How to Microwave Crab Legs for Perfectly Cooked Seafood in Minutes

Crab legs are a delicious and indulgent seafood treat. With sweet, succulent meat tucked inside a hard-shell exterior, crab offers a uniquely satisfying texture and flavor. But cooking crab legs can seem intimidating. Do you have to boil a huge pot of water like at a seafood restaurant?

Luckily, you can easily make tender, juicy crab legs at home in your microwave. Microwaving crab legs is a quick and easy cooking method that gets you from raw to ready-to-eat in just minutes.

Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to microwave different types of crab legs, as well as expert tips for maximizing flavor and texture. Soon you’ll be enjoying restaurant-quality crab legs without any fuss.

Getting Started with Microwaving Crab

The basic process for microwaving any type of crab legs is similar, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Thaw first – Only microwave fully thawed crab legs. Thaw frozen legs overnight in the fridge or use the defrost setting on your microwave.

• Prep the crab – Cut the shell on the bottom of legs to expose meat You can also crack legs partially to make accessing meat easier after cooking

• Use microwavable dishes – Choose a shallow dish big enough to lay legs flat. Glass or ceramic work best.

• Watch closely – Microwaves cook fast Check often to avoid overcooking,

• Rest before serving – Let crab sit 2-3 minutes after microwaving before cracking open.

Now let’s look at how to best microwave different types of crab legs.

King Crab Legs

King crab legs are prized for their thick, chunky texture and sweet succulent flavor. Their large size can make them tricky to fit in a microwave. Here are some tips:

• Cut legs in half crosswise so they fit laid flat in dish.

• Microwave 6-8 minutes per pound. Add some water to create steam.

• Turn and rearrange legs 2-3 minutes in for even cooking.

• Watch for meat to become opaque and flaky when checked with a fork.

Snow Crab Legs

Smaller snow crab legs cook faster than king crab legs. Their delicate flavor pairs well with quick microwaving:

• Arrange legs in a single layer in a shallow dish.

• Microwave 4-5 minutes per pound.

• Rotate dish halfway through. Legs should turn bright red-orange when done.

• Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with lemon juice, if desired.

Dungeness Crab Legs

Dungeness crab legs contain less meat, so require less time in the microwave:

• Place legs in a single layer in a shallow dish.

• Microwave 3-4 minutes per pound. No need to add water.

• Rearrange halfway through cooking for even exposure.

• Finish by brushing with garlic-herb butter for extra flavor.

Pro Tips for Microwaving Crab Legs

Using these expert tricks will take your microwaved crab legs to the next level:

• Season the water: Add Old Bay, lemon slices, garlic, or herbs to the water for extra flavor.

• Use a steamer rack: Elevate legs above water in a microwave-safe steamer rack if you have one.

• Wrap in damp paper towels: Wrapping each crab leg bundle in damp paper towels traps in steam for juicier meat.

• Brush with butter: Melt some butter and drizzle it over legs right after microwaving for added richness.

• Use microwave plastic wrap: Covering the dish tightly with plastic wrap helps steam legs perfectly.

• Let rest before eating: Allowing the crab legs to rest for 2-3 minutes after microwaving allows heat to continue gently cooking the insides.

Handy Microwaved Crab Leg Recipes

Once you get the basics down, try out these full-flavored microwave crab leg recipes:

• Old Bay and Butter Crab Legs – Snow crab legs with Old Bay, garlic, and butter.

• Lemony Dill Crab Legs – King crab legs with fresh dill and lemon.

• Crab Leg Boil – King crab legs boiled in beer, onions, lemons, and crab boil seasoning.

• Brown Butter Crab Legs – Dungeness crab legs with nutty browned butter, garlic, and herbs.

• Cilantro Lime Crab Legs – King crab baked with cilantro, lime, and Mexican spices.

With just a few minutes in the microwave, you can enjoy tender, juicy crab legs at home any time. Give this easy cooking method a try for fuss-free seafood!