Snow crab legs are a delicious treat that many people love to indulge in. Their sweet, succulent meat is coveted by seafood lovers everywhere. But knowing how to properly cook snow crab legs so that they turn out tender and juicy can be tricky especially when working with frozen legs. So how long should you boil frozen snow crab legs to achieve crab meat perfection? Let’s find out!
An Overview of Snow Crab Legs
Before jumping into cook times, it helps to understand what exactly snow crab legs are Snow crab legs come from snow crabs, a species of crab that live in the cold waters of the northern Pacific around Alaska, Russia, and Japan The snow crab is named for its translucent white meat, reminiscent of snow.
Snow crabs have long, thin legs compared to other crab species. Their legs contain the coveted snow crab meat, while the body and claws contain smaller amounts. Snow crab legs are harvested and sold still attached in clusters. When shopping, you’ll commonly find them sold in 1 pound bags.
Snow crab legs are always pre-cooked before freezing. This preliminary cooking makes them safe to eat straight from the frozen state. However, they still need a final steaming or boiling to warm through and finish cooking for ideal texture and flavor.
How Long to Boil Frozen Snow Crab Legs
When boiling frozen snow crab legs, keep the following cook times in mind:
- Smaller snow crab legs need around 10-12 minutes of boiling time.
- Larger, thicker legs require 12-15 minutes of boiling.
- Extra jumbo legs may need 15-18 minutes to heat through.
These boil times assume the legs are completely frozen when they go into the pot. The water should already be at a rolling boil before adding the crab legs. Use a large pot and add legs in a single layer if possible, avoiding overcrowding.
For the best results, boil in seafood stock, crab boil seasoning, or a flavorful brine rather than plain water. This infuses extra flavor and juiciness into the crab as it cooks.
Tips for Achieving Perfectly Cooked Snow Crab Legs
Follow these handy tips for boiling snow crab legs just right every time:
- Check for doneness after the minimum cook time by pulling apart a leg and peeking at the thickest part of the meat. It should be hot throughout and opaque white.
- Don’t overcook the crab or the meat can become rubbery. Err on the side of slightly undercooked when in doubt.
- Let the cooked legs drain in a colander briefly after boiling to prevent sogginess.
- Crack legs before serving using a mallet or crab crackers. This makes it easier for guests to access the meat.
- Provide small forks for picking crab meat from the shells along with melted butter for dipping.
- For added flavor, try pairing with fresh lemon wedges, minced garlic, or hot sauce.
Choosing Frozen vs. Fresh Snow Crab Legs
Snow crab legs are available both frozen and fresh. Frozen crab legs are flash frozen at sea shortly after being caught. This locks in flavor and texture. Thawed and cooked, they taste remarkably similar to fresh.
Fresh legs may have slightly superior flavor and texture but don’t store as long. They also come with a higher price tag. For the best value and convenience, frozen pre-cooked snow crab legs are the way to go for most home cooks.
Buying and Storing Snow Crab Legs
When purchasing snow crab legs, whether fresh or frozen, look for legs that are intact and not damaged. Avoid any with blackened spots or an overly fishy odor. Refrigerate fresh legs and use within 2 days.
To extend their shelf life, fresh legs can be cooked, cooled, and refrigerated for 3-4 days. Frozen legs maintain quality for up to 9 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge before boiling for food safety.
Delicious Ways to Serve Snow Crab Legs
Beyond boiling and cracking open on their own, there are lots of appetizing ways to serve and enjoy snow crab legs:
- Pile legs on a platter with melted butter and lemon wedges for easy dipping.
- Layer crab meat in lettuce cups along with avocado and mango.
- Toss crab meat with mayo, lemon juice, and herbs for a crab salad.
- Mix flaked crab with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings for crab cakes.
- Make crab rangoons by stuffing wonton wrappers with crab and cream cheese.
- Add crab meat to pasta, rice, or grain bowls for a protein punch.
- Garnish crab-topped dishes with sliced green onions and black sesame seeds.
With the right cook time and a few simple serving ideas, snow crab legs become an easy, impressive appetizer or main dish. Boil up a batch using the guidelines provided for tender, juicy meat that your guests will rave about.
Cooking Time Chart
For quick reference, here are the estimated boil times for frozen snow crab legs:
| Snow Crab Leg Size | Time to Boil Frozen |
|---|---|
| Small Legs | 10-12 minutes |
| Medium Legs | 12-15 minutes |
| Large Jumbo Legs | 15-18 minutes |
Remember to start timing after the water reaches a rolling boil and add legs in a single layer. Adjust cook times as needed based on thickness. Check for doneness early and err on the side of undercooked when uncertain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about boiling frozen snow crab legs:
How can you tell when snow crab legs are done boiling?
Check for doneness by poking the thickest part of a leg with a fork or knife. The meat should be hot and opaque throughout with no translucent spots left. Snow crab meat changes from blue-tinged to solid white when fully cooked.
Should you thaw frozen snow crab legs before boiling?
Thawing is not necessary. Snow crab legs can go straight from the freezer into boiling water without issue. In fact, starting from frozen helps ensure the meat cooks evenly.
Is it better to steam or boil snow crab legs?
Either cooking method works well. Boiling is quicker and infuses more flavor from the surrounding liquid. Steaming takes a bit longer but is lower maintenance without having to monitor a pot.
Why are my boiled snow crab legs soggy and watery?
Overcooking can cause excess water in the meat. Drain legs well after boiling and don’t let them sit in the cooking liquid. Eat crab meat right away before it reabsorbs moisture.
Can you reboil snow crab legs that were already cooked?
Pre-cooked snow crab legs, whether fresh or frozen, should only be boiled or steamed to reheat, not fully recooked. Boil just long enough to heat the meat through without overcooking.
Enjoy Perfectly Cooked Snow Crab at Home
With proper boiling times and a few handy serving suggestions, you can enjoy tender, juicy snow crab legs at home. Boil frozen legs just 10-18 minutes for ideal texture and flavor. Check for doneness early, drain well, and crack open immediately to prevent sogginess. Pair with melted butter, fresh lemon, and fun recipes for a delicious snow crab experience.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
- Tip 1: When cooking these Boiled Crab Legs, don’t stack them in the pot; cook them one at a time.
- Tip 2: Most frozen crab legs are already cooked, so all you have to do is heat them up in boiling water. If so, be careful not to cook them too long, or the meat will get tough and lose its flavor.
- Tip 3: Each person should have one pound of crab legs. This recipe for boiled crab legs can easily be doubled or even tripled if you’re having people over.
- Tip 4: To make your Boiled Crab Legs taste even better, add some finely chopped garlic to the melted butter.
(function() { document.addEventListener(DOMContentLoaded, function() { var componentMetadata = JSON.parse(x7bx22componentNamex22x3ax22RecipeTipsNonPrint_2ee1ece6-a33c-4f37-aafb-6377bfa48ff1x22,x22deferOptionsx22x3ax7bx22deferComponentx22x3atrue,x22deferTypex22x3ax22Simplex22,x22deferIdx22x3ax22ra4a32fc48ac54907b9af2e04e6708d4ex22,x22deferredContainerIdx22x3ax22x2fmainx2frdpTipsx22,x22deferredContainerViewx22x3ax22RecipeDetailx22x7d,x22viewNamex22x3ax22RecipeTipsNonPrintx22x7d); var configuration = {}; var moduleName = expandableTextContainer; var isVueModule = true; GeneralMills.PandoSites.RegisterControlInstance(moduleName, configuration, componentMetadata, isVueModule) }); })();