Grilling Juicy, Flavorful King Crab Legs to Buttery Perfection

King crab legs are a delicious and indulgent seafood treat that can take your grilling game to the next level. Their sweet, briny flavor pairs perfectly with bold seasonings and sauces, and the smoky char from the grill enhances their natural richness Grilling king crab legs may seem intimidating, but with a few simple tips you can achieve tender, juicy crab meat with superb charred flavor

Picking the Best King Crab Legs for Grilling

You want plump, meaty legs with a bright color Avoid any with dark spots or yellowing. Thicker legs around 5-8 ounces each tend to have a higher meat to shell ratio King crab is best super fresh, but high quality frozen legs can work well too. Make sure frozen legs are completely thawed before grilling.

When buying king crab legs, choose ones that are split lengthwise or ask your fishmonger to split them. This exposes more surface area to accept seasoning and char. Legs are often sold in large clusters. Separate connected legs for more even cooking.

Prepping Crab Legs for the Grill

Proper prep ensures tender meat that stays moist on the grill. Here’s how:

• Rinse legs and pat completely dry. Excess moisture can hinder browning.

• Season the meaty interior. Rub a spice blend or garlic-herb butter over the exposed meat before grilling.

• Use a grilling basket. This keeps small legs contained and makes turning easier.

• Skewer cluster sections. Thread legs onto skewers to keep them aligned.

• Wrap in foil. Enclose each leg or cluster in foil to create a steamy environment.

Grilling Techniques for Perfect Crab Every Time

Grilling crab legs utilizes both high direct heat to char the shells and indirect heat to gently steam the meat. Here are two proven methods:

Direct/Indirect Combo Method

This technique relies on 2-zone grilling and starts crab legs directly over the fire to get them browned and crispy before moving them to indirect heat.

Steps:

1. Preheat your gas or charcoal grill with all burners/coals on high.

2. Clean and oil the grates. Brush legs with oil too.

3. Sear legs meaty-side down directly over the flames for 2-3 minutes until lightly charred.

4. Move legs to indirect heat, cover, and grill for 8-12 minutes until meat is opaque.

5. Check for doneness and re-sear quickly over direct heat if needed.

Indirect Foil Method

This keeps legs over indirect heat the whole time. The foil packets steam the meat while providing insulation.

Steps:

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat, around 400°F.

2. Place each leg or section on a large sheet of heavy-duty foil.

3. Enclose legs fully in foil and crimp to seal the packets.

4. Grill foil packets over indirect heat for 15-20 minutes, rotating occasionally.

5. Carefully open packets and check meat for doneness. Reseal and grill longer if needed.

Grilling Times and Temperatures

• Grill thawed legs for 15-20 minutes per pound at 400°F, depending on thickness.

• Grill frozen legs for 30-40 minutes per pound, keeping the temp at or under 400°F.

• Check for doneness at the low end of time ranges. King crab is precooked so you just need to heat it through.

• Meat should be opaque and register 140°F-165°F internally when done.

Serving Up Flavorful Grilled Crab Legs

Your perfectly grilled crab deserves great accompaniments. Consider:

• Flavored butters – Lemon, garlic, chili, or herb butters melted over hot crab legs.

• Dipping sauces – Drawn butter, aioli, mustard sauce, or tangy vinaigrettes for dipping.

• Sides – Grilled lemons, corn on the cob, boiled small potatoes.

• Seasonings – Old Bay, crab boil, or cajun seasoning sprinkled over legs.

• Wedges – Fresh lemon, lime, or even orange to squeeze over meat.

Handling and Eating Grilled King Crab Legs

Cracking into hot, smoky king crab legs is part of the fun, but there are some tricks to making it easier:

• Use a mallet or cracker tool to break through shells. Tap gently.
• Locate natural seam lines then push legs apart to break open.
• Twist off legs and pick out meat in bigger chunks.
• Use crab forks or picks to pull meat from narrow spaces.
• Provide empty plates for discarded shells or bowl for composting.
• Offer moist towelettes for cleaning up. Crab can be messy!

Grilled King Crab Recipes to Try

To get you started, here are some stellar recipes that put grilled king crab legs center stage:

• Garlic Lemon King Crab Legs – Legs grilled in a foil packet with tons of garlic, lemon, and herb butter.

• Cajun Blackened King Crab – A Cajun spice blend gives the shells a savory kick before grilling.

• King Crab Leg Kebabs – Thread crab chunks, peppers, and onions onto skewers for a pretty platter.

• Foil Baked Stuffed Crab Legs – Legs get stuffed with a cheesy seafood filling before grill-roasting.

• Mustard and Thyme Crab Legs – Whole grain mustard and thyme make a zippy sauce for dunking.

So fire up your grill and get ready for the ultimate seafood feast. Just follow these tips for grilling buttery, decadent king crab legs that your guests will rave about. Let the summer grilling season commence!