How Long to Steam King Crab Legs on the Grill for Perfectly Cooked Crab

As summers rolls around, grilling season is upon us. And one of the most impressive things you can throw on the grill are king crab legs. Their sweet, succulent meat is unbeatable when cooked over an open flame. But grilling crab legs can seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. How do you know when they’re cooked properly without over or undercooking them? One of the keys is knowing how long to steam king crab legs on the grill.

Why Steaming is Key for Grilling Crab Legs

King crab legs are most often sold pre-cooked and frozen. This preserves their freshness and locks in flavor. When you go to cook pre-cooked frozen crab legs, you are just reheating them, not entirely cooking them from scratch. This is where steaming comes in. The best way to reheat crab legs evenly while avoiding drying them out is to steam them. Exposing the crab legs directly to an open grill flame can make the meat rubbery and dry. But steaming them allows the heat to gently surround the legs and bring the meat up to the proper serving temperature.

So when grilling pre-cooked king crab legs, we want to essentially steam them on the grill by trapping steam around the crab.

How to Steam Crab Legs on a Grill

Steaming crab legs on the grill is simple but effective Here’s a step-by-step guide

1. Thaw frozen pre-cooked king crab legs completely in the refrigerator overnight Cold crab leg meat won’t heat evenly

2. Prepare the grill for medium-high heat, around 375°F. For charcoal, let the coals burn until covered with white ash before grilling.

3. Clean crab legs and cut along the shell with kitchen shears to expose the meat.

4. Place crab legs shell-side down on the grill and close the lid immediately. This traps steam around the crab legs.

5. Steam the crab legs with the lid closed for 7-8 minutes. Resist the urge to flip or move them during cooking.

6. After steaming for 7-8 minutes, flip the crab legs and steam shell-side up for another 7-8 minutes.

7. Check for doneness by looking for opaque, white meat. Meat should be hot throughout.

8. Serve crab legs immediately with melted butter for dipping.

The key steps are placing the legs shell-side down first to trap steam, keeping the lid closed during cooking, and resisting flipping the legs too soon. Steaming for a total time of 14-16 minutes (7-8 minutes per side) allows the heat to thoroughly penetrate the king crab legs without overcooking.

How to Tell When Crab Legs Are Done

Since most king crab legs are pre-cooked, we aren’t looking for them to cook through entirely on the grill. You just want to sufficiently reheat them until hot and steaming. There are a few ways to tell when they’re done:

• Meat is opaque and white throughout, not translucent.
• Shells turn bright red.
• Meat has firmed up and flakes apart easily.
• Internal temperature reads 165°F.

When in doubt, err on the side of slightly undercooked. You can always put them back on the grill for another minute or two if needed. But overcooked crab becomes rubbery and dry.

Common Grilling Mistakes to Avoid

While grilling crab legs is easy, there are a few common mistakes people make:

• Not thawing legs properly – Thaw overnight in the fridge, not at room temp.
• Grilling over direct high heat without steaming – Causes dryness.
• Grilling from frozen – Uneven cooking. Thaw first.
• Flipping crab legs too frequently – Don’t flip before 7-8 minutes.
• Overcooking – Rubbery, dry meat.
• Not seasoning – Salt and pepper before grilling.
• Serving without melted butter – Makes crab easier to eat.

Tips for Perfectly Grilled King Crab Every Time

Follow these helpful tips for foolproof steamed king crab legs off the grill:

• Check for doneness early and don’t overcook.
• Use tongs, not a fork, to flip crab legs delicately.
• Give the grill grate a light coat of oil before grilling for easy release.
• Cut slits into legs before cooking to make removing meat easier after grilling.
• Submerge crab legs in an ice bath immediately to stop cooking, if needed.
• Allow 3-4 legs per person, depending on size. Adjust accordingly.
• Pair grilled crab with grilled corn, potatoes, or a fresh salad.
• Dip in melted garlic lemon butter for maximum indulgence.
• Grill on a cedar plank for a subtle wood-smoked flavor.

Grilled King Crab Legs Make the Perfect Summer Meal

Next time you fire up the grill as the weather warms up, consider tossing some king crab legs on. In about 15 minutes, you’ll have a restaurant-worthy meal ready to enjoy outdoors. Be sure to steam them properly by trapping steam and resist the urge to flip too soon. Cook for 7-8 minutes per side, and don’t overcook. Follow these simple steps for tender, juicy king crab straight off your grill. Crack open a cold beer or a crisp white wine, dip that sweet meat in lemon butter, and enjoy the flavored of summer. Grilled king crab is a quick and easy dinner that feels like a special occasion.