Crab is one of the most delicious types of seafood out there. With its sweet succulent meat and satisfying crunch when you break through the shell it’s no wonder why crab is such a popular choice. However, cooking crab can seem intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. One of the most common questions people have is how long do you boil crab?
The answer depends on a few factors, including the type and size of crab. In this comprehensive guide I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to boil crab perfectly every time.
An Overview of Boiling Crab
Boiling is one of the easiest and most foolproof ways to cook crab. It yields moist, flaky meat while also creating that signature seafood flavor. Here’s a quick rundown of the basic process:
-
Fill a large pot with enough water to submerge the crabs completely. Bring the water to a rolling boil.
-
Add about 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup of salt per gallon of water. The salt helps season the crab as it cooks.
-
Gently lower the live crabs into the pot using tongs. Cover and cook for the recommended time based on type of crab (more details below).
-
Use tongs to transfer the cooked crabs to a colander and rinse briefly with cool water to stop the cooking process.
-
Clean the crabs by removing the top shell and undesirable parts like the apron, mouthparts, and gills. Crack and enjoy!
Now let’s look at boil times for various crab varieties.
How Long to Boil Different Types of Crab
Dungeness Crab
Dungeness is a popular type of crab found on the West Coast. A whole Dungeness crab takes about 16-18 minutes to boil. If you are boiling cleaned Dungeness crab pieces, reduce the time to 10-12 minutes.
Blue Crab
These smaller crabs are found on the East and Gulf Coasts. Boil blue crabs for about 7-8 minutes until the shells turn bright red.
King Crab
The extra-large king crab legs you often see at restaurants need a shorter boil time of just 5-6 minutes since the meat is already extracted from the body.
Snow Crab
Snow crab legs require only 3-4 minutes in boiling water due to their smaller size. Check for an opaque white color when done.
Stone Crab
Another small variety, stone crab claws boil in 4-5 minutes. Season the water with lemon and garlic for extra flavor.
Tips for Boiling Crab Perfectly
Now that you know approximate boil times, here are some useful tips to ensure boiled crab perfection:
-
Start with live crabs. Cooking live crabs helps kill potentially harmful bacteria compared to using dead crabs.
-
Use a large pot. Make sure the crabs have plenty of room to boil evenly. The water should cover them by a few inches.
-
Don’t overcrowd. Boil in batches to prevent the temperature from dropping too much when adding crabs.
-
Use enough salt. A generous amount of salt, around 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup per gallon, infuses the crabs with flavor.
-
Bring the water to a rolling boil before adding crabs. This helps ensure the crabs cook as quickly as possible.
-
Cook until the shells turn red. For most varieties, a bright red shell indicates doneness.
-
Shock in ice water. Cooling the cooked crabs stops the cooking process so they don’t overcook.
-
Clean thoroughly. Make sure to remove the top shell, apron, mouthparts, and gills after boiling.
-
Watch the time. Following boil times precisely prevents under or overcooking. Set a timer for best results.
Common Boiling Mistakes
It’s easy to mess up boiled crab if you’re not careful. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
-
Not using live crabs – Dead, frozen, or previously cooked crab requires different cook times. Start with fresh live crabs.
-
Inadequate boiling temperature – A mellow simmer won’t cut it. Maintain a rapid boil for best results.
-
Overcrowding the pot – Too many crabs lower the water temperature and lead to uneven cooking.
-
Not using enough salt – For flavorful crab, a generous amount of salt is a must.
-
Incorrect cook times – Boil too long and the meat dries out. Too little time leaves the meat underdone.
-
Forgetting to shock – Shocking in ice water stops carryover cooking. Omitting this step risks overcooked crab.
-
Incomplete cleaning – Make sure to remove all top shell parts, gills, mouthparts, and apron after boiling.
Serving Suggestions for Boiled Crab
Once your crab is boiled, cooled, cleaned, and cracked, it’s time for the best part – eating! Here are some classic pairings and serving ideas:
- Serve with melted butter for dipping the meat
- Make crab cakes or patties from any leftover meat
- Pick the meat and use in seafood salad, pasta, or risotto
- Use in crab sandwiches, rolls, or stuffed in avocados
- Pair with corn on the cob and boiled potatoes
- Add lemon wedges for a fresh, citrusy accent flavor
- Sprinkle with Old Bay or Cajun seasoning for a flavor boost
- Serve with cocktail sauce, mustard sauce, or mayo for dipping
- Pile the crab on a butcher paper-lined table for a traditional crab boil
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know when crab is done boiling?
Check for a bright red shell and opaque, white meat. The crab should also float to the top when fully cooked. Insert a sharp knife to ensure the meat near the body is hot.
Can you over boil crab?
Yes, boiling too long can cause the meat to become dry and rubbery. Follow recommended boil times precisely to avoid overcooking.
Is it OK to boil frozen crab legs?
It’s best to thaw frozen crab legs in the fridge overnight before boiling briefly to heat through. Boiling for the full time like live crab will result in very tough meat.
Why do you boil crab alive?
Live crabs have bacteria on their outer shell and meat that can cause illness. Boiling cooks the crabs quickly to minimize bacteria growth that persists after death.
Do you remove crab mustard before boiling?
The green crab mustard or tomalley provides lots of flavor, so most recommend leaving it in for boiling. However, remove it before eating if you prefer.
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,x22deferIdx22x3ax22ra9a0013a234c43d9abeadeb13a0c112cx22,x22deferredContainerIdx22x3ax22x2fmainx2frdpTipsx22,x22deferredContainerViewx22x3ax22RecipeDetailx22x7d,x22viewNamex22x3ax22RecipeTipsNonPrintx22x7d); var configuration = {}; var moduleName = expandableTextContainer; var isVueModule = true; GeneralMills.PandoSites.RegisterControlInstance(moduleName, configuration, componentMetadata, isVueModule) }); })();