How Long Should You Grill Crab Cakes to Perfection? The Ultimate Grilling Guide

Crab cakes are a delicious and indulgent treat that take your tastebuds on a coastal vacation with every bite. Their crispy golden exterior encasing sweet, succulent crab meat is simply irresistible. But cooking crab cakes can be tricky – it’s all too easy to end up with a dry crumbly mess if you don’t know what you’re doing.

One of the best ways to cook crab cakes is by grilling them infusing them with a wonderful smoky flavor. But grilling adds another layer of complexity – just how long should you grill those crab cakes to achieve crab cake nirvana? Keep reading and I’ll walk you through everything you need to know for grilling crab cakes like a pro.

Selecting the Best Crab for Your Crab Cakes

The foundation of stellar crab cakes lies in the crab meat itself. For the sweetest flavor and lumpiest texture, you’ll want to use fresh jumbo lump or lump crab meat. Crab meat is graded based on the size of the pieces, with jumbo lump containing the largest chunks from the body.

Pasteurized crab meat is a convenient option that still provides great flavor. Just make sure to drain off any excess liquid before using. Canned crab meat works in a pinch but the texture won’t be quite as divine.

I recommend splurging on the best crab you can find – after all, it’s the star ingredient!

Pro Tips for the Perfect Crab Cake Mix

A crab cake is so much more than just crab meat. The additional ingredients are what takes it from seafood lump to spectacular crab cake. Here are some of my essential tips:

• Binders: Mayonnaise and egg act as binders to hold the crab cake mixture together. This is especially important for grilling, where crab cakes are more prone to falling apart.

• Breadcrumbs: Adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of panko or fresh breadcrumbs provides structure and absorbs excess moisture.

• Seasonings: Old Bay, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, and Dijon mustard are classic crab cake seasonings that enhance the flavor.

• Mix Gently: Fold the ingredients together very gently to avoid breaking up the crab meat lumps.

• Chill Thoroughly: Chill the formed crab cakes for at least 30 minutes before grilling. This firms them up so they hold their shape better.

Shaping Crab Cakes to Perfection

Once your crab cake mix is ready, it’s time for the fun part – shaping them into beautiful patties! Here are some key tips:

• Use lightly oiled hands to gently form the mixture into patties, without over-handling.

• For appetizer-sized crab cakes, make them 2 to 3 inches in diameter. For entree crab cakes, aim for 4 to 5 inches across.

• Place the shaped crab cakes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and smooth out any jagged edges.

• Chill for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight before grilling. This crucial chilling step allows the crab cakes to firm up.

Mastering the Art of Grilling Crab Cakes

Now we’ve arrived at the heart of our quest – discovering how long you should actually grill crab cakes to reach the pinnacle of crab cake perfection. Follow these steps for success:

1. Prep Your Grill

• For gas grills, preheat to medium-high heat (around 375-400°F) for 10 minutes.

• For charcoal, let the coals get hot and covered with ash.

• Use a grill brush to clean the grates if needed.

2. Oil Those Grates!

• Lightly brush the hot grates with oil or spray with grilling spray. This prevents sticking.

3. Get Grilling

• Gently place the chilled crab cakes on the oiled grates, leaving space between them.

• Grill for 4-5 minutes without disturbing them. This allows the lovely crispy crust to form.

• Flip and grill for another 4-5 minutes on the second side.

• For larger crab cakes, extend the grilling time to 6-8 minutes per side.

• The total grilling time will be 8-10 minutes for smaller 2-3 inch crab cakes, and 12-16 minutes for larger 4-5 inch crab cakes.

• Remove from the grill once the crab cakes are heated through and beautifully browned.

4. Some Extra Grilling Tips

• Try not to move the crab cakes too much during grilling. Flipping them just once helps them hold their shape.

• If flare-ups occur, move the crab cakes to a cooler area of the grill.

• If the crab cakes begin to burn or cook too quickly, lower the heat.

• Brush on a little extra oil or sauce near the end if you want an extra glaze.

Serving Up Your Grilled Crab Cake Creations

Once you’ve mastered the grilling, it’s time to dig in! I recommend serving crab cakes with:

• Lemon wedges for a fresh pop of flavor

• Remoulade, tartar sauce, or cocktail sauce for dipping

• A vibrant green salad or coleslaw as a bright, crisp counterpoint

• Grilled asparagus, corn, or potatoes as fun side dishes

Get creative with toppings too. A dollop of guacamole or jalapeno slices can add a fun twist. The possibilities are endless when you’re armed with spectacularly grilled crab cakes!

Grilled Crab Cake Recipes to Try

Now that you’ve got the basics down, here are a few of my favorite recipes for grilled crab cakes:

– Old Bay Grilled Crab Cakes

This recipe from Delish combines fresh crab meat with Old Bay, parsley, breadcrumbs and an egg binding. They suggest grilling the 3-inch crab cakes for 5 minutes per side.

– Lemony Grilled Crab Cakes

AllRecipes’ lemony crab cakes use lemon zest and juice to add bright flavor. With 3-inch patties, they recommend grilling for 6 minutes per side.

– Spicy Grilled Crab Cakes

Food Network’s recipe includes sriracha and scallions for a spicy twist. They grill their 2-inch mini crab cakes for just 2-3 minutes per side.

– Easy Grilled Crab Cakes

Martha Stewart’s version relies on convenient canned crab meat. She grills her 2-inch cakes 4-5 minutes per side.

Grilling Up Crab Cake Perfection

Crab cakes are a taste of summer on a plate, and grilling adds smoky depth without much effort. Just remember – gently mix the ingredients, thoroughly chill the crab cakes before grilling, and use a hot, oiled grill. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side for smaller crab cakes and 6-8 minutes per side for larger ones.