How to cook store bought crab cakes?

Cooking pre-made crab cakes is an excellent way to prepare a delicious seafood meal quickly. The first step is to add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to a medium-sized skillet and heat it over medium-high heat.

The crab cakes should be cooked for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and thoroughly cooked, once the oil is hot. The crab cakes should be placed on a plate after cooking and allowed to cool slightly before serving.

You can drizzle a light, creamy sauce on top of your crab cakes for an extra special touch. Mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, honey, and seasonings to taste to make the sauce. Provide the sauce on the side and warm crab cakes.

Cooking Store-Bought Crab Cakes

Using a skillet or pan and store-bought crab cakes, you can prepare them on the stove. And there are two ways to make it happen.

Pan-frying: Place a skillet over medium-low heat and add two tablespoons of cooking oil. Place the crab cakes in the hot oil and cook them for five minutes on each side. Cook the crab cakes for eight minutes on each side if they are frozen. Be gentle when flipping them so that both sides turn a golden-brown color, as you want them to. As you cook, you can also incorporate any aromatics and vegetables. And when they’re internal doneness is 165F, remove them from the oven and let them drain in a bowl lined with paper.

Deep-frying: Fill a deep fryer or saucepan with approximately one inch of oil, and heat it to at least 300F. After that, lower the crab cakes into the oil and cook them for 6–7 minutes, or until they reach 165F. When prepared, remove the crab cakes with a filter and place them in a bowl lined with paper to drain. Additionally, after draining, move them to additional paper towels and gently squeeze them to get rid of any extra oil.

How to Cook Store Bought Crab Cakes | 4 Proven Methods

So, you’ve got your crab cakes home from the store, but you aren’t sure what to do with them? Don’t worry, we’ve got some expert advice for you. Here are 4 methods that you can use to cook store-bought crab cakes at home.

This has to be among the simplest ways to prepare crab cakes at home. You simply need to spread your crab cakes out on a baking sheet and cook them under the broiler until they are golden and crispy on both sides.

There are a few downsides to this method, however.

First, a broiler allows the crab cakes’ juice and fat to drip out. This can mean that they can get a little dry.

Additionally, it can be quite simple to burn your crab cakes depending on your broiler. They can change color from golden brown to black in an instant, so you’ll need to keep an eye on them.

Another drawback of using this method to cook crab cakes is that, if they are extremely thick, each crab cake may end up with a pale stripe in the middle. This is due to the fact that the broiler’s heat only emanates from above.

This is a great way to cook crab cakes. This is probably how they did it if you tried them at your favorite restaurant, so you should be able to get a similar outcome at home!

Take a heavy-bottomed skillet and add one or two tablespoons of canola oil to the pan. Place the pan over medium heat.

Once the oil begins to shimmer, it is time to cook your store-bought crab cakes. Add them to the pan and cook on each side for between 6-8 minutes.

Once the crab cakes are cooked, remove them from the pan and let them rest for a minute or so on a piece of kitchen paper. This ensures that they are not too oily.

Here are some pointers and advice for shallow-frying crab cakes: –

Don’t overcrowd your pan. If you add too many at a time, you’ll find that there isn’t enough oil to go around. You will also end up with soggy crab cakes. If you are cooking more than a couple, fry them in batches to ensure a perfect result.

While you may be tempted to blindly follow the packet instructions, trust your own sight too. If the crab cakes are looking a little too pale, there is no harm in giving them another few minutes on each side.

Use a spatula when cooking crab cakes with this method. If you use tongs, you might find that you snap the crab cakes in half, especially if they tend to stick to the pan.

If you are cooking frozen crab cakes, you will need to increase the cooking time

This has got to be our favorite way to prepare crab cakes from the store. The hot oil guarantees that they are thoroughly cooked and extremely crispy. The drawback is that this can be slightly more time-consuming and messy. Oh, and just so you know, this is the least healthy approach we have.

Here’s how to deep fry crab cakes: –

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add four or five cups of canola oil. Place the pan on medium to high heat.

Once the pan comes up to heat, stick a wooden chopstick or wooden spoon into the oil. If it forms bubbles around the spoon, then you know that your oil is hot enough.

One by one, carefully drop your store-bought crab cakes into the hot oil. This method normally only takes around 4 minutes. Once they are brown and crispy, remove using a slotted spoon and leave them to drain on a sheet of kitchen paper.

Here are a few tips to make sure you use this method correctly and achieve your desired results.

As with shallow frying, you don’t want to overcrowd the pan. If you do, the oil temperature will be lowered, and you’ll be left with greasy crab cakes. Yuck!

Never leave your pan unattended, especially if you have kids. Hot oil is no laughing matter.

