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“How do I reheat my cooked blue crabs?” is one of the questions we get asked the most. It’s a great question (keep them coming!) that needs a clear answer. In this article, we’ll address this inquiry as well as provide you with oodles of reheating options!.
Crab legs are a delicious and popular seafood treat. When buying cooked crab legs from the store or having leftover crab from a restaurant, you’ll need to know how to properly reheat them at home. Steaming is one of the best methods for reheating pre-cooked crab legs while maintaining their flavor, moisture and texture.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about steaming previously cooked crab legs. We’ll cover
- Benefits of steaming vs other reheating methods
- Step-by-step instructions
- Tips for monitoring doneness
- Recommended steaming times
- Ensuring food safety
- Avoiding common mistakes
- Serving suggestions
Follow these guidelines and your reheated crab legs will taste freshly steamed!
Why Steaming is the Best Method for Reheating Crab Legs
Steaming is highly recommended for reheating pre-cooked crab legs for several reasons:
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It preserves moisture and prevents the meat from drying out.
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It evenly heats the legs without overcooking the meat.
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It keeps the texture tender, not rubbery.
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It allows the crab to gently reabsorb steam and aromas.
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It avoids adding extra fat or changing the flavor like other methods.
Steaming outperforms baking, microwaving, sautéing or frying for gently bringing out the best qualities of the crab meat.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Steaming Crab Legs
Follow these simple steps for flawlessly steaming pre-cooked crab legs:
1. Set Up a Steamer
Place a metal steamer basket or colander into a large pot. Add enough water to fill the pot about 2 inches deep. The steamer should sit above the water line.
2. Bring the Water to a Boil
Heat the pot over high heat until the water reaches a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer.
3. Steam the Crab Legs
Carefully place crab legs into the steamer, spacing them apart evenly. Cover pot with a tight fitting lid.
4. Monitor Doneness
After 6-8 minutes, use tongs to check if legs are hot throughout. Target an internal temperature of 165°F.
5. Remove from Heat
When crab legs are fully heated, immediately remove steamer from pot. Serve crab legs while hot.
How to Tell When Reheated Crab Legs Are Ready
It takes 6-8 minutes of steaming time to fully reheat crab legs. To precisely check doneness:
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Use an instant-read thermometer to test the thickest part of the meat. It should reach 165°F.
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Pick a section and feel if it’s hot all the way through. It should be too hot to touch for long.
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Watch for visual signs the crab meat has opaque, milky white color throughout.
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Try cracking a leg open. Properly reheated meat will be hot and moist, not dry or gummy.
Checking temperature and multiple visual signs ensures your crab legs are steaming hot and ready to enjoy.
Recommended Steaming Times for Crab Legs
The steaming time can vary slightly based on the size and shape of your crab legs. Follow these guidelines:
- Smaller legs – 6 to 7 minutes
- Medium legs – 7 to 8 minutes
- Larger legs, clusters – 8 to 9 minutes
- King crab legs – 9 to 10 minutes
For mixed sizes, start by steaming for the minimum time of the smallest legs, then add more time as needed. Better to slightly understeam and add a minute or two more.
Food Safety Tips for Reheating Crab
To safely reheat cooked crab legs:
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Only reheat crab legs once. Don’t let them sit at room temp more than 2 hours before reheating.
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Discard any crab legs that smell fishy or have an off appearance or texture.
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Use a food thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
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Eat reheated crab legs within 3-4 days for maximum freshness and quality.
Following proper handling and reheating procedures reduces your risk of foodborne illness.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to overcook or dry out crab legs if you aren’t careful! Avoid these common steaming mistakes:
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Placing the steamer basket directly into the water instead of above it.
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Bringing the water to a rolling boil with the crab already inside.
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Steaming too long or ignoring signs of doneness.
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Letting crab legs sit in the hot steamer after they’re finished cooking.
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Failing to check the internal temperature with a thermometer.
With a little practice, you’ll perfect the steaming method and enjoy tender, moist crab leg meat.
