This recipe for boiled crab legs is rich and decadent, but it’s also easy to make at home. The sweet and tender crab meat tastes great when dipped in garlic butter. Your family and friends will love this easy seafood recipe.
One of the best kinds of seafood is boiled crab legs, which are also a very nice treat to eat out. But did you know it’s really easy to make them at home? Don’t be afraid to cook your own seafood. I’ll show you how to make your own boiled crab legs in this post.
Learning how to season crab legs is really a matter of preference. You can only add so much flavor to the meat while it’s boiling because they’re still in their shells. The main seasonings in this recipe are a can of beer and Old Bay, but you could boil them in plain water and still enjoy them. Crab meat is so tasty. Sauce for crab legs can include cocktail or tartar sauce, but nothing beats butter. For this recipe I’ve added garlic salt and lemon to the butter for the most flavorful dipping experience.
Also, my dad came to cook with me on Father’s Day and helped me come up with this recipe. He is my very professional hand model for this post. It was fun to cook with someone and teach him how to take pictures of a recipe.
Here, king crab legs are used. These are great because they are long and have a lot of meat inside. The meat from king crab legs is also very sweet and tender. In some brands, like the ones pictured in this post, they come already scored, making it easy to cut them open and get all the meat out. You can try to buy them on sale and freeze them for special occasions, even though they are expensive.
Boiled crab is a delicious and impressive seafood dish that is surprisingly easy to make at home. When properly cooked, crab meat becomes tender and succulent, bursting with sweet, briny flavor. Follow this simple guide to learn how to cook boiled crab yourself
Ingredients
- Live blue crabs or snow crabs, or frozen crab legs, claws, or clusters
- Water
- Old Bay seasoning or crab boil seasoning
- Melted butter for serving
- Lemon wedges for serving
Equipment Needed
- Large stock pot with lid
- Kitchen tongs
- Crab cracker or small hammer
- Seafood fork
- Small bowl for melted butter
Step 1: Prepare the Crabs or Crab Legs
If using live crabs, it is most humane to place them in the freezer for 30 minutes before boiling to make them docile. Use kitchen shears to cut off the face and back fin. Flip crabs over and pull off the apron.
If using frozen crab legs, claws, or clusters, completely thaw them before boiling Use kitchen shears to cut clusters into individual legs Cut whole legs in half lengthwise. This allows seasonings to penetrate and cooks faster.
Step 2: Make the Boiling Liquid
Fill a large stock pot with enough water to cover the crabs or crab legs. Allow a few inches of room at the top for boiling.
Add 2-3 tablespoons of Old Bay per quart of water. Alternatively, use crab boil packets. The seasoning infuses flavor into the crab as it cooks.
Step 3: Boil the Crab
Once the liquid reaches a rolling boil, use tongs to slowly lower the crabs or legs into the pot. Cover and return to a boil.
Boil crabs for 8-12 minutes until the shell turns bright red. Boil crab legs for 4-5 minutes. They will turn bright red and the meat will become opaque.
Use tongs to transfer cooked crab to a baking sheet to rest. Reserve the seasoned boiling liquid.
Step 4: Crack the Shells
For whole cooked crabs, twist and pull off the legs and claws. Use a crab cracker or small hammer to crack the shells. Remove shell pieces and pull out meat in chunks.
For legs and claws, crack shells by hitting joints with a crab cracker. Break open and remove meat. Use a seafood fork to pull meat out in whole pieces if possible.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Serve cracked crab sections along with lemon wedges, melted butter, and extra boiling liquid for dipping. Or simply dip the legs and claws directly into the butter.
The tender, hot crab can then be enjoyed without any further cooking required! Use a seafood fork or your hands to pick the delicious meat out of the shells.
Tips for Perfect Boiled Crab
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Check crabs or legs frequently to avoid overcooking. The meat can become tough.
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Let crab rest 5 minutes after cooking for easiest meat removal.
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Use mild white fish seasoning instead of Old Bay for more delicate flavor.
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Add lemon slices, garlic, beer or wine to the boiling liquid for more flavor.
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Refrigerate leftover crab in the shells up to 2 days. Reheat by steaming briefly.
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Freeze crab meat up to 3 months for using in other recipes like crab cakes.
How to Cook Frozen Crab Legs
Frozen crab legs, claws and clusters can be quickly boiled using the same method:
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Thaw frozen crab in the refrigerator overnight. For quicker thawing, place in a colander and run cool water over them until thawed.
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Prepare boiling liquid – water, Old Bay, lemon, garlic, etc.
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Once boiling, carefully add legs and claws. Cover and return to a boil.
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Boil 4-5 minutes just until shells turn red and meat is opaque. Do not overcook.
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Drain and rest 5 minutes before serving with drawn butter.
What Kind of Crab to Use
The best crabs for boiling and cracking open are:
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Blue crabs – Prized for their sweet, briny flavor. Their smaller size makes them ideal for boiling whole.
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Dungeness crabs – Very meaty with sweeter flavor than blue crabs. Large crabs are often sold as clusters.
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Snow crabs – Legs are longer with lots of tasty meat. Cheaper than king crab. Good boiled.
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King crab – Premium crabs with largest legs and very sweet meat. Often sold frozen. Best simply boiled.
Any of these crab varieties can be cooked using this simple boiling technique for tender, juicy meat with ocean-fresh flavor.
So don’t be intimidated to make boiled crab at home. With a large pot, a little Old Bay, and some melted butter on hand, you can enjoy restaurant-quality crab feasts. Impress your family and friends with homemade boiled crab legs, clusters, and whole crabs crackable right at the dinner table.
How to Cook Crab Legs
Think this is going to be complicated? Think again! Here’s how to boil crab legs:
Crab Legs:
- Put about half of the water in a large stock pot, leaving plenty of room for the crab legs. Bring the pot to a boil.
- Add Old Bay seasoning, salt, vegetable oil, and beer.
- Add crab legs and return to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.
- Remove crab legs and set aside.
- If you want, you can add frozen corn cobs to the same pot and boil them too. Remove and serve everything warm.
- If the meat is already cut out of the crab legs, pry them open. If not, break the legs at the joint, pull out the tendon, and then break the legs at their longest point and slowly pull out the meat. Dip in flavored butter.
Flavored Butter:
- Melt butter and add garlic salt, lemon juice, and salt.
How to Cook Crab Legs
FAQ
How do you cook already boiled crab?
How long do you boil a crab to cook it?
How to cook crab for beginners?
Do you rinse crab before boiling?
Is it better to boil or steam crab?
How long to boil frozen crab?
How do you boil crabs?
Boiling crabs is a simple process—you just season the water, boil the crabs, and then let them cool before digging in to enjoy the succulent meat. No matter which crab variety and seasoning you choose, all you need is a few bushels of crabs and a big group of friends ready to get cracking.
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.
What is a crab boil?
The term “crab boil” refers to both the cooking method as well as the gathering where the crabs are cooked and enjoyed by a large group. Crab boils are popular in the southern United States, and depending on where you live, the seasonings and the type of crab differ.
How big should a crab be when boiling?
When boiling crab, it is best to choose a size that is suitable for your preference and the number of people you are serving. While smaller crabs are often more tender, larger crabs tend to have more meat. A common size is around 1.5 to 2 pounds, but you can opt for larger or smaller crabs based on your personal taste.