These crab legs are steamed to perfection, then tossed in a flavorful garlic butter sauce. It only takes minutes to make this easy but tasty way to enjoy fresh seafood. Crab legs are great as an appetizer or main dish.
When I’m hungry for seafood, I make my favorite dishes, like this tasty crab dish, seafood pasta, and scallops wrapped in bacon. If you’re a crab lover, you’ll adore this recipe!.
Where I live, the winter months are crab season. You can find a lot of fresh crab, and every year for the holidays, we eat crab legs. This recipe really takes things over the top with three types of crab in an easy butter sauce. Add a side of bread and a salad, and dinner is served.
Dungeness crab legs are a delicious and popular seafood delicacy enjoyed by many However, knowing exactly how long to cook them can be tricky Undercooking leaves crab meat that is tough and chewy, while overcooking results in dry, rubbery crab. Follow this guide to learn how long you should cook Dungeness crab legs and tips to ensure tender, juicy crab meat every time.
Dungeness crabs are a type of edible crab named after the port of Dungeness, Washington. They are found in the Pacific Ocean waters ranging from Alaska down to California. Dungeness crabs have a sweet, mild flavor and firm yet tender texture, making them a favorite for crab lovers.
The crab’s legs contain a good portion of meat. Dungeness crab legs are typically sold pre-cooked and frozen or fresh. You’ll want to use a seafood cracker to split open and expose the meat inside the hard leg shell before cooking.
Factors That Determine Cook Time
Several factors impact how long Dungeness crab legs need to cook:
Pre-Cooked vs. Raw
Most store-bought crab legs are pre-cooked This means they only need 5-7 minutes of steaming to reheat. Raw crab legs take 10-15 minutes to fully cook through.
Size of Legs
Larger, thicker legs take longer than smaller legs. Individual leg pieces usually cook faster than whole crab body sections.
High vs. Low Heat
Higher heat quickens cooking time. Boiling cooks faster than steaming.
Frozen vs. Thawed
Thawed or fresh crab legs cook more quickly than frozen.
Taking these factors into account will allow you to adjust cook times accordingly.
How to Tell When Legs Are Done
It’s easy to test doneness on pre-cooked crab legs since you are just reheating them. Check for hot steaming crab and orange tinted meat.
For raw legs, look for:
- Opaque, pearly white meat
- Meat pulls cleanly away from the shell
- Internal temperature of 140-165°F
The meat should be firm yet tender. If it seems tough and chewy or mushy, it is over or undercooked.
Recommended Cook Times
Based on the above factors, here are general guidelines for how long to cook Dungeness crab legs:
Pre-cooked Legs
- Smaller legs: 3-5 minutes
- Larger legs: 5-7 minutes
- Legs still attached to body: 7-10 minutes
Raw Legs
- Smaller legs: 5-7 minutes
- Larger legs: 10-12 minutes
- Legs still attached to body: 12-15 minutes
These times are for boiling or steaming with high heat. Add 2-3 minutes if cooking via simmering or baking at 350°F.
Always default to package instructions when provided, as they account for that particular brand’s sizing.
Step-By-Step Cooking Instructions
Follow these simple steps for tender, juicy crab legs every time:
1. Prepare the Legs
Thaw frozen legs overnight in the refrigerator if needed. Use kitchen shears or a seafood cracker to split the shell, exposing meat. Remove membrane covering the meat. Rinse briefly.
2. Bring Water to a Boil
Fill a large pot with 2-3 inches of water. Add 1-2 tbsp salt. Bring to a rapid boil.
3. Steam the Legs
Place legs in a steamer basket if you have one to keep them submerged. Otherwise add directly to the pot. Cover and cook for the recommended time based on type and size of legs.
4. Check for Doneness
Test a thicker piece at the minimum cook time. Meat should be opaque, pull cleanly from the shell, and register 140°F+ internally.
5. Drain and Serve
Immediately drain crab legs and serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, and your favorite dipping sauces.
Tips for Perfectly Cooked Crab Legs
- Resist peeking/opening the pot during cooking to prevent loss of steam and heat.
- Cook legs in a single layer instead of stacked for even cooking.
- Use tongs vs. a fork to move legs and prevent meat loss.
- Check meat in thickest part of legs and base near the body.
- When in doubt, slightly undercook. You can always put legs back in for 1-2 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you prep raw crab legs for cooking?
Use kitchen shears or a seafood cracker to split the hard shell along the legs, exposing the meat. Remove any membrane covering the meat. Briefly rinse to remove any shell fragments. Pat dry.
Can you steam pre-cooked crab legs?
Yes, steaming is a great hands-off way to gently reheat pre-cooked crab legs to serve.
Is boiling or steaming better for cooking crab legs?
Both work well. Boiling cooks a bit faster with more direct heat. Steaming cooks more gently, retaining moisture well.
Should you add seasoning to the cooking water?
1-2 tablespoons of salt is all you need. The natural crab flavor should shine. Avoid other seasonings.
What’s the best way to reheat leftover crab legs?
Preheat oven to 325°F. Place legs in a baking dish, tent with foil and heat for 4-5 minutes until warmed through.
Enjoy Perfectly Cooked Dungeness Crab Legs
With these tips and guidelines, you can master cooking Dungeness crab legs just right every time. Remember to adjust cook times based on the size, preparation, and temperature of your legs. Test doneness carefully for tender meat that pulls cleanly from the shell. In just 10-15 minutes, you’ll be enjoying sweet, succulent crab legs with confidence.
Frequency of Entities:
Dungeness crab legs – 19
crab legs – 15
crab – 7
legs – 29
meat – 8
cook – 11
boil – 3
steam – 4
raw – 4
pre-cooked – 4
tender – 3
juicy – 2
opaque – 2
buttery – 0
flaky – 0
chewy – 1
mushy – 1
rubbery – 1
dry – 1
tough – 2
How long to cook crab
Most crab you buy at the store is already cooked, so all you’re really doing is heating it up. Typically crab legs take about 5-7 minutes to heat through. Legs tend to cook quicker than the body pieces of the crab. If you want to cook the crab bodies along with the legs, you’ll need to add 3–4 minutes to the cooking time.
Types of crab legs
You can make this recipe with one type of crab, or with multiple varieties of crab. The most common types of crab include Dungeness crab, snow crab, king crab, stone crab, and blue crab. Crab species and availability tend to vary depending on your geographic area. Where I live, Dungeness crab are local to the region, so that’s what I often use. Snow crab and king crab are often found nationwide, either frozen or previously frozen. You can’t go wrong here, so pick what’s near you, looks the freshest, and costs the least.