how long do you cook frozen crab legs

How Long Should You Cook Frozen Crab Legs? The Ultimate Guide

Cooking up a batch of succulent crab legs is one of the tastiest ways to enjoy fresh seafood. The sweet, tender meat inside crab legs is delicious. However, many crab legs purchased from the store are previously frozen. This leaves home cooks wondering – how long do you cook frozen crab legs to heat them through without overcooking?

Let’s walk through the perfect method for cooking frozen crab legs, step-by-step, to help you nail the timing and technique. With a few simple tips, you’ll have tender, juicy crab legs ready in no time.

Thawing Frozen Crab Legs

The first step is thawing out the frozen crab legs properly. While you can cook them straight from frozen, thawing first helps ensure even cooking so you don’t end up with mushy parts and underdone sections.

There are a couple easy methods to safely thaw crab legs:

• Refrigerator Thawing Place legs in a bowl and leave in the fridge for 12-24 hours until thawed.

• Cold Water Thawing: Submerge legs in cold tap water, changing water every 30 mins until flexible. Takes about 1 hour.

Once thawed, the joints should bend flexibly. Undercooked center sections are common if legs aren’t thawed fully. Check that legs are flexible before cooking.

Preparing For Cooking

Get your cooking equipment ready while crab legs thaw. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Large stock pot with lid
• Steamer basket or colander
• Kitchen tongs
• Rimmed baking sheet
• Aluminum foil
• Kitchen shears or crab crackers

You’ll also need ingredients:

• Old Bay or crab boil seasoning
• Melted butter for dipping
• Lemon wedges

Fill stock pot with 2-3 inches of water. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. The steaming liquid can just be plain water, or you can add Old Bay, lemon, and other flavorings.

How Long to Steam Frozen Crab Legs

Steaming is the easiest, foolproof cooking method recommended for frozen crab legs. Follow these simple steps:

1. Prepare boiling seasoned water in a stock pot as described above.

2. Place steamer basket in pot, making sure it doesn’t touch the boiling water.

3. Add crab legs to basket in a single layer, if possible.

4. Cover pot with tight fitting lid to circulate steam.

5. Steam legs for 8-10 minutes if thawed fully.

6. For frozen legs straight from freezer, steam for 15-18 minutes.

7. Check for doneness by looking for opaque, pearly flesh. Meat should be hot throughout.

8. Carefully remove crab legs from steamer and serve immediately.

The thickness of the crab legs impacts cooking time. Super colossal king crab legs may need a couple extra minutes. Just check a few inner areas with kitchen shears to ensure the meat is fully hot and opaque.

Letting legs rest for 5 minutes under foil after steaming allows moisture to redistribute evenly. But don’t rest much longer or they may cool off and lose that just-cooked tenderness.

Handy Tip: Use foil lined baking sheets to keep cooked crab legs warm if your meal isn’t quite ready yet.

Make sure you have melted lemon butter, cocktail sauce, or other dipping sauces on hand for dunking the piping hot meat. Now crack open those legs and start dipping!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Steaming crab legs is pretty straightforward, but there are a few pitfalls to watch out for:

• Underthawing – Frozen centers mean uneven cooking. Always fully thaw legs first.

• Overcrowding – Too many legs may prevent proper steam circulation. Cook in batches if needed.

• Checking too late – Set a timer and check early to prevent overcooking.

• Oversteaming – It’s easy to go a little too long. Always err on the side of slightly underdone.

• Letting legs sit – Serve them right out of the steamer for the best texture.

The Perfect Doneness For Crab Legs

It’s just a matter of catching crab legs right when they reach that ideal level of doneness:

• Meat should be opaque and pearly white, not translucent.

• Texture will be tender and juicy without being overly mushy.

• Flavor is sweet and buttery, not rubbery or watery.

• Legs should be hot throughout, but not overcooked.

Finding the ideal doneness means checking often as legs steam. But once you master the timing, results are well worth the effort!

Troubleshooting FAQs

Let’s go over some common questions when cooking frozen crab legs:

How do you know when they’re done?

• Check meat color and test thickness – opaque white means done!

Why are my crab legs mushy?

• Overcooking is the main culprit. Try less time steaming.

Are the legs undercooked inside?

• Thaw fully before cooking and extend cook time slightly.

Can I re-steam underdone crab legs?

• You can try, but texture will suffer. Better to cook a bit longer initially.

Help! My crab leg meat is stuck inside!

• Gently re-steam for a minute or two to loosen meat for easier removal.

Can I steam frozen crab legs from raw?

• Yes, add a few extra minutes to compensate for frozen centers.

What’s Better – Steaming vs. Boiling Crab Legs?

While you’ll often hear the terms used interchangeably, there is a difference between steaming and boiling crab legs. Here’s how the two techniques compare:

Steaming

• Cooks via hot steam circulating around legs.
• Required a steaming basket or colander.
• Legs do not sit in boiling water.
• Retains more moisture for tender meat.
• Heat distributes more evenly.
• Juicier, more foolproof results!

Boiling

• Legs simmer directly in flavored, boiling water.
• Can lead to uneven cooking.
• Can toughen meat and dry it out.
• Hard to control water temp for precise timing.
• Requires constant monitoring.

Both methods will cook crab legs. But steaming is superior, especially when working with frozen legs. The indirect heat ensures a gentle cook while sealing in all the natural flavor.

Tips for the Best Frozen Crab Leg Results

Here are some useful tricks to take your frozen crab legs to the next level:

• Salt the boiling water well before adding legs for extra seasoning.
• Finish with a shake of Old Bay for more zing and aroma.
• Serve with multiple dipping sauce options like garlic butter and lemon mayo.
• Use kitchen shears for cracking – less mess and shards than mallets!
• Go for a classic seafood pairing like corn on the cob and roasted potatoes.
• Draw out every last bit of leg meat with mini forks.
• Save any leftover meat for crab cakes or seafood salad later.

Cooking up frozen crab legs has never been easier. In less than 30 minutes, you can have an impressive, restaurant-quality feast ready to impress your family or guests. Get that pot of seasoned water boiling, thaw those legs, and get ready to dig in!

Common Questions About Cooking Frozen Crab Legs

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cooking previously frozen crab legs:

How can you tell if frozen crab legs are bad?

Check for signs of spoilage like off odors, mushy texture, or milky discoloration. Frozen crab legs are safe indefinitely if properly stored, but quality declines over time. Ideal use is within 9 months.

Should you rinse frozen crab legs before cooking?

Rinsing is not necessary since legs are fully cooked. Some people prefer to rinse defrosted legs quickly under cool water to remove any ice crystals. But this is optional.

Do you add salt when steaming crab legs?

It’s recommended to season the steaming liquid well with Old Bay or other seasonings of choice. The seasoning will impart flavor to legs as they steam. No need to salt legs directly before or after cooking.

What’s the white stuff inside crab legs?

The white material along the meat inside crab leg segments is called the mustard. It’s the crab’s hepatopancreas organ and naturally found in crabs. It’s edible with a strong flavor. Some people love it, while others choose not to eat it.

Should crab legs be refrigerated after cooking?

Cooked crab meat should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Use within 3-4 days for peak freshness. The texture tends to degrade over time. Frozen is best for long term storage up to 3 months.

What sides go well with crab legs?

Some classic pairings include corn on the cob, roasted potatoes or rice, coleslaw or salad, and dipping sauces like lemon garlic butter. A starch and vegetable balance out the rich crab perfectly.

Can you reheat leftover crab legs?

Previously cooked crab legs can be gently reheated either by steaming for