To cook crab legs, you have several easy and popular methods to choose from: boiling, steaming, baking/broiling, and grilling. Here are the detailed steps for each:
Boiling Crab Legs
- Fill a large pot or Dutch oven about halfway with water.
- Season the water generously with Old Bay seasoning and sea salt.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the crab legs to the boiling water and simmer for 3-5 minutes until heated through.
- Remove with tongs and serve with melted butter and lemon wedges
Steaming Crab Legs
- Fill a large pot with 1-2 inches of water, making sure it won't touch the steamer basket.
- Place a steamer basket inside the pot.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add crab legs to the steamer basket, cover with a lid.
- Steam for 6-8 minutes until hot.
- Serve with melted butter and lemon wedges
Baking or Broiling Crab Legs
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) for baking or set to broil.
- Arrange crab legs in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Brush with melted butter or olive oil.
- For baking, cook for 15-20 minutes.
- For broiling, broil 3-4 minutes per side until heated and lightly browned.
- Serve with melted butter and lemon wedges
Grilling Crab Legs
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Brush crab legs with melted butter or oil.
- Grill crab legs for 5-7 minutes per side until warm and lightly browned.
- Serve with melted butter and lemon wedges
Additional Tips
- Use crab crackers or kitchen shears to open the shells after cooking.
- Avoid overcooking to prevent rubbery meat.
- Serve crab legs with garlic butter sauce for extra flavor
These methods work well for snow crab, king crab, and Dungeness crab legs. Choose the one that suits your equipment and preference for a delicious crab leg meal at home
