If you’re treating yourself to crab legs, you want to prepare them so they’re perfectly cooked. In today’s post we’re sharing some tips on how to boil crab legs as well as a simple recipe that takes just 10 minutes.
Instead of heading out to your favorite seafood restaurant, make crab legs at home! They’re incredibly easy to prepare.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- crab legs
- water
- unsalted butter
- salt
- Old Bay seasoning
- lemon
(Note: Full recipe is at the bottom of the post)
How to Boil Crab Legs
- Fill a large pot half full with water and bring to a boil. Add the salt and Old Bay seasoning and return to boiling.
- While the water comes to a boil, place the butter in a small saucepan and melt over medium-low heat. Cook the butter for about 1 minute until it starts to foam. Remove it from the heat and let it stand for 5 minutes. Remove the milk solids floating on top of the butter with a spoon. Pour the clarified butter into a bowl.
- Add the crab legs to the pot of boiling water and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant.
- Remove the crab from the pot and serve immediately with the melted butter and lemon wedges.
Snow Crab vs King Crab
King crab legs are much larger than snow crab and are typically sold individually. Snow crab is usually sold in clusters along with one or two claws. Snow crab is also less expensive than king crab. The texture of king crab is sweet and rich, similar to lobster. Snow crab has a sweet flavor that has a bit of a briny taste and the meat shreds easily.
How Long To Boil Snow Crab Legs
If you purchase frozen crab legs at the supermarket, they’re already fully cooked. You’ll need to thaw them first and then boil them for about 5 minutes until hot. Fresh, raw crab legs should be boiled for about 6-8 minutes. You’ll know the crab is done when the shells turn a bright orangey-red and the meat is opaque.
Crab legs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days or in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
How Long Does It Take To Boil Frozen Crab Legs?
Frozen cooked crab legs will need to be defrosted before boiling. When fully thawed, add them to boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes until hot.
How Do You Tell If A Crab Is Cooked?
If the crab was raw, the shells will turn a bright orangey-red. The meat should be opaque and easy to remove from the shell. Undercooked crab shells are brown or green. To check the meat, you’ll have to crack the shell.
Can You Overcook Crab Legs?
Yes. Overcooked crab legs can become rubbery. It’s important to pay attention to the cooking time to ensure that crab doesn’t overcook.
How to Boil Crab Legs
Ingredients
- 1 pound crab legs
- water
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- Fill a large pot half full with water and bring to a boil. Add the salt and Old Bay seasoning and return to boiling.
- While the water comes to a boil, place the butter in a small saucepan and melt over medium-low heat. Cook the butter for about 1 minute until it starts to foam. Remove it from the heat and let it stand for 5 minutes. Remove the milk solids floating on top of the butter with a spoon. Pour the clarified butter into a bowl.
- Add the crab legs to the pot of boiling water and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant.
- Remove the crab from the pot and serve immediately with the melted butter and lemon wedges.
Leave a Reply