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.
Nothing beats cracking open a tender, juicy crab leg fresh from the pot But is boiling frozen crab legs the best cooking method to get ideal texture and flavor? With the right techniques, you absolutely can boil precooked frozen crab legs to succulent perfection.
As an avid crab leg enthusiast, I’ve done extensive research using trusted sources like Tasting Table to provide a complete guide to boiling frozen crab legs. Follow these tips for foolproof crab every time.
Can You Boil Previously Frozen Crab Legs?
Yes, you can boil frozen crab legs purchased from the grocery store. In fact, boiling is a quick, easy cooking method perfectly suited for reheating precooked frozen crab legs.
Crab legs sold in stores are already fully cooked Flash freezing preserves freshness So boiling just gently thaws and rewarms the crab meat without overcooking it.
Benefits of Boiling vs. Other Cooking Methods
Boiling offers advantages for cooking frozen crab legs:
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Fast cooking time – crab legs boil in just 6-8 minutes per pound.
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Even heating – boiling water surrounds legs to distribute heat.
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Preserves moisture – boiling doesn’t dry out crab meat.
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Enhances flavor – boiling infuses seasoning into crab.
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No extra prep – legs can be boiled frozen as is.
Step-by-Step Guide to Boiling Frozen Crab Legs
Follow these simple steps for flawlessly boiled crab legs:
1. Prepare a steamer pot
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Use a tall stock pot or steamer with a tight fitting lid.
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Add enough water to fill pot at least halfway.
2. Season the water
- For flavor, add Old Bay, lemon, garlic, etc.
3. Add frozen crab legs
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Gently place frozen legs into pot.
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Fold or bend legs to submerge fully.
4. Boil crab legs
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Boil 6-8 minutes per 1 lb. king crab legs.
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Boil 1.5 minutes per 1 lb. snow crab legs.
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Set a timer to avoid overcooking.
5. Check for doneness
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Meat should be hot and opaque throughout when done.
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Carefully remove a leg to check meat using a knife.
Tips for Perfectly Boiled Frozen Crab Legs
Use these pro tips for flawlessly boiled crab legs every time:
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Check legs are fully submerged.
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Set timer and boil for exact times.
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Avoid cramming in too many legs.
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Fold legs if needed to fit in pot.
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Boil snow and king crab legs for different times based on thickness.
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Check meat in thick leg sections to test doneness.
Common Boiling Mistakes
Watch out for these common boiling errors:
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Placing legs too tightly together – causes uneven cooking.
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Adding too much water – dilutes seasoning flavor.
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Boiling too long – leads to tough, rubbery meat.
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Leaving lid off – reduces boiling temperature.
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Removing meat immediately – carryover cooking continues to cook meat.
Dress Up Your Boiled Frozen Crab Legs
After mastering the boil, try these fun ways to dress up your crab:
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Dip in melted butter, garlic butter, or clarified butter.
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Season with fresh lemon juice, parsley, Cajun seasoning.
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Make crab cakes or seafood salad using leg meat.
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Enjoy in lettuce wraps garnished with avocado.
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Sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning or creole spice blend.
With this handy guide, you’ll be ready to boil frozen crab legs like a pro. Just remember key tips like fully submerging legs, setting a timer, and avoiding overcrowding. Enjoy the rewarding flavor of tender, juicy crab meat in minutes with this foolproof boiling method.
Different Types of Crab Legs
There are over a dozen types of crabs you can eat across the world. But your local market will most likely have the options below. Let’s talk through these.
- This is the most common type of crab used in home cooking, and you’ve probably seen them before. Good news: Dungeness crab legs are usually sold in groups of three to five, and they don’t cost too much. Also, their meat is soft, slightly sweet, and slightly nutty, which makes it great for making crab salad or crab dip.
- King crabs: These are a bit more expensive and are sold by the piece, but the crab legs are worth it for a seafood boil when served on their own with butter. Their meat is sweet and tender, like lobster tails. They have twice as much meat as Dungeness crabs because their legs are so much bigger.
- If you don’t want to use king crab, snow crab is the next best thing for big legs. Their meat is sweet, savory, and a bit briny. Even better, the meat on snow crab legs is a beautiful white color, while king crab meat is bright red. Only bad thing is that they’re getting more expensive because of climate change and fewer people living in the area.
How To Cook Crab Legs (3 Ways)
There’s no one best way to cook crab legs, it’s more so preference with the methods below. Just keep in mind that you can overcook crab legs where the meat will become rubbery. So stick to the timings below.
Boiling Crab Legs: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Put the crab legs in the pot. If necessary, gently bend the joints to make sure the legs are completely submerged in water. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes, or until they’re heated through.
Put an inch of water in a large pot and put a steamer basket on top of it. This is how you steam crab legs. Bring the water to a boil. In the basket, put the crab legs. Steam them for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they’re hot all the way through.
Baked Crab Legs: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the crab legs in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes (depending on size), or until they’re heated through.
How to Cook Frozen Crab Leg : Making Meals Delicious
FAQ
Can you boil frozen crab legs without thawing?
Do you need to thaw frozen king crab legs before cooking?
How long to boil frozen Alaskan crab legs?
Is it better to steam or boil frozen snow crab legs?
Can You boil frozen crab legs?
While it’s common practice to dip live crabs straight into the pot, boiling frozen crab legs could look a little different. Since you’ll be boiling the crab legs without thawing them first, it may seem like they need to stay in the pot for a long while. However, frozen crab legs only need to be boiled for about six to eight minutes per pound.
How do you cook frozen crab legs?
To cook frozen crab legs, carefully drop them into boiling water. Cook for 6-8 minutes for king crab and 4-6 minutes for snow crab. Once cooked, drain the water and serve immediately with melted butter and lemon wedges. Boiling can make the crab legs rubbery and less flavorful, so use this method only as a last resort.
How do you cook thawed crab legs?
Fill a large stockpot with enough water to completely submerge the crab legs. For added flavor, consider adding spices like bay leaves, garlic cloves, lemon slices, or seafood seasoning to the water. Bring the water to a rolling boil. 4. Boiling the Crab Legs Once the water is boiling, carefully place the thawed crab legs into the pot.
How do you cook crab legs in a steamer?
To cook crab legs in a steamer, place a steamer basket into the pot and fill it with water up to an inch over the top of the basket. Place it on the stove over high heat until the water is boiling. If using, add Old Bay Seasoning and allow it to boil for about 1 minute. Then, place the crab legs and a few lemon wedges in the steamer basket.