How to Cook Snow Crab Meat Perfectly

Snow crab meat is a delicious delicacy that many seafood lovers crave. With its sweet, succulent flavor and tender texture, it’s no wonder snow crab is such a popular choice. However, cooking snow crab meat properly is key to bringing out its best qualities. Follow this simple guide to learn foolproof techniques for steaming, sautéing, baking, and more with snow crab meat.

Choosing High-Quality Snow Crab Meat

The first step to cooking snow crab to perfection begins with selecting only the freshest, high-quality crab meat. When buying fresh snow crab meat, look for pieces that are translucent white with a bright reddish-pink hue. The meat should have a fresh, briny aroma, with no fishy or ammonia scents. Avoid any meat that smells unpleasant or looks dull and opaque.

For frozen snow crab meat, choose chunks that are frozen together in a solid block with minimal ice crystals or freezer burn Let frozen crab meat thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking Canned snow crab meat works well too, as long as you get a top-quality brand packed in water or brine. Drain and rinse the crab meat before cooking.

Steaming Snow Crab Meat

One of the simplest cooking methods for snow crab meat is steaming. The gentle, moist heat retain juices while warming through the meat.

To steam snow crab meat:

• Place a steamer basket or colander insert in a large pot filled with 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

• Add snow crab meat chunks to the steamer basket in a single layer, leaving some space between pieces.

• Cover and steam for 3-5 minutes, just until heated through.

• Serve immediately with melted butter, lemon wedges, and fresh herbs.

Steaming is a quick and healthy way to enjoy the natural flavor of snow crab meat. Avoid overcooking, as the meat can become rubbery.

Sautéing Snow Crab Meat

For a bit more flavor, try sautéing snow crab meat in butter or oil with garlic, herbs, citrus, and other seasonings.

To sauté snow crab meat:

• Melt 1-2 tbsp butter or heat 1-2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

• Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.

• Add snow crab meat and sauté 3-4 minutes until lightly browned.

• Season with salt, pepper, lemon juice and zest, parsley or dill.

The high heat of sautéing adds a wonderful caramelized flavor to amplify the crab’s sweetness. Just be careful not to overcook the delicate meat.

Baking Snow Crab Meat

For crab cakes, casseroles, tarts, and more, baking is a great technique for cooking snow crab meat.

To bake snow crab meat:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper.

• Mix snow crab meat with binders like egg, breadcrumbs, or mayo to help hold it together.

• Form into patties, balls, or simply spread in the baking dish.

• Brush surface with oil or melted butter. Bake 15-20 minutes.

The hot oven lightly browns the exterior while heating the crab meat through. Bake just until heated through, watching carefully to prevent drying out.

Adding Snow Crab Meat to Soups and Stews

Snow crab meat also shines in seafood soups, chowders, and stews. The chunks add wonderful texture and flavor.

To add snow crab meat to soups:

• Prepare base soup or stew recipe.

• Add snow crab meat during last 5 minutes of simmering.

• Gently stir and cook just until crab is warmed through.

The moist environment and short cooking time keeps the meat tender. Take care not to overcook, which can toughen the texture.

Quick Tips for Cooking Snow Crab Meat

• Defrost frozen snow crab meat thoroughly in the refrigerator before cooking.

• Handle the delicate meat gently to avoid breaking it into shreds.

• Resist overcooking, as snow crab meat can become rubbery and dry.

• Add snow crab meat at the end of cooking for dishes like pasta, risotto, and stir fries.

• Enhance flavor with lemon, garlic, parsley, Old Bay seasoning, butter, and olive oil.

• Chill any leftover cooked crab meat and use within 2-3 days.

With these easy methods, you can enjoy restaurant-quality snow crab meat dishes at home. Simply choose your favorite preparation to highlight the sweet, succulent flavor of this decadent seafood.

Steaming Snow Crab Legs and Clusters

While snow crab meat provides the convenience of ready-to-eat chunks, many people prefer to cook and crack their own snow crab legs and clusters. Steaming is a popular cooking method to get perfect snow crab every time.

Here is a simple steaming technique:

• Rinse snow crab legs and clusters under cold water. Use scissors to trim any dangling leg tips.

• Fill a large pot with 2-3 inches of water (enough to come just below the steamer basket). Bring to a boil.

• Place steamer basket in pot and arrange crab legs & clusters in a single layer inside.

• Cover and steam for 8-12 minutes, until the shells turn bright orange-red.

• Serve immediately with melted butter, lemon wedges, and seafood seasoning.

Steaming gently cooks the crab legs while retaining moisture. Avoid overcrowding for even cooking. Cracking into the steamed legs reveals hot, succulent crabmeat with an unmatched sweet flavor.

Tips for Cooking Snow Crab

• Look for crab legs that are tightly closed and chill-firm, avoiding any with blackened spots or unpleasant odors.

• Use seafood shears to cleanly cut crab legs at joints for easier handling.

• Check for doneness by looking for red shell color or using a thermometer to confirm 145°F.

• Be careful when breaking open cooked legs, as steam can escape. Use a mallet for safety.

• Pick out meat carefully with a fork, starting from the body end of legs which has the most meat.

• Serve with clarified butter, lemon wedges, and fun dipping sauces.

With proper selection and cooking, snow crab can be an incredible culinary treat. Follow these tips on choosing, preparing, and serving snow crab meat and legs for seafood suppers family and friends will love.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you humanely kill snow crab?

The most humane method is to place the crab in the freezer for 30-60 minutes until anesthesia sets in before cooking. This puts the crab painlessly to sleep before cooking.

Can you eat snow crab legs frozen?

It’s not recommended to eat snow crab legs while still frozen. They should be either thawed or steamed frozen first. Eating them completely frozen can be unsafe due to the risk of injury from the hard, frozen shells.

Is imitation crab meat real crab?

Imitation crab meat, also called surimi, is made from minced fish that is pulverized and formed to resemble crab meat. It usually contains pollock or other whitefish. So it’s made from fish, but not real crab.

How long does thawed snow crab last in the fridge?

Properly thawed snow crab can last 1-2 days in the refrigerator. It’s best to use as soon as thawed for peak quality. Cooked snow crab meat will keep 3-4 days in the fridge.

What’s the red stuff inside snow crab legs?

The red substance often found inside snow crab legs is called glycogen. It serves as the crab’s energy reserve. The red glycogen turns white when cooked. It is completely edible and safe to eat.