No secret here: crab legs can be tough to eat. That’s why it’s worth the time to learn how to crack them so you can get to the tasty meat without any shell pieces. If you’re going to eat a whole crab, you should also learn how to get the rich brown meat that’s inside the crab’s cartilaginous channels.
These steps will show you how to get your crab legs ready, how to crack them without tools, and the right way to eat them.
Crab legs are a delicious treat, but can be intimidating for first-timers. With their tough, spiky shells protecting succulent meat inside, crab legs require some finesse to open and enjoy. Fortunately, with a few simple tools and techniques, you can master the art of eating crab legs – impressing family and friends at your next seafood feast.
Getting Started
Before cracking open crab legs you’ll need to assemble some basic tools. Here’s what you’ll need
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Seafood cracker or pliers – Makes quick work of breaking through tough shells
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Small hammer or mallet – A must for king crab and dungeness crab with extra thick shells.
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Sharp kitchen shears – Cuts through crab shells with ease.
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Small fork or pick – Helps pull meat out of tight spaces.
You’ll also want to prep your workspace with plenty of napkins or paper towels. Things are bound to get messy!
Choosing Your Crab
The three most common varieties of crab legs are:
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King crab – Prized for their thick, sweet meat and hearty texture. Their extra hard shells require tools to break through.
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Snow crab – Delicate flavor with a finer, flaky texture. Their thinner legs crack open easily.
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Dungeness crab – Sweet, tender meat with a touch of nuttiness. Moderately hard shells, but not as tough as king crab.
No matter which type you choose, thawed crab legs are ideal, as they’ll steam more evenly. Place frozen legs in the fridge overnight before cooking.
Cooking Crab Legs
Proper cooking is key to softening the shells and achieving the perfect doneness for the interior meat.
The easiest foolproof method is steaming:
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Place legs in a steamer basket set over boiling water.
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Steam for 4-5 minutes until bright orange and opaque.
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Check for doneness by looking for an internal temperature of 140°F.
Undercooked crab will be difficult to extract from the shell. Overcooked crab may be dry and rubbery.
Cracking King Crab Legs
With their intimidating spike-covered shells, king crab legs require a bit of brute force. Here are some tips:
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Use a mallet or hammer to crack the leg segment closest to the body. Strike it on its side to split open.
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Insert seafood crackers into the cracked segment and twist to break the shell.
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For leg segments further from the body, simply twist, snap and pull apart at joints.
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Use a pick to pull delicious chunks of meat from inside the cracked legs.
Opening Snow Crab Legs
Snow crab legs have thinner, more delicate shells that just need a quick snip to access the meat.
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Use sharp kitchen shears to cut through the shell lengthwise.
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You can also simply twist each segment to snap it open at joints.
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If needed, give the joints a whack with a mallet to help them crack.
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The meat will come out in long whole pieces once the shell is split.
Freeing Dungeness Crab Meat
Dungeness crab legs require minimal effort to open. Here’s how:
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Using your hands, lightly twist each leg segment until it separates at natural joints.
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Use shears or scissors to snip through soft ligaments at joints.
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The shell can then easily be peeled back, revealing beautiful chunks of meat.
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For thicker parts of the shell, give it a crack with a mallet or scissors.
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A pick may be needed to reach into tight crevices.
Tackling the Claws
Crab claws contain some of the sweetest, most coveted meat. Get every last morsel out using these techniques:
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Place claw on a hard surface with the movable part facing up.
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Use a mallet to crack the immovable part of the shell.
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Insert a seafood cracker and twist to split open.
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Use shears to cut through ligaments at each joint.
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Peel back the cracked shell and pull out meat.
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Carefully suck out juice and meat hiding in small openings.
Enjoy Your Bounty
Once you’ve conquered the shell, it’s time to feast! Removing crab meat in whole pieces will maximize the sweet flavor.
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Savor buttery chunks of leg meat on their own, or on top of salad.
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Mix flaky claw meat into seafood pasta or risotto.
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Enjoy the rich brown body meat in crab cakes or dips.
The key is gently handling the crab during extraction to keep its delicate texture intact. Now go crack open some legs and get your fill of succulent seafood! What was once intimidating will become a breeze.
How to Eat Crab Legs
You now want to know how to cook and eat crab legs at home after getting your order. Lets explore how to eat Dungeness, king and snow crabs:
Crab Legs vs. Whole Crabs
The type of meat found in the body and legs of a crab is different. The claws and legs have milder white meat, while the body has richer brown meat.
Some crabs get delivered to you whole, which affects how you cook and eat them. Youll generally remove the legs from the body and then extract the meat from each part.
How To Get Meat Out of Snow Crab Legs – Easy and Fast
FAQ
What part of a crab can’t you eat?
How to eat crab legs?
Before diving into how to eat crab legs, there are a few things to consider. You can either purchase fresh, chilled or frozen crab legs. In most cases, you’ll receive frozen crab legs because it’s easy to maintain their quality and freshness. The crab gets cooked, dipped in a below-freeze and then rinsed to add a protective layer.
How do you eat a crab?
To eat a crab, start by removing the legs and claws with your hands, saving the claws. Next, remove the top shell from the crab’s body and break it in half. Use a fork to pick as much meat as possible from the body. Use a cracker, mallet, or knife to break open the crab’s claws and enjoy the meat inside. Prepare your table before starting.
Can you eat king crab legs?
If you are eating Dungeness or snow crab legs, tools like scissors and a wooden mallet may be all you need to crack through the shells. King crabs have a harder outer shell, so you may need a crab cracker and gloves or a dish towel to break through the spiny shell. 2. Steam Your Crab Properly Crab legs generally come frozen.
How do you cook king crab legs?
To cook king crab legs, you can use the boiling method. Fill a large stockpot 3/4 of the way full with water and add 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the crab legs, bending them 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.