How to Cook Delicious Crab Cakes on the Stove at Home

Crab cakes are a delicious appetizer or main dish that can add a taste of the sea to any meal. While you may think that crab cakes are best left to restaurants, they are surprisingly easy to make right on your own stove at home. With just a few simple ingredients and techniques, you can cook up flavorful crab cakes that will impress your family and friends.

Why Make Crab Cakes at Home?

There are several great reasons to try your hand at cooking crab cakes at home:

• Cost savings – Making them yourself is much less expensive than ordering at a restaurant. Crab meat can be pricey, but preparing crab cakes at home allows you to control the portion sizes to keep costs down

• Customize ingredients – Don’t like certain ingredients or have food allergies in your home? You can tweak the recipe to suit your tastes and needs perfectly.

• Fun weekend cooking project – Cooking crab cakes makes for an enjoyable weekend activity. Play some music and cook them with the family or your partner

• Learn a new skill – Mastering how to cook crab cakes at home allows you to add another recipe to your culinary arsenal.

• Control ingredients – You can use fresh, high-quality ingredients to create the best-tasting crab cakes.

Tips for Choosing Crab Meat

The star of any crab cake is the crab meat itself. Choosing high-quality crab meat is key for maximum flavor. Here are some tips:

• Buy lump crab meat – Lump crab meat consists of whole chunks of crab rather than shredded bits. This gives you those delightful bites of crab in the cakes.

• Choose jumbo lump – Jumbo lump crab meat comes from the larger crab muscles, giving you the largest pieces. If you want pronounced crab flavor, spring for jumbo lump.

• Check for shell fragments – Carefully pick through the crab meat to remove any stray shell pieces. You don’t want someone biting into a shard.

• Opt for fresh over canned – Fresh crab meat straight from cooked crabs is ideal, though high-quality canned crab meat works in a pinch.

• Buy crab meat from sustainable sources – Choosing sustainably-harvested crab helps protect crab populations and ecosystems.

How to Cook Crab Cakes Step-By-Step

Once you have your main ingredient, it’s time to start cooking. Follow these steps:

1. Make the filling

• In a bowl, mix together the crab meat, egg, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced vegetables, and seasonings of your choice.
• Be gentle – you don’t want to break up those lovely crab chunks.
• Let the filling chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This helps everything bind together.

2. Shape the crab cakes

• Scoop up filling and shape into patties, each about 1/2 inch thick.
• Wet your hands slightly with water if the filling is sticking to your hands while shaping.
• Place the shaped cakes on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper and return to the fridge until ready to cook.

3. Prepare the skillet

• Heat 1-2 tablespoons of butter or oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. You want the surface hot before adding the crab cakes.

4. Cook the crab cakes

• Once the skillet is hot, gently place the chilled crab cakes into the pan. Do not crowd them.
• Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
• Carefully flip over using a thin spatula. Be gentle when flipping to keep their shape.
• Cook another 3-4 minutes on the second side.
• Transfer cooked crab cakes to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.

5. Make an easy sauce

• A simple drizzle of lemon butter or aioli complements crab cakes perfectly.
• For lemon butter, simply mix melted butter and fresh lemon juice to taste.
• For quick aioli, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced garlic, and a pinch of cayenne.

And that’s it – you now have restaurant-worthy crab cakes made totally from scratch at home! Adjust the seasonings to your taste, and don’t be afraid to get creative with mix-in ingredients like red pepper flakes, minced herbs, or grated citrus zest. Crab cakes also pair beautifully with fresh greens, roasted asparagus or a crisp white wine. Impress your guests with your culinary skills at your next dinner party with homemade crab cakes.

FAQs About Cooking Crab Cakes on the Stove

If you’re new to preparing crab cakes at home, you probably have some questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:

Can I use canned crabmeat?

Yes, you can use canned crabmeat. Make sure to drain it well before using. The texture may be a bit different than fresh crab, but the flavor will still be great.

What is the best fat to use for pan-frying?

Butter and olive oil are good choices. Clarified butter works especially well as it can withstand higher heat before burning. Avoid nonstick cooking spray, as it can make the crab cakes mushy.

How do I keep crab cakes from falling apart?

Chilling the crab cake mixture helps firms them up before cooking. Be gentle when shaping and flipping them in the pan. If they are still fragile, try adding another egg or more breadcrumbs to bind them.

How long should I cook crab cakes on each side?

Aim for 3-4 minutes per side over medium heat. Peek at the underside after 3 minutes – you want a nice golden crust. Cook longer if needed for larger or thicker crab cakes.

Can I prepare them ahead of time?

Yes! Form crab cakes up to a day ahead and refrigerate until ready to cook. You can also individually wrap and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw before cooking.

What are your favorite ways to serve crab cakes?

Tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and remoulade sauce are classic pairings. For something different, try crab cakes on fresh greens, in tacos, or with avocado slices and hot sauce.

Crab Cake Recipe Inspiration

Once you master the basics, try out flavor twists on the traditional crab cake recipe. Here are just a few ideas to get you inspired:

• Old Bay Crab Cakes – Add 1-2 tsp of Old Bay Seasoning to the filling for traditional Maryland-style crab flavor.

• Southwest Crab Cakes – Mix in roasted corn, red peppers, cilantro, and chipotle powder for a Southwest twist.

• Greek Crab Cakes – Feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach give these a Mediterranean flair.

• Thai Chili Crab Cakes – For a spicy Thai version, use red curry paste, fish sauce, cilantro, and lime zest.

• Mini Crab Melts – Top crab cake patties with sliced cheddar or Swiss cheese and run under the broiler until melted.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing crab cakes. Play around with flavors that your family enjoys to create crab cakes that are uniquely your own. Just follow the basic cooking method, and you’ll have success every time.

So get out your skillet, preheat the stove, and get ready to become a crab cake master chef right in your own kitchen. Impress everyone with your impressive homemade crab cakes tonight!