through. To steam a whole crab, fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil.
How to cook king crab legs?
Boiling is a simple method for cooking king crab. To boil crab legs, simply fill a large saucepot half full of cold water and bring to a boil. Add a tablespoon of salt and the seasoning of your choice, if any. When the water begins to boil add the crab legs and reduce the heat to medium. Allow them to simmer for about six minutes.