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.
Crabs can be intimidating to prepare but they are delicious and impressive meal Learning how to cook a crab properly ensures tender, juicy meat inside a perfectly cracked shell With a few simple techniques, anyone can master cooking fresh crab at home.
Getting Started
Buy live crab when possible. Live crab is ideal because the meat will be freshest. Look for crabs that are actively moving and have all legs intact. If buying frozen, opt for legs and claws as the meat will be easier to extract.
Know your crab types. Common varieties like blue crab, king crab, snow crab, and Dungeness crab can be prepared using the same methods. Adjust cook times based on size.
Prepare your supplies To cook and serve crab, have tongs, a sharp knife, cracker, picks, and small hammer ready Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil.
Cooking Crab
Boiling is the easiest method. Gently lower live crabs into boiling salted water Cook for 7 minutes per 1 pound For a 2 pound crab, boil for 14-16 minutes.
Steaming preserves flavor. Place live crabs on a rack over simmering water. Cover and steam 7 minutes per 1 pound.
Grilling lends smoky essence. Cook thawed crab legs or halves over direct high heat, about 5 minutes per side. Brush with oil or butter to prevent sticking.
Bake for rich results. Arrange crab halves or legs on a sheet pan. Bake at 375°F for 4-7 minutes just until heated through.
Microwave for convenience. Place thawed legs and claws in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high 2-3 minutes until hot.
Check doneness. Meat should be opaque and flaky when cooked. Juices run clear. Shell turns bright orange.
Serving and Eating Crab
Cool properly. Submerge boiled or steamed crab in an ice bath to stop cooking. This prevents overcooking.
Crack the shell. Use a mallet or cracker to break the legs and body open. Twist off aprons. Remove top shell.
Pick out meat. Use picks, forks, or fingers to pull meat from legs, body, and claws. Discard inedible parts like gills.
Offer dipping sauces. Melted butter, lemon wedges, aioli, and cocktail sauce complement fresh crab.
Get creative. Beyond crab legs and claws, use lump meat in salads, pastas, frittatas, and stuffed into shells or avocados.
With a simple boiling or steaming method, properly cooked crab is tender, sweet, and succulent. Pay attention to cook times based on size and type. Serving cracked crab with dipping sauces makes for an elegant presentation. The fresh meat also shines in creative recipes beyond just legs and claws. Approach cooking crab with confidence by following these fundamental tips. Your patience will be rewarded with delicious results.
More Frequently Asked Questions
When you boil or steam the crab, bay leaves, peeled garlic cloves, black peppercorns, or lemon wedges are all aromatic foods that go well with it. Just keep in mind that a lot of seasonings won’t penetrate the shell and reach the meat. Instead, I recommend adding any seasonings after the meat is removed from the shell.
If you’re cooking frozen crab legs, you have two options. You can either put them in a large bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes or chill them overnight in a large bowl of water that is covered. Second, you can add extra cooking time to each method if you don’t want to defrost the legs.
Remember that crab legs will already be pre-cooked when you purchase them. You’re just warming them through at home. To make each one, though, follow the steps below. The meat inside will be hot, tender, opaque, and flaky.
This post should have taught you how to cook crab legs correctly. Let me know how yours turned out and what your favorite way is in the box below.
How Many Crab Legs Per Person?
You need to know how many crab legs each person will need for your seafood or crab boil. A simple way to figure this out is to remember that two to three clusters of crab legs weigh one pound. Each cluster includes crab legs, a claw, and a part of the shoulder.
Then, guess that each person will need about one pound, plus two pounds for someone who is really hungry or for seafood lovers at the table. If you’re making a “surf and turf” meal with filet mignon, 5 pounds is plenty.
Helpful tip: There’s a bit more meat in king crab legs compared to other varieties. So if you’ve got big seafood eaters, this could be a great option to buy with fewer legs.
Gordon Ramsay Demonstrates How To Cook The Perfect Crab | Season 9 Ep. 5 | MASTERCHEF
FAQ
What is the proper way to cook crab?
Do you clean crabs before or after boiling?
How long do you boil crabs for?
Is it better to steam or boil whole crab?
How do you cook a 1kg crab?
1. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil – use 30g of salt per litre of water 2. Place the crab in the boiling water to cook – a 1kg crab should take 8–10 minutes 3. Remove the crab from the water and leave to cool before preparing. Do not put the crab into iced water as this will cause it to become waterlogged
Are coconut crabs healthy to eat?
Crabs are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins like riboflavin and minerals like selenium, copper, phosphorus. Coconut crabs are not known to be poisonous. The fat in the abdomen and the egg inside the female are the delicious edible parts. It is prepared by steaming or boiling them in coconut milk. Consuming coconut crab along with sea mango, cerbera manghas may make the coconut crab toxic due to the presence of cardiac cardenolides(cardiac active steroids). This causes electrolyte imbalance that affects the electrical conductivity of the heart.
How do you cook a halved crab?
Once the crab has been cleaned properly, brush the meat with butter infused with the ingredients of your choice, such as garlic, shallots, and ginger. Place the halved crabs in a single layer on a large roasting tray and cook for approximately 10 minutes in a 450-degree oven until the meat is golden brown.
How do you cook a steamed crab?
Unlike the boiling method, the crab cannot be steamed alive, and must be killed before cooking. Fill a large stockpot fitted with a steamer with a few inches of salted water, optionally adding a cup of beer or wine, cloves of garlic, and the seasonings and herbs of your choice to the liquid.