How to Keep Butter Melted for Serving with Fresh Crab: Tips and Tricks

Buttery, succulent crab is one of life’s great culinary pleasures. Keeping melted butter at the perfect dipping consistency can be tricky though. Butter hardens quickly once it starts cooling. Follow these tips to learn how to keep butter melted longer when serving fresh crab.

Why Melted Butter is Essential with Crab

Butter is the perfect complement to sweet, delicate crab meat. When melted, it becomes a rich, velvety sauce ideal for dipping. The richness balances the briny seafood flavors. Butter also carries other seasonings well to add more complexity.

Serving melted butter alongside crab offers several benefits

• It keeps the crab meat moist and warm.

• It allows for custom flavor with seasoning mixes.

• It makes crab easier to eat by softening the meat.

• It adds richness and satisfies dunking cravings.

• It provides a sauce to soak up with bread or dippers.

Keeping the butter smoothly melted enhances these qualities further. Taking a few simple steps will ensure your crab butter is flawless.

Tips for Melting Butter for Crab

Start with high quality butter and melt it slowly. Clarified butter is ideal since it can be heated to higher temperatures without burning. Here are some tips:

• Use salted butter for the most flavor.

• Cut butter into tablespoon sized chunks before melting.

• Melt over low heat in a saucepan or butter warmer.

• Heat just until melted and frothy, don’t let it brown.

• Stir occasionally as it melts.

• Remove from heat as soon as melted.

• Flavor with lemon, garlic, herbs as desired.

• Transfer to a dipping bowl right away.

Only melt what you plan to use in the next hour or so. Avoid melting too far in advance. Now it’s time to keep that butter liquid gold.

Keeping Butter Melted in a Dipping Bowl

Butter will start solidifying as soon as it cools down. Follow these steps to keep melted butter smooth longer in a dipping bowl:

• Choose a metal, ceramic or glass bowl. Avoid plastic.

• Pre-heat the bowl with hot water before adding butter. Dry thoroughly.

• Place bowl over a wide, shallow pan of very hot water.

• Use a tea candle under the bowl to provide gentle, constant heat.

• Cover the bowl when not actively dipping to retain heat.

• Stir frequently to evenly distribute warmth.

• Refresh the hot water bath as needed.

• Add a splash of hot water or broth if butter thickens.

• Keep extra hot melted butter ready to swap out if needed.

Position the bowl near your crab platter for easy dipping access.

Insulating a Butter Crock or Dipper

Butter crocks with a handle are perfect serving vessels for crab. There are several ways to help keep the contents hot:

• Pre-heat crock with hot water before adding butter.

• Place crock in an insulated mug or bowl.

• Wrap crock in a towel, changing it out if it cools.

• Use a crock warmer with gel fuel packs.

• Place over a very low lit tea candle.

• Take out only a small portion of butter at a time.

• Top up with hot reserved butter as needed.

The insulation helps retain heat so the melted butter stays smooth longer.

Keeping Butter Melted at the Table

If serving crab for a group, it’s smart to take steps to keep the butter melted directly at the table:

• Place butter crock or bowl over a sterno flame.

• Use a fondue pot with fuel gel.

• Put dish on an electric warming tray.

• Add extra hot water to a tea candle under the crock.

• Embed crock in a bed of hot rocks in a larger bowl.

• Place in the center of a large platter over food warming gel beads.

• Stir often and top up with hot reserved butter.

Take the butter serving dish to the table right before guests sit down. This avoids melting too far in advance. Keep a close eye on the melted butter and refresh it frequently for the best dipping consistency.

Reheating Solidified Butter

If your melted butter does re-solidify, don’t worry. It’s easy to remelt it to a smooth liquid again.

On the stovetop:

• Heat a pan over low heat.

• Add several tablespoons of solidified butter.

• Stir constantly as it melts again.

• Once fully melted, remove from heat.

• Stir in any extra seasoning.

In the microwave:

• Place butter in a microwave-safe container.

• Microwave in 10 second bursts, stirring between.

• Stop as soon as melted.

• Careful, butter can burn quickly in the microwave.

• Add any extra flavorings.

Then transfer the melted butter back to your preheated dipping bowl or crock. Be ready to take steps to keep it fluid for as long as possible.

Handy Equipment for Keeping Butter Melted

Having the right gear makes keeping butter melted simpler. Useful items to have include:

• Butter warmer crock or small slow cooker

• Ceramic dipping bowls

• Wire dipping basket for solid crocks

• Insulated mugs or food bowls

• Electric fondue pot, warming tray or hot plate

• Tea candles

• Food warming gel packs or beads

• Hot stones, lava rocks or gravel

• Sternos or other canned heat

Investing in a few specialty serving pieces can make a difference. But with just a little creativity, you can improvise effective methods using common kitchen equipment.

Serving Melted Butter Two Ways

Offering flavored butter along with plain is a nice touch. Try these two recipes:

Lemon Butter:

• Melt 1 cup salted butter.

• Add 2 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp lemon zest.

• Heat 2 minutes more until fragrant.

Old Bay Butter:

• Melt 1 cup salted butter.

• Add 1-2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning.

• Heat 1 minute more.

Allow your guests to enjoy both versions with their fresh crab for extra flavor.

Storing Leftover Melted Butter

Don’t toss leftover melted butter after your crab feast. There are options for storing it:

• Refrigerate for up to 1 month. The butter will solidify and separate. Discard milky solids. Reheat only clarified portion.

• Freeze for up to 3 months. Solid butter will keep longer than melted. Clarify first or the milk proteins will deteriorate quickly.

• Freeze clarified butter up to 1 year. Spoon into an ice cube tray or muffin tin first. Pop out frozen cubes and store in airtight bags or container.

With a few simple techniques, keeping butter melted for crab is easy. Investing in some special dipping crocks and warmers helps, but basic kitchen tools will also do the trick in a pinch. Just be ready to replenish with hot reserved butter as needed. Now enjoy that fantastic crab and butter duo to perfection!