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 are a delicious and indulgent seafood treat With their sweet, succulent meat and satisfying snap when you break open the shells, they are always a crowd-pleaser. But cooking crab legs properly can seem intimidating for home cooks It’s easy to undercook them and end up with cold, gummy meat or worse, overcook them resulting in dry, rubbery crab.
The good news is that steaming crab legs is actually quite simple and foolproof when you understand some basic steaming guidelines. By following a few essential rules, you can enjoy perfectly cooked crab legs with tender, moist meat each time.
How Not to Over Steam Crab Legs
Steaming is hands down the best cooking method for crab legs. The moist heat gently warms the precooked, frozen crab to an ideal serving temperature. However, it is possible to overcook crab legs if you steam them for too long.
Over steamed crab turns from sweet and tender to chewy and dry The meat can become stringy and the flavor dulls. Luckily, just avoiding a few key mistakes will ensure your crab legs come out flawlessly every time
Don’t Steam Too Long
It can be tempting to just leave the crab legs steaming away while you prepare the rest of the meal. But crab legs cook quickly and should not be steamed for more than 5-8 minutes. Much longer than that and they will definitely overcook.
Set a timer for 6 minutes so you don’t forget the crab legs on the stove. Check for doneness at 5 minutes and be ready to remove them once heated through. Remember, they are already cooked so you are just warming them through.
Don’t Use Too Much Water
Crab legs should steam over just an inch or two of water, More water than that may cause them to boil rather than gently steam, Vigorously boiling water can make the meat tough and dry
Use a tight fitting pot and lid to create steam quickly without needing much water. Check the pot occasionally and lower the heat if the water is boiling rapidly. The water should be at a gentle simmer.
Don’t Stack Them
For even cooking, lay the crab legs in a single layer in the steamer basket or colander. Overcrowding them and stacking them on top of each other leads to uneven steaming.
The legs on bottom will end up thoroughly cooked while the ones on top remain cold in the center. Give them plenty of space for steam to circulate all around.
How to Tell When Crab Legs Are Done
Checking for doneness visual cues and by temperature ensures perfectly steamed crab every time.
Look for Color Change
Properly cooked crab legs will turn from translucent to opaque. The flesh will take on a characteristic light pink hue when fully heated through.
Undercooked crab will still have a glassy, see-through appearance in the center even once the outer layer turns opaque. This is a sign to give it a minute or two more steaming.
Check Internal Temperature
Using an instant read thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness. Insert the thermometer probe into the thickest part of the crab leg.
The internal temperature should read between 140-165°F when they are fully heated. If the thermometer doesn’t reach 140°F, continue steaming for another minute or two.
Smell for Sweet Aroma
Your nose can tell you when the crab is ready! You will be able to smell the sweet, briny aroma once the crab legs are fully cooked. If you don’t detect that lovely crab scent yet, they likely need another minute or two.
Listen for Shell Cracking
As the crab meat heats and expands, the shells will begin to crack open a bit. Larger cracks forming in the legs or shells is a sign it is perfectly cooked and the meat is separating from the shell.
Signs of Overcooked Crab Legs
Learning to recognize when crab legs are over steamed will help you avoid dry, rubbery meat. Look for these cues that the crab is overcooked:
- Small cracks or fissures form in the flesh
- Meat pulls away from the shell completely in some areas
- Fibrous, stringy texture
- Dull, opaque color throughout
- Chewy, dry mouthfeel
At the first sign of overcooking, immediately remove the crab legs from heat. Even just another 30 seconds or minute on the stove can worsen the damage.
Tips for Steaming Crab Legs Perfectly Every Time
Once you understand the basics of how not to overcook crab legs, it’s easy to steam them flawlessly. Follow these simple tricks for tender, moist crab meat your guests will rave about.
Start with Thawed Legs
Thawing frozen crab legs in the refrigerator overnight leads to more even cooking. The center will be heated through by the time the outer layers are done.
If short on time, run cold water over the legs until thawed. Do not use hot water to thaw them or it will start to cook the meat prematurely.
Use a Timer
Set a timer for 5 minutes as soon as you place the crab legs in the steamer. Check for doneness at 4 minutes and be ready to remove them once the timer goes off. The timer prevents you from losing track and overcooking.
Steam Over Simmering Water
Maintain a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil when steaming. Bubbling water introduces too much motion that can make the meat tough. Keep the heat around medium to keep it at a light simmer.
Skip Extra Seasoning
Crab legs don’t need much seasoning. At most, add some Old Bay, lemon, and butter. Avoid overly bold spices that will overpower the sweet crab flavor. Simple is best!
Check Temperature
Use an instant read thermometer to eliminate any doubt about doneness. Perfectly steamed crab should reach 140°F at the thickest point. This guarantees it is heated through without overcooking.
