Learn to steam crab legs with this simple recipe that delivers candy, succulent meat in simply minutes. This easy but elegant technique works completely with Alaskan King Crab, Snow Crab, or Dungeness Crab.
Skip the crowded all-you-can-eat crab legs buffet and make steamed crab legs at residence, in below quarter-hour. Pair your completely steamed legs with lemon wedges, wealthy garlic butter dipping sauce, or a daring Cajun dipping sauce for a restaurant-quality meal.
Whether or not you steam crab legs, bake crab legs, or grill crab legs, these strategies all carry out their naturally candy, tender meat—making them good for a easy but satisfying seafood dinner.
Table of Contents
How Lengthy to Steam Crab Legs
Steaming crab legs takes simply 4-5 minutes of prepare dinner time for smaller crabs and 10-14 minutes for bigger crabs. The entire time is determined by the kind of crab and whether or not it’s frozen, thawed, or recent.
Set your timer for the decrease finish of the steaming vary and verify early to keep away from overcooking.
Alaskan King Crab Legs – King crab legs are thick and meaty, so that they want a little bit further time to warmth by means of.
- Frozen (pre-cooked): 6–8 minutes
- Thawed (pre-cooked): 4–6 minutes
- