There are three easy ways to cook crab legs: boiling, steaming, and baking. In less than 10 minutes, each method will give you perfectly warmed crab meat. There are also lots of tips in this post on how to choose and cook the most common types of crab legs.
Fresh crab is every seafood lover’s dream. And the good news is that crab is super easy to cook at home. Why? Because the crab you purchase from your local fishmonger is already pre-cooked and frozen. Many people don’t realize this. But crab is immediately cooked and flash-frozen to preserve its freshness when it’s caught. That means all you have to do to cook crab is warm up the legs, which only takes a few minutes!
You can dip crab in a tasty sauce (I’ll talk more about that below), or you can use fresh crab as a protein in crab salad, bowls, and other things. It’s easy to make a crab boil dinner that looks fancy but is actually very simple because the crab is already cooked.
Crab legs are a delicious and impressive dinner option. Their sweet, succulent meat is hard to resist. But cooking crab legs properly can seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Many people wonder, how long should you boil crab legs to get ideal results? The boiling time can vary slightly depending on a few factors.
Key Factors That Impact Crab Leg Boil Time
There are three main things that affect how long crab legs need to boil:
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Raw vs. pre-cooked – Raw crab legs take longer to cook through fully, while pre-cooked legs just need reheating.
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Frozen vs. thawed – Frozen legs require a few extra minutes to allow the cold meat to come up to temperature.
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Size of legs – Larger king crab legs need a minute or two more than smaller snow crab legs.
So clearly, not all crab legs are created equal when it comes to boil time. But the good news is that the differences are fairly minor. Follow my guide below for exactly how long to boil crab legs for perfect texture and flavor.
Boiling Guidelines Based on Type of Crab Legs
Raw Fresh Crab Legs
If you purchased fresh, uncooked crab legs from a fish market, follow these guidelines:
- Smaller legs (snow crab) – Boil for 7-8 minutes
- Larger legs (king crab) – Boil for 8-10 minutes
Check for doneness by looking for an opaque, white interior when you open the shell. The meat should be hot throughout and firm, not translucent.
Raw Frozen Crab Legs
Since frozen raw crab legs are colder in the center, they need a couple extra minutes:
- Smaller legs (snow crab) – Boil for 9-11 minutes
- Larger legs (king crab) – Boil for 10-12 minutes
Pre-Cooked Thawed Crab Legs
If you bought crab legs that are already cooked but were frozen, simply thaw them completely before boiling:
- Smaller legs (snow crab) – Boil for 4-5 minutes
- Larger legs (king crab) – Boil for 5-6 minutes
This short boiling time just heats them through without overcooking the already cooked meat.
Pre-Cooked Frozen Crab Legs
For pre-cooked crab legs that are still frozen, allow a few extra minutes for the cold center to heat through:
- Smaller legs (snow crab) – Boil for 6-7 minutes
- Larger legs (king crab) – Boil for 7-8 minutes
Err on the lower end of these ranges if the legs are on the smaller side. You can always boil for another minute if needed.
Step-By-Step Boiling Instructions
Boiling crab legs is simple with just a few key steps
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Use a large pot and fill with about 6 cups of water per 1 lb of crab legs. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
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Use tongs to carefully submerge the crab legs in the boiling water. Legs may initially float but will sink down.
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Cover pot, reduce heat to medium-high, and start your timer based on guidelines above.
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When timer goes off, check largest leg for doneness. Meat should be opaque throughout.
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Remove pot from heat and use tongs to transfer legs to a platter. Enjoy immediately with melted butter for dipping.
Pro tips: Season the boiling water with Old Bay or crab boil seasoning. And resist the urge to flip the legs while cooking – let them steam through on their own.
How to Know When Crab Legs Are Done Boiling
Judging doneness for boiled crab legs is easy. Look for these signs:
- Shell has turned bright red
- Meat is opaque and white, not transparent
- Meat has firmed up and flakes apart
- Internal temperature reads 165°F
Undercooked crab will have a raw, jelly-like texture and translucent appearance. Overcooked crab becomes rubbery and dry. Use the guidelines above to avoid both issues.