Let Sit 1-2 Minutes
Once removed from the steamer, give the crab legs a minute or two to just sit. This allows the temperature to distribute evenly for consistent doneness throughout. Then dig in immediately for the best texture and flavor!
Steaming Crab Legs on the Stovetop
Now that you know how to prevent overcooking, here is a simple stovetop steaming method for flawlessly cooked crab legs every time:
Ingredients
- 1-1.5 lbs crab legs, thawed if frozen
- 1-2 tsp Old Bay seasoning (optional)
- Melted butter, lemon wedges, and fresh parsley for serving
Directions
- Fill a large pot with 1-2 inches water and add Old Bay if desired. Insert steamer basket.
- Bring water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Steam for 2 minutes.
- Add crab legs to basket in a single layer. Cover and steam for 4-5 minutes.
- Check temperature, looking for 140°F at thickest part. If not done, steam 1-2 more minutes.
- Remove from heat. Let sit 1 minute before serving with butter, lemon, and parsley.
Follow these simple rules, and you will be enjoying tender, sweet crab legs in no time. Never worry about overcooking again with this foolproof stovetop steaming method. Impress your family or guests with your cooking skills as you master the technique for perfect crab legs on your very first try.
Steaming Crab Legs in the Oven
While stovetop is the classic crab steaming method, you can also steam them easily in the oven. Here is a simple oven-steaming technique:
Ingredients:
- 1-1.5 lbs crab legs, thawed
- 1-2 tsp Old Bay seasoning (optional)
- Water or beer/broth for steaming
- Melted butter, lemon wedges, fresh parsley for serving
Directions:
- Place crab legs in a single layer in a shallow baking dish or oven-safe pan. Season lightly with Old Bay if desired.
- Pour 1/2 inch water, broth, or beer into pan around the legs.
- Tightly cover pan with foil. Poke a few small holes for venting.
- Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes until meat is opaque.
- Check temperature, looking for 140°F minimum. Bake 5 more minutes if needed.
- Remove from oven and let sit 1 minute before serving.
The enclosed environment of the oven makes it more challenging to avoid overcooking when steaming crab this way. Keep a close eye on the time and check it early.
But when done carefully, oven steaming can be a convenient hands-off way to cook multiple pans of crab legs for a crowd with no worrying about stovetop space.
Storing Leftover Crab Legs
With their rich taste, crab legs rarely go uneaten. But you may have extra after your crab feast. Refrigerate leftover crab legs in an airtight container up to 2 days.
The precooked meat will dry out quickly, so enjoy any remaining crab legs as soon as possible. Simply re
How To Eat Crab Legs
While you may need a crab cracker to break open King crab and Dungeness crab legs, your hands are likely all you’ll need for Snow crab. Just break the crab leg at the joint, then press down with your thumb to crack open the middle of the leg shell. Pull off one side of the shell and you should be able to pull the crab meat right out.
- To serve, have a sauce for dipping, lemon wedges for squeezing lemon juice on top, and maybe a pinch of old bay spice. For an easy and tasty way to enjoy fresh crab legs and bring out their natural flavor, try this recipe! You could also save the crab meat and make these crab-stuffed mushrooms for the best holiday appetizer!
- For the crab dipping sauce, melt unsalted butter in a small bowl and mix in fresh garlic, lemon juice, and salt. This easy mix goes well with any seafood, but it goes especially well with fresh crab. Reference the above for dipping sauce ingredients!.
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 Steam Crab Legs and Shrimp
FAQ
Can you overcook steamed crabs?
How long should you steam crab legs?
Is it possible to overcook crab legs?
What happens if you cook crab legs too long?
How do you cook crab legs in a steamer?
Here’s how: First, choose a pot large enough to hold the crab legs and a steamer basket. It should have a tight-fitting lid. Fill the pot with an inch or two of water, then arrange the basket on top. Season or salt the water (see note below). Bring the water to a boil, then place the crab legs in the steamer basket.
Can You steam crab legs without a steamer?
If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can use a colander or a metal strainer that fits inside the pot. Step 3: Add the Crab Legs to the Steamer Place the crab legs in the steamer basket or colander, making sure they’re not crowded. If you have a lot of crab legs to steam, you may need to do this in batches.
How do you cook crab legs without overflowing?
Most large stockpots or Dutch ovens can fit about 2 pounds of crab legs without overflowing. Once you’ve found your pot, fill it with cold tap water and add the salt. Place the pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil.
How do you boil crab legs?
Follow these directions for boiling crab legs: Fill a large pot about half full with water, leaving enough room for the crab legs. Wait for the boiling water to rise. Add Old Bay seasoning, salt, vegetable oil, and beer to the water once boiling. Place the crab legs in the pot, submerged in the water, and return to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.