The Ultimate Guide to Steaming Succulent King Crab Legs

King crab legs are a delicacy loved by seafood fans across the world. Their sweet, briny flavor and tender meat make them an incredible treat. But if you’ve never steamed king crab legs at home before, it can seem intimidating. How exactly do you go about steaming these giant crustacean legs to juicy, mouthwatering perfection?

Not to worry – I’m here to walk you through the entire process, from start to finish. After reading this comprehensive guide, you’ll be a pro at steaming tender, flavorful king crab legs for your family and friends.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of how to steam them let’s start with the basics. King crab legs come from two types of crab – the red king crab and the blue king crab. They are harvested in the cold waters of Alaska Russia, and Norway.

Red king crab legs are the most common. They have a reddish-brown shell and a sweet, mild flavor. The legs are typically sold already cooked and frozen. Blue king crab is smaller and has a darker blue shell It has a richer, more robust flavor than red king crab

When buying king crab legs, look for legs that are solid red in color with no black spots or blemishes. Make sure the shell looks firm and not dried out. High quality king crab should have a fresh ocean-like aroma. The thawed meat inside the shell should be opaque and white, with no mushy or off-putting odors.

Now that you know what to look for when selecting king crab legs, let’s discuss the best way to cook these prized crustaceans – by steaming!

Why Steaming Is the Best Cooking Method

While you can boil, bake or grill king crab legs, steaming is hands down the best way to prepare them. Here’s why:

• Steaming gently cooks the crab meat while retaining maximum moisture, flavor and texture. The steam permeates the shell, heating the meat inside to tender perfection.

• Boiling can make the meat soggy and waterlogged. Baking and grilling often result in overcooked, rubbery meat.

• Steaming is a very quick cooking method, taking only 5-7 minutes. This prevents the delicate meat from becoming tough.

• It’s one of the healthiest ways to prepare seafood, as no fat or oil is used. The crab’s natural sweet flavor shines through.

• Steaming keeps the meat inside the shell, so it stays warm and moist. Once cracked open tableside, the crab meat glistens with mouthwatering juices.

• It results in a restaurant-quality presentation, with dramatic whole legs served in the shell.

Clearly, steaming is the prime technique for cooking succulent king crab every time. Now let’s go over the simple process step-by-step.

How to Steam King Crab Legs – The Step-by-Step Process

Steaming king crab legs is surprisingly easy. With just a pot, steaming basket and burner, you can have tender, sweet crab on the table in under 10 minutes.

Here is the foolproof process:

Step 1: Prepare the Crab Legs

King crab legs are sold precooked, so no prior preparation is needed. Simply thaw them if frozen and remove any rubber bands around the legs. Use kitchen shears to separate connected legs if needed. Rinse briefly under cold water and pat dry.

Step 2: Ready the Steamer Pot

Fill a large pot with 2-3 inches of water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Place a steaming basket or colander inside the pot. The legs should fit in a single layer with a little room between them.

Step 3: Steam the Legs

Carefully place the legs in the basket, being careful not to overcrowd them. Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid to trap the steam.

Reduce the heat to medium-high and steam the legs for 5-7 minutes, depending on thickness. Thicker legs may take up to 10 minutes.

Step 4: Check for Doneness

After 5 minutes, carefully remove the lid and check if the legs are done. They should turn bright red-orange.

Give them a little wiggle – the shell should start to loosen at the joints when they are ready. Be careful of escaping steam when removing the lid.

Step 5: Remove and Serve

Once the legs are cooked through, use tongs to transfer them to a platter. Serve immediately with melted butter, lemon wedges and your favorite sauces for dipping.

Crack open the shells at the table and enjoy the sweet, succulent meat inside! The king crab is best enjoyed hot right after steaming.

Tips for Perfectly Steamed Crab Legs

Here are some useful tips to ensure your steamed king crab turns out tender and delicious every time:

• Choose legs of similar thickness so they cook evenly. Avoid overcrowding the steamer – cook legs in batches if needed.

• Use a tight fitting lid and high heat to quickly generate plenty of steam.

• Check early and often – undercooked crab will be gummy, while overcooked meat gets tough.

• For added flavor, put some lemon slices, garlic and herbs in the steaming liquid. Their essence will permeate the crab.

• Let the legs rest for 2-3 minutes after steaming before cracking open. This allows the meat to absorb any residual steam.

• Serve with clarified butter, lemon wedges, chopped parsley and garlic aioli for dipping.

• Refrigerate any leftover crab meat and enjoy it the next day on salads, pasta or crab cakes.

Common Steaming Mistakes to Avoid

It’s easy to end up with subpar crab if you don’t steam them properly. Here are some key mistakes to avoid:

• Don’t boil the legs – this makes the meat soggy and diluted in flavor. Always steam over simmering, not rapidly boiling water.

• Don’t overload the steamer – too many legs prevents proper heat circulation.

• Don’t steam too long – the meat gets rubbery and stringy. Test doneness early and err on the side of undercooked.

• Don’t let legs sit after cooking – serve them immediately for the best texture and flavor.

• Don’t forget the nutcracker and picks – guests need proper tools to access the succulent meat inside the legs.

Follow my tips and your steamed king crab legs will be sweet, tender and perfectly cooked every single time. Your guests will be begging you for more!

Serving Suggestions and Pairings

Beyond the traditional lemon and butter, there are so many tasty ways to serve steamed crab legs:

• Keep it classic with a ramekin of clarified butter and lemon wedges for squeezing over the crab meat.

• Make garlic butter by mixing minced garlic into melted butter. Brush it over the crab legs right after steaming.

• Serve with cocktail sauce, mustard sauce or remoulade as tangy dipping options.

• Garnish the platter with fresh dill, parsley, chives or tarragon. Their bright flavors complement the sweet crab.

• Pair king crab legs with crusty bread to soak up all the delicious juices. Garlic bread is perfect.

• For a composed salad, pile chilled crab meat atop mixed greens, diced mango and avocado. Drizzle with citrus vinaigrette.

• Saute crab meat with lettuce, tomatoes, olives and lemon-butter sauce for an incredible crab salad.

• For an appetizer, place crab salad inside endive leaves or atop crostini.

King crab legs also pair wonderfully with crisp white wines like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The wine’s acidity cuts through the rich crab flavors. Sparkling wines work nicely too.

How to Eat King Crab Legs

Cracking open steaming hot king crab legs can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Here are some tips for accessing the incredible meat inside:

• Have heavy duty crab crackers or small mallets available to crack open the hard shell. Also provide picks for pulling out the meat.

• Twist and pull legs to separate them at the natural joints. The meat will usually come right out.

• For thicker areas of shell, place them flat on a solid surface to crack with the cracker. Tap gently to break through.

• Use picks to pull out large chunks of meat. For smaller, hard to reach sections, simply suck the meat right out of the shell.

• Don’t forget to crack the claws! While small, the sweet claw meat is worth the effort.

Now you can confidently steam juicy king crab legs and enjoy every last morsel of the coveted meat inside. Your family and friends will be beyond impressed.