Tips for Perfectly Boiled Crab Legs
- Thaw frozen legs overnight in the fridge for best flavor
- Fold legs in half if needed to submerge fully in water
- Use tongs to gently add/remove legs, not a fork
- Season water with Old Bay, crab boil, lemon, etc.
- Don’t flip legs while boiling – let them steam through
- Check largest leg first for doneness
- Serve with melted butter and lemon wedges
Common Boiling Mistakes
Avoid these errors when boiling crab legs:
- Not using enough water – Leads to overcooking
- Boiling too many legs at once – Crowding reduces boil time
- Boiling from frozen – Thaw first for even cooking
- Checking doneness too late – Leads to rubbery texture
- Adding legs to cold water – Drastically increases overall cook time
- Flipping legs frequently – Disturbs steaming process
Enjoy Perfectly Boiled Crab Legs
With this handy guide on optimal crab leg boiling times, you can confidently cook up sweet, tender crab legs at home. Look for opaque, flaky meat as an indicator of doneness. Resist flipping legs while cooking and don’t pack pot too full. In just 10 minutes or less, you’ll have juicy, delicious crab legs ready to crack open and dip in melted butter. Boiling crab is easy and fast, so try these recipes next time you spot legs on sale. Impress your family with your foolproof crab leg cooking skills.
How To Eat Crab Legs
While you may need a crab cracker to break open King crab and Dungeness crab legs, your hands are likely all you’ll need for Snow crab. Just break the crab leg at the joint, then press down with your thumb to crack open the middle of the leg shell. Pull off one side of the shell and you should be able to pull the crab meat right out.
- To serve, have a sauce for dipping, lemon wedges for squeezing lemon juice on top, and maybe a pinch of old bay spice. For an easy and tasty way to enjoy fresh crab legs and bring out their natural flavor, try this recipe! You could also save the crab meat and make these crab-stuffed mushrooms for the best holiday appetizer!
- For the crab dipping sauce, melt unsalted butter in a small bowl and mix in fresh garlic, lemon juice, and salt. This easy mix goes well with any seafood, but it goes especially well with fresh crab. Reference the above for dipping sauce ingredients!.
Different Types of Crab Legs
There are over a dozen types of crabs you can eat across the world. But your local market will most likely have the options below. Let’s talk through these.
- This is the most common type of crab used in home cooking, and you’ve probably seen them before. Good news: Dungeness crab legs are usually sold in groups of three to five, and they don’t cost too much. Also, their meat is soft, slightly sweet, and slightly nutty, which makes it great for making crab salad or crab dip.
- King crabs: These are a bit more expensive and are sold by the piece, but the crab legs are worth it for a seafood boil when served on their own with butter. Their meat is sweet and tender, like lobster tails. They have twice as much meat as Dungeness crabs because their legs are so much bigger.
- If you don’t want to use king crab, snow crab is the next best thing for big legs. Their meat is sweet, savory, and a bit briny. Even better, the meat on snow crab legs is a beautiful white color, while king crab meat is bright red. Only bad thing is that they’re getting more expensive because of climate change and fewer people living in the area.
How to Boil Alaskan King Crab Legs
FAQ
How long does it take to boil crab legs?
How do you know crab legs are done?
Can you overcook crab legs?
How do you know when boiling crab is done?
How long do you cook crab legs in a pot?
This is why having a large pot is so important. When the crab legs are completely submerged within the water, you want to cover the pot so they can cook. Let the crab legs boil for 3 to 5 minutes depending on how many crab legs you put in and how big they are.
Can You boil frozen crab legs?
Yes, it’s best to thaw frozen crab legs in the refrigerator overnight to ensure even cooking. However, if you’re short on time, you can boil them frozen; just add a few minutes to the cooking time. What should I add to the water when boiling crab legs? Adding sea salt is essential to replicate the seawater flavor.
How do you cook king crab legs?
Option 1: Boiled crab legs. Fill a large stockpot 3/4 of the way full with water, and add 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the crab legs, bending the king crab legs as needed to submerge as much of the leg as possible in the water. Depending on the size of your pot, you may need to cook the legs in 2 batches.