There are three easy ways to cook crab legs: boiling, steaming, and baking. In less than 10 minutes, each method will give you perfectly warmed crab meat. There are also lots of tips in this post on how to choose and cook the most common types of crab legs.
Fresh crab is every seafood lover’s dream. And the good news is that crab is super easy to cook at home. Why? Because the crab you purchase from your local fishmonger is already pre-cooked and frozen. Many people don’t realize this. But crab is immediately cooked and flash-frozen to preserve its freshness when it’s caught. That means all you have to do to cook crab is warm up the legs, which only takes a few minutes!
You can dip crab in a tasty sauce (I’ll talk more about that below), or you can use fresh crab as a protein in crab salad, bowls, and other things. It’s easy to make a crab boil dinner that looks fancy but is actually very simple because the crab is already cooked.
Crab legs make for an indulgent, delicious meal. With their sweet, succulent meat and satisfyingly crispy shells, crab legs are a seafood lover’s dream. However, getting that tender, flaky texture just right relies heavily on not over or under-cooking them. So how do you know when crab legs are done boiling?
Follow this simple guide to learn the tricks of perfectly cooked crab legs every time
Step 1: Prepare Your Crab Legs
You can buy crab legs fresh or frozen. If using frozen be sure to thaw them completely before boiling. The best way is in the refrigerator overnight.
Once thawed, use kitchen shears to cut along the bottom shell and open up the legs. This allows heat to penetrate inside during cooking. Rinse the crab under cold water to clean.
Step 2: Choose Your Cooking Method
You can boil crab legs in a few different ways:
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Stovetop boiling Fill a large pot with water enough to cover the crab legs. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
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Steaming: Place crab in a steamer basket or colander over a pot of boiling water. The crab cooks using the steam, not directly in the water.
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Pressure cooking: Add 1 cup water and steamer rack to pressure cooker. Place legs inside, lock lid, and cook at high pressure for 3-5 minutes. Quick but can overcook easily.
Boiling and steaming produce the best results for tender meat. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it often leaves the texture rubbery.
Step 3: Cook the Crab Legs
Once your water is rapidly boiling or the steam is ready, carefully place the crab legs into the pot or steamer basket.
- For fresh legs, boil or steam for 8-12 minutes.
- For frozen legs, boil or steam for 10-15 minutes.
Use tongs to occasionally flip and rotate the crab during cooking. This prevents any uneven cooking.
Step 4: Check Doneness
After the minimum cooking time, start checking for doneness. There are a few ways to test when they’re ready:
- Color: The shells turn bright orange-red when done. This is easier to see on lighter colored crab.
- Texture: Carefully twist a leg. It should twist off cleanly with no resistance if fully cooked.
- Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the meat. It should reach 165°F.
- Steam: If steaming, the steady stream of steam rising from the pot should have reduced or stopped when finished cooking.
If not quite done, continue cooking for 2-3 minutes at a time, testing after each interval. It’s easy to go from perfectly cooked to overcooked quickly.
Step 5: Remove and Serve
Once the crab tests done, immediately remove it from the heat into a colander or bowl. This stops the cooking process.
To serve:
- Crack the shells using crab crackers or a mallet. Go slowly to access big chunks of meat.
- Remove any leftover cartilage or soft shell.
- Enjoy dipped in melted butter, lemon juice, or your favorite sauce!
The sweet, tender meat is well worth the effort. Now you’ll never have to wonder about over or undercooking crab legs again.
FAQ:
How long does it take to boil frozen crab legs?
Frozen crab legs take 10-15 minutes to boil or steam depending on thickness. Always boil frozen legs straight from the freezer, without thawing first.
Can you overcook crab legs?
Yes, it’s easy to overcook crab legs. The meat can become rubbery, stringy, or dry if cooked too long. Use a thermometer and don’t cook longer than needed.
Do you add salt when boiling crab legs?
No need to add salt to the boiling water. The natural sea flavor comes through without it. Adding salt can lead to over-seasoning. Simply use melted butter and lemon at serving.
Should crab legs be boiled or steamed?
Either boiling or steaming works well. Boiling immerses the legs fully to cook evenly. Steaming uses less water and concentrates flavors. Both produce tender, flaky meat when not overcooked.
How do you know if crab legs went bad?
Signs of spoiled crab include an ammonia odor, mushy texture, or mold growth. Discard any crab legs that smell off or feel slimy. Fresh crab has a sea breeze smell and firm, shiny flesh.
With this handy guide, you’ll be able to master perfectly cooked crab legs for any occasion. Getting that sweet, juicy meat out of the shell takes a little finesse. But the rewards are well worth it for any seafood fan.
How Many Crab Legs Per Person?
You need to know how many crab legs each person will need for your seafood or crab boil. A simple way to figure this out is to remember that two to three clusters of crab legs weigh one pound. Each cluster includes crab legs, a claw, and a part of the shoulder.
Then, guess that each person will need about one pound, plus two pounds for someone who is really hungry or for seafood lovers at the table. If you’re making a “surf and turf” meal with filet mignon, 5 pounds is plenty.
Helpful tip: There’s a bit more meat in king crab legs compared to other varieties. So if you’ve got big seafood eaters, this could be a great option to buy with fewer legs.
More Frequently Asked Questions
When you boil or steam the crab, bay leaves, peeled garlic cloves, black peppercorns, or lemon wedges are all aromatic foods that go well with it. Just keep in mind that a lot of seasonings won’t penetrate the shell and reach the meat. Instead, I recommend adding any seasonings after the meat is removed from the shell.
If you’re cooking frozen crab legs, you have two options. You can either put them in a large bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes or chill them overnight in a large bowl of water that is covered. Second, you can add extra cooking time to each method if you don’t want to defrost the legs.
Remember that crab legs will already be pre-cooked when you purchase them. You’re just warming them through at home. To make each one, though, follow the steps below. The meat inside will be hot, tender, opaque, and flaky.
This post should have taught you how to cook crab legs correctly. Let me know how yours turned out and what your favorite way is in the box below.