Be careful if you are cooking frozen crab cakes. Oil and water don’t mix, and the ice crystals may cause your pan to spit on fizz up. This method is best employed when your crab cakes are thawed out.

You might find that if you leave the crab cakes resting for too long, they go soft. Here’s a great tip to prevent this. Place your oven on a low light and put the cooked cakes directly on the wire shelf. If you leave them on a tray or plate, they will start to steam themselves, which makes them go soft.

While this method is quick, you might find that the crab cakes are still a little cool inside. To prevent this, we recommend using a food thermometer. Just stab the probe into the center of the crab cakes. You are looking for a minimum internal temperature of around 170°F

This may be the answer for you if you don’t have the time or patience to play around with hot skillets and oil-filled pans. This is a really simple method for preparing crab cakes from the store. They can literally be put in while you prepare a tasty dip or side salad in the interim.

Here’s how to oven cook store bought crab cakes: –

Turn your oven on and set it to 340°F. While the oven is heating, cover a baking tray with baking parchment.

Now, pay attention. You must do this if you want golden brown crab cakes. Take a food brush, and using either oil or melted butter, give all of your crab cakes a little paint. This helps to make the outer crumb really crispy. This is optional, but without it, your crab cakes will look more than a little pale!

Bake your crab cakes for around 25 – 30 minutes. If you are cooking from frozen, add 10 minutes more to the cooking time.

Be sure to flip your crab cakes halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.

Here are some pointers to help you do it correctly the first time.

If you are watching your waistline, this should be your go-to method. There is relatively little oil that really helps to cut down on those calories!

Try not to leave the oven door open for too long when you are putting your crab cakes in. This will cause the oven’s temperature to lower, meaning a longer cooking time or undercooked crab cakes.

Make sure your crab cakes have a decent gap between each one. They tend to spread out a little as they heat up, so be sure to give each crispy crab cake plenty of room.

Don’t worry, it’s why we are here!

The following are frequently asked questions about preparing store-bought crab cakes.

Is it Better to Fry or Bake Crab Cakes?

It depends on what you are looking for. If your main concern is choosing healthy options, then cooking crab cakes in the oven is the way to go. They won’t be quite as crispy or juicy, but they are a really healthy option.If you want sheer indulgence, then frying is the way to go. The oil helps to keep the crab cakes really moist, and you’ll get a uniform layer of golden brown on the outside. This isn’t waistline-friendly and can be slightly messier than baking… But we think it is well worth it!

Are Store Bought Crab Cakes Already Cooked?

If you’ve bought your crab cakes from a store, there is a high probability that they are already cooked. Still, it is recommended that all food is served piping hot, with a minimum internal temperature of 170°F. When you heat food to this temperature, it kills any stubborn or lingering bacteria that would otherwise give you a stomach upset.The thing to be aware of with crab cakes is that they do contain seafood. You can never be too careful when cooking seafood, so make sure that they are cooked all the way through, even if they are the pre-cooked store-bought variety.

How Do You Tell if Crab Cakes Are Done?

There are a few ways that you can tell crab cakes are done. The easiest method is to use your eyes. Because store bought crab cakes are precooked, they just need to be heated through. If the outside is golden brown, then you can be reasonably sure that they are cooked through.The most reliable way to tell if crab cakes are done is to use a food probe. Just stick it into the thickest part of the crab cake. You are looking for a temperature of no less than 170°F. If you haven’t got a food probe, here’s a cheap chef’s trick. Stab a butter knife into the center of the crab cake and leave it there for around 5 seconds. Pull it out and touch it to your lip. If it is too hot, then the crab cakes are cooked. If it is still cold, then they will need a little longer.

Can You Eat Crab Cakes Raw?

Well, you could, but it is not recommended. You kill all of the bacteria that occur naturally in food (both hot and cold) by heating food. Besides which, why would you want to eat raw crab cakes? They taste amazing when they are crispy and cooked!

Should You Thaw Frozen Crab Cakes Before Cooking?

This is entirely down to personal preference. You will get a much better result if you thaw out your crab cakes before cooking. But, if you are stuck for time, you can cook them from frozen. There are a few things that you need to be aware of. You have to increase the cooking time if you are cooking frozen crab cakes. We recommend adding at least 10 minutes to the cooking time, regardless of which method you use.Be careful if frying frozen crab cakes. Ice crystals can cause a reaction with hot oil. To thaw, crab cakes leave them on a plate in the refrigerator for around 6 -8 hours. Don’t leave them someplace warm as crab (even cooked crab) can go bad really quickly.

If you want to make your favorite restaurant dish at home, learning how to prepare store-bought crab cakes is essential. You should be able to consistently achieve the ideal result using our 4 methods. Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

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