Steaming frozen crab legs is a quick and delicious way to enjoy fresh, succulent crab meat at home. Crab legs available at the store are usually pre-cooked, so they just need to be thawed and heated through. However, it’s important to know the right amount of time for steaming them so they turn out perfectly cooked. Undercooking leaves them icy cold in the center, while overcooking makes them dry and rubbery. So how long should you steam frozen crab legs for?
The Optimal Steaming Time
In general, it takes 6 to 8 minutes to steam frozen crab legs to perfection. Thinner legs on the smaller side may cook faster in 5 to 6 minutes while thicker king crab legs may need closer to 8 to 10 minutes. The key is to steam them just until the meat is heated through and completely thawed.
Some signs that the crab legs are done:
- The shells turn bright red and opaque.
- The meat feels firm yet tender when poked with a fork.
- The meat easily releases from the shells when gently pulled.
Tips for Steaming Frozen Crab Legs
Follow these tips for flawlessly steamed crab legs
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Use a large pot with a steamer basket insert or colander that fits snugly inside. The crab legs should not be submerged in the boiling water.
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Fill the pot with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
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Arrange the frozen crab legs in a single layer in the steamer basket. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
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Cover the pot tightly and steam for 6 to 8 minutes. Resist opening the lid frequently.
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Use tongs to transfer the crab legs to a platter immediately to stop the cooking.
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Brush with melted butter and serve with lemon wedges and dipping sauce.
Factors That Affect Steaming Time
Several factors impact how long crab legs take to steam:
Type of crab – King crab legs are thicker than snow crab legs and take a bit longer.
Size of legs – Larger, thicker legs require more time than smaller, thinner legs.
Amount being steamed – Steaming a large batch takes longer than just a few legs.
Frozen state – Legs frozen into a block take longer than individual quick frozen legs.
Elevation – Water boils at lower temperatures at high altitudes, prolonging steaming.
How to Tell When Crab Legs Are Done
Rather than go strictly by the clock, check these visual cues to know when crab legs are ready:
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Shells turn vibrant red with an opaque white coating.
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Meat feels firm yet tender when poked, not hard and icy.
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Flesh pulls away easily from the shells when gently tugged with a fork.
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No signs of ice crystals remain inside the crab legs.
Serving Suggestions
Once cooked, here are some tasty ways to serve steamed crab legs:
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Drizzle with melted butter, lemon juice and a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning.
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Serve with melted garlic butter or clarified butter for dipping.
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Pair with lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, mustard sauce or tartar sauce.
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Garnish with chopped parsley, sliced green onions or lemon slices.
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For a full meal, serve alongside corn on the cob, roasted potatoes or rice pilaf.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
Since crab legs are pre-cooked, they can be steamed ahead of time:
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After steaming, cool crab legs completely and refrigerate in a covered container for up to 2 days.
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Reheat chilled crab legs by steaming again for 2 to 3 minutes until hot.
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Freeze leftover steamed crab meat in airtight bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before using.
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Crab shells can be reused to make seafood stock. Simply simmer in water with aromatics.
Common Steaming Problems and Solutions
Having trouble getting perfectly steamed crab legs? Refer to these troubleshooting tips:
Crab legs won’t thaw – The steaming time was too short. Increase duration by 1-2 minutes until thawed.
Meat is icy cold – Legs were undercooked. Steam 2-3 minutes longer until meat is heated through.
Shells won’t turn red – Water wasn’t boiling sufficiently. Bring water to a rolling boil before steaming.
Meat is dry and chewy – Legs were overcooked. Reduce time by 1-2 minutes next time.
Meat won’t release from shell – Crab wasn’t fully cooked. Check for icy spots and steam 1-2 minutes longer.
Crab legs stuck to basket – Don’t overcrowd basket next time and use tongs to lift out legs instead of shaking basket.
Crab legs fall apart – Handle legs gently when transferring them before and after steaming to keep meat intact.
Enjoy Sweet, Succulent Crab Legs
Steaming is hands down the best cooking method for frozen crab legs. Following the recommended 6 to 8 minutes steaming time and looking for visual doneness cues will ensure you achieve tender, juicy meat ready to impress your family or guests. Master steaming crab legs at home and you’ll be able to create restaurant-worthy seafood feasts.
Using my frozen crab
My husband froze some crab legs, now I want to make crab cakes. Do they shell easy frozen, or do I need to thaw them first?Crab-O-Licious. com Replies-Frozen crab legs are tough to deal with if not thawed out some. When we get them out of the freezer, we put them in a sink of cold water to thaw. The wrapping stays on. Even though they don’t have to be completely thawed, it is easier on the fingers to pick out the meat when they are mostly thawed.
by Cesar (Los Banos, CA, USA)
I caught 6 crabs and brought them home. Then, I put them in the freezer without boiling. Is that okay or not? Can I still boil them and eat? Crab-O-Licious. com Replies-Unfortunately no! They are no longer fit for consumption. If you freeze or even just put live crab in the fridge, it kills them, and dead crab is bad crab! If you can’t boil them right away, I suggest cleaning them live. That way, the crab legs and knuckles can be frozen or put in the fridge for a long time before they need to be cooked. Check out our Crab Legs Recipes. Go back to How To Freeze Crab Check out more useful tidbits about crab starting at our Crab-O-Licious. com Homepage.
My king crab is frozen, what do I do?
I want to cook my frozen king crab legs quickly. Crab-O-Licious. com Replies: Put some water in a pot, turn the burner up high, and put the legs in it. Then steam them up! It doesn’t take long. For only a few minutes, bring the water in your steamer to a boil and heat them all the way through. Within about 15 minutes youll be enjoying those King Crab Legs! Im jealous! Nevertheless, do enjoy!.
How to Cook Frozen Crab Leg : Making Meals Delicious
How long does it take to steam a frozen crab?
If using a steamer basket, fill a pot with an inch of water, then add a few lemon slices. Cover with lid, then bring water to a simmer over medium heat until steaming. Once pot is steaming, add crab and cover with lid. Continue to steam over medium heat for 5 minutes if using defrosted crab; 10 minutes if using frozen crab.
How to cook frozen crab legs?
– Place the frozen crab legs and a few lemon wedges in the steamer basket. – Cover the pot with a lid and steam for about **8 minutes**. – Transfer the crab legs to a serving platter and enjoy them
How do you cook crab legs in a steamer?
Here’s how: First, choose a pot large enough to hold the crab legs and a steamer basket. It should have a tight-fitting lid. Fill the pot with an inch or two of water, then arrange the basket on top. Season or salt the water (see note below). Bring the water to a boil, then place the crab legs in the steamer basket.
How do you cook thawed crab legs?
Add a generous amount of sea salt or kosher salt to the water, enhancing the natural flavors of the crab. Bring the water to a boil, and carefully place the thawed crab legs into a steamer basket or a colander that fits securely over the pot. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and steam the crab legs for about 6-8 minutes.