You may have been wondering how to cook Alaskan King Crab Legs on the grill. This easy method makes it less scary and a great idea for a special meal, especially since you can dip the delicious crab meat in a lemon garlic butter sauce.
If you like seafood as much as we do, you should also try our Pan Seared Scallops, Easy Grilled Shrimp Skewers, and Maine Lobster Rolls!
Alaskan king crab legs are a delicious, indulgent seafood treat. Their sweet, briny flavor and tender meat make them a favorite for special occasions and celebrations. However, king crab legs can be intimidating for home cooks who aren’t sure how to prepare them properly. One of the biggest questions is: how long do you need to cook Alaskan king crab legs to maximize their scrumptious taste?
Do King Crab Legs Need to Be Cooked Before Eating?
King crab legs purchased from the store are most often pre-cooked Fishermen cook the crab right after catching them in order to preserve freshness, The cooked crab legs are then frozen and shipped to stores, So king crab legs simply need to be reheated rather than fully cooked from raw
When you buy frozen king crab legs from the market, they will only require thawing, heating, and enjoying! This makes preparing king crab legs an easy, foolproof process
Thawing King Crab Legs
Before cooking, frozen king crab legs need to be completely thawed. The best way to safely thaw crab legs is by placing the frozen legs in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours or overnight.
You can also thaw in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes until the legs are pliable and thawed. Avoid thawing crab at room temperature or in hot water, as this can cause bacteria to grow.
Thawed king crab legs will feel limp, flexible, and cool to the touch when ready to cook.
How Long to Cook Pre-Cooked King Crab Legs
The trick to reheating pre-cooked frozen crab legs is to heat them just long enough to warm through while avoiding overcooking. King crab meat has a delicate texture that can become rubbery and dry if cooked too long.
Here are cooking times for different reheating methods:
- Steaming: 3-6 minutes
- Boiling: 4-6 minutes
- Grilling: 4-5 minutes per side
- Baking: 6-8 minutes at 375°F
In general, king crab legs take 5-10 minutes to reheat fully to an internal temperature of 165°F. Crab legs are done when hot throughout and opaque in color.
Use tongs and a cooking thermometer to occasionally test doneness when reheating crab legs. Take care not to overcook them. It’s always better to slightly undercook vs. overcooking this luxurious seafood.
Reheating Tips for Pre-Cooked King Crab Legs
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Whether boiling, steaming, grilling or baking, always start with frozen crab legs that have been thawed first. Do not try to cook frozen legs.
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Use a thermometer to accurately gauge doneness and prevent overcooking.
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Add seasonings after reheating instead of before to keep flavorings from burning or cooking off.
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Resist the urge to reheat legs at high heat to speed up the process. The delicate meat requires gentle heating.
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Watch legs closely near the end of cooking time and remove immediately when opaque and hot throughout.
How to Tell When King Crab Legs Are Done Reheating
It’s important to accurately assess when pre-cooked king crab legs are fully reheated so they stay juicy and tender. Here are a few ways to tell when they’re done:
- Temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the leg
- Meat is hot throughout when pierced with a fork
- Flesh turns opaque and white
- Legs become lightly steaming
- Shells turn bright red-orange
Serving Reheated King Crab Legs
Once your king crab legs are reheated, it’s time to dig in! Use crackers or small mallets to break open and dismantle the legs. The sweet meat pulls apart readily after heating. Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, and dipping sauces like aioli for drizzling over each luscious bite.
King crab pairs excellently with fresh bread, roasted vegetables, rice pilaf or pasta in a rich, creamy sauce. Share reheated Alaskan king crab legs with family and friends for special dinners in and occasions. The sweet taste and tender texture of king crab meat makes all the effort worth it.
How to Cook Crab Legs on the Grill
The truth is that grilling crab legs is SO simple that I almost don’t want to post this.
But if you’re like me, you may have seen crab at the store (Costco often has beautiful displays of them) and wondered how to cook them or who buys them.
Did you know that grilling king crab legs takes less than 10 minutes?
I know! I was shocked!
See, almost all of the king crab we see in the lower 48 states has already been cooked in Alaska and then quickly frozen. Crab meat is very delicate and it just doesnt ship without being cooked and frozen first.
So you arent actually cooking so much as reheating!
Here is how you do it:
- Heat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Rub a little olive oil on the outside of the crab legs.
- Put the crab legs on the grill and cook for four to five minutes. Then turn them over and cook for four to five more minutes, or until the meat is hot all the way through.
- Take the crab legs off the grill and use kitchen shears to cut open the underside (the smoother, whiter part, not the spiny, bright orange part). Then, use your fingers to crack open the split shell.
- Take out the crab meat, dip it in melted butter, and eat!
Its totally okay to buy king crab legs frozen and let them defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Some stores, like Costco and the seafood sections of big grocery stores, will already have them defrosted for you, which makes things even easier.
But don’t buy crab legs that have already been defrosted and then freeze them again. When you finally defrost them and eat them, they won’t taste fresh.
Since all of the king crab we get is frozen, we can pretty much eat it all year. However, it is only caught in the Bering Sea in the winter and for short periods in July and September.
King crab has long legs and spiny, hard shells. The meat inside the legs is silky and delicious, and it comes out easily in big chunks that taste great when dipped in melted butter.
All you need to get to that yummy crab meat is a good pair of kitchen shears. Or just steal your kids strong craft scissors if thats how you roll. Although if you have crab & seafood shears, by all means use those.
I mean to say that it’s not hard at all to cut those crab legs open and get to the meat inside.
About 200% of crab legs are meat, so buying 24 ounces of crab legs for two people gives you about 208 to 12 ounces of meat, or about 204 to 6 ounces per person.
That’s plenty, I think, since it’s such a rich and tasty protein, especially when dipped in a very easy lemon garlic butter. Now go ahead and eat those big chunks of crab meat.
What to Serve with Crab Legs
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How to Boil Alaskan King Crab Legs
FAQ
How long do Alaska king crab legs take to cook?
Is it better to boil or steam Alaskan king crab legs?
How do you know when king crab legs are done?
How many minutes do you boil crab legs?
How long do you cook king crab legs?
Place crab legs on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Place butter and garlic in a heat-safe mini skillet next to the crab legs. Bake for 20 minutes or until crab legs are heated through. Alternatively, you can broil king crab legs that are set at least 6 inches from a HIGH broiler flame for 5-8 minutes until warmed through.
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 water?
Submerge the crab legs in the water. Drop the crab legs into the water, taking care to avoid splashes from the hot water. Use tongs to push the crab legs down and tuck them into the water as much as possible. Try to keep them completely covered by the water before letting them cook.
Can You boil Alaskan king crab legs?
Boiling Alaskan king crab legs remains a reliable choice for many home cooks. The benefit of boiling is that it allows for even cooking. If you season the water with salt or other ingredients, such as herbs and peppercorns, the crab meat will be infused with subtle flavors. Here are the steps to boil Alaskan king crab legs: Thaw the Crab Legs.