No matter the time of year, king crab legs are always available at Heinen’s. They sometimes have fresh ones, but you can always find some in the freezer. They have 8 oz. to 1 pound per leg, which is huge.
There are a few ways to cook a king crab legs. I prefer not to boil crab legs because they can easily become waterlogged, which reduces the flavor. My favorite methods are steaming and baking and both are so easy to do!.
King crab legs are a decadent seafood delicacy that’s perfect for special occasions. Their sweet, tender meat and rich flavor make them an indulgent treat. But with the right techniques, you can enjoy restaurant-quality king crab legs from the comfort of your own home.
In this complete guide, I’ll explain how to select, prepare, and cook king crab legs so you can serve up tender, juicy, flavorful results every time. With my tips and step-by-step instructions, you’ll gain the confidence to cook this luxe seafood for your family and impress dinner guests. Let’s get cracking!
Selecting King Crab Legs
You can find king crab legs fresh or frozen at many grocery stores. Look for legs labeled as Alaskan King Crab These premium crab legs come from the chilly Northern Pacific waters of Alaska. Their leg segments are thick and meaty
When buying look for legs that are translucent white and bright red. Avoid any with dry dull, or yellowish meat showing. Make sure the shell is not cracked. I recommend choosing legs that are at least 1 pound each for juicy results.
For best flavor and texture use king crab legs within 2 days if fresh. If buying frozen, make sure there’s no frost buildup indicating improper storage. Frozen legs will keep up to 3 months in your freezer.
Thawing King Crab Legs
Always thaw frozen king crab legs before cooking for even heating. Here are a few safe thawing methods:
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Refrigerator: Place legs in a bowl to catch drips and thaw overnight or up to 2 days.
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Cold Water: Submerge sealed legs in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes until thawed. Takes about 2 hours.
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Microwave: Microwave legs at 30% power in 1 minute increments, flipping occasionally until thawed. Takes 10-15 minutes.
Once thawed, use immediately or store in fridge up to 2 days. Do not refreeze thawed crab legs.
Preparing King Crab Legs for Cooking
Prepping crab legs for cooking takes just a few minutes:
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Rinse legs: Give them a quick cold water rinse to wash away any ice glaze or freezer burn.
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Pat dry: Gently pat legs with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Wet legs will steam instead of browning.
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Cut if needed: For very large legs, use kitchen shears to cut in half widthwise. This helps them cook evenly.
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Brush with oil: Lightly coat legs with olive oil or melted butter. This helps seasonings stick.
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Season: Sprinkle or brush legs generously with Old Bay, lemon pepper, garlic powder, etc.
That’s all the prep needed for tender, juicy crab leg results! Now let’s go over some cooking methods.
How to Cook King Crab Legs
King crab legs are already fully cooked before freezing. You just need to reheat them to serve. Here are easy at-home cooking methods:
Oven Baked
Baking crab legs in the oven allows them to reheat gently and evenly for tender meat.
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Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
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Arrange legs on pan and brush with melted butter.
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Bake 13-15 minutes until heated through.
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Serve legs immediately with lemon wedges and butter for dipping.
Grilled
For smoky flavor, grill crab legs outdoors or on a stovetop grill pan.
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Oil grates and preheat grill to medium high.
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Grill legs 4-5 minutes per side until warmed through, brushing with melted butter halfway.
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Take care not to overcook and dry out the delicate meat.
Steamed
Steaming is a quick and easy stovetop method for reheating crab legs until tender and hot.
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Add 1 inch water to a large pot fitted with a steaming basket. Bring to a boil.
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Place legs in single layer in basket. Steam 5-7 minutes until heated through.
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Drain legs and serve immediately for maximum moisture.
Sous Vide
For hands-off precise cooking, sous vide crab legs in a water bath.
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Preheat water to 175°F. Seal legs in a sous vide bag.
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Cook 45-60 minutes until legs are heated through.
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For browning, quickly sear legs after cooking.
Air Fryer
Get crispy, browned legs in the quick convenience of an air fryer.
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Preheat air fryer to 380°F.
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Spray or brush legs with oil and season well.
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Air fry 7-10 minutes, flipping halfway until hot.
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Be careful not to overcook and dry out the meat.
Serving Suggestions
King crab is decadent on its own, but here are some tasty ways to serve it:
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Melted butter: The rich flavor of melted butter perfectly complements the crab. Provide butter for dipping.
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Lemon wedges: A squeeze of tangy lemon brightens up the sweet crab’s flavor.
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Garlic butter: For an easy sauce, melt butter with minced garlic and parsley.
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Specialty salts: A sprinkling of smoked salt, truffle salt, or Old Bay seasoning kicks up the flavor.
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Fresh dill: Its grassy flavor pairs perfectly with king crab. Chop some over legs before serving.
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Chilled wine: A crisp white wine or Champagne is ideal with the rich crab.
How to Prepare King Crab Legs
How to Prepare King Crab Legs
How do you cook king crab legs?
Option 1: Boiled crab legs. Fill a large stockpot 3/4 of the way full with water, and add 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the crab legs, bending the king crab legs as needed to submerge as much of the leg as possible in the water. Depending on the size of your pot, you may need to cook the legs in 2 batches.
How do you cook a king crab?
Steaming is one of the best options for cooking king crab. Simply place two cups of water and a tablespoon of salt in a pot and bring it to a boil. The pot should be about one-third of the way filled with water. Place the crab legs in the pot on a rack or colander over the boiling water.
How do you cook crab legs in a steamer?
Place the steamer basket over 1 inch of water. Place the crabs in the steamer basket and bring the water to a boil. When the water has reached a boil, reduce the heat a simmer and cover the stockpot. Maintain a simmer as you steam the crab legs until they are heated through, 5-7 minutes.
How do you boil crab legs?
As with boiling crab legs, make sure you have a stockpot large enough to fit your crab legs. Place the steamer basket over 1 inch of water. Place the crabs in the steamer basket and bring the water to a boil. When the water has reached a boil, reduce the heat a simmer and cover the stockpot.