Serving Suggestions for Reheated Crab Legs
Once you’ve mastered reheating crab legs through steaming, explore fun ways to serve and enjoy them:
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Crack shells at the table for a hands-on seafood feast. Provide small hammers, crackers and picks.
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Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, vinegar-based sauces or aioli for dipping.
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Pair with corn on the cob and roasted red potatoes or rice pilaf.
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Pile legs over a fresh salad for a protein and veggie packed meal.
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For an appetizer, cut leg meat into chunks and mix with avocado in crab salad lettuce wraps.
However you choose to enjoy them, perfectly steamed crab legs are a delicious treat! Now that you know exactly how long to steam previously cooked crab legs, you can rediscover this seafood anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I store leftover cooked crab legs?
Store cooked crab legs for 2-3 days tightly wrapped in the fridge. Reheat within that time for best quality.
Is it safe to reheat crab legs more than once?
No, only reheat cooked crab legs one time. Reheating twice increases risk of bacteria growth.
Can I reheat crab legs straight from frozen?
Yes, you can steam frozen pre-cooked crab legs without thawing first. Add 1-2 minutes to the steaming time.
What if my crab legs seem rubbery after steaming?
Overcooked crab can develop a rubbery texture. Next time, reduce the steaming time by 1-2 minutes.
What’s the best way to crack open crab legs?
Use a small hammer or mallet to tap the shell in the opposite direction of the natural opening. Cracking before/during steaming makes eating easier.
With the proper technique, steaming makes enjoying pre-cooked crab at home a breeze. In less than 10 minutes, you can have tender, restaurant-quality crab legs ready for dipping in melted butter or piling over salad. Use these guidelines for reheating success!
Do I need to reheat my blue crabs?
One great thing about Cameron’s Maryland Blue Crabs is that they are all already cooked, seasoned, and ready to eat. The crabs are caught, steamed, cooled, and shipped the very same day, ensuring the freshest (and bestest) quality. Reheating crabs is more of a matter of preference, whether you prefer eating them either hot or chilled.
For those that like their crabs hot and toasty, here are 4 of our preferred ways to reheat.
Steaming is the most common method of reheating blue crabs. As for equipment, you’ll need a large pot outfitted with a steamer tray or basket. Fill the pot with water until it’s just below the basket. Then, bring it to a boil. Once ample steam is visible, carefully add the crabs to the basket. Depending on the size of your steamer, only stack the crabs about two to three high. If you have to, work in batches and make sure there is plenty of space for the steam to move around the crabs. Be careful not to submerge the crabs in the water as well. If the boiling water is up and over the basket, remove a few ladle-fulls before adding the crabs. Steam for 10 minutes or until hot.
If you have two or three crabs left over from your original crab feast, this is a good way to heat them up again. Place crabs on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel (this will help maintain moisture). Microwave on high for 1-1 1/2 minutes or until hot.
When you reheat a lot of crabs (12), this is the best way to do it because the whole batch will be heated through at the same time, while microwaving or steaming would only heat two or three at a time. Preheat oven to 350-375°F. Put a wire rack in a big roasting pan and add enough water to just below the rack. 1-inch). Place crabs on top of the wire rack, shingled or lightly stacked if necessary. Loosely tent the roasting pan with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the crabs are hot.
If you’re camping or feeling cramped in your kitchen, the grilling method is pretty convenient. Tongs are the most important grilling tools, but you will also need a heat-resistant metal pan to hold the water. Preheat one side of a gas grill to medium heat. Prepare the coals for a charcoal grill. Once the coals are hot, move them to one side of the grill. The side with the flame or coals will be our “direct heat” side, and the side across from it will be our “in-direct heat” side. Place a pan, filling half-full with water, on the direct heat side of the grill. Cover the grill and wait for the water to steam. Once steaming, place the crabs (working in batches if necessary) on the in-direct side of the grill. Close the lid once more and cook for 10-15 minutes or until hot. Depending on the grill, you may need to turn the crabs over halfway through the reheating process. The crabs closest to the direct heat may heat up faster than those farther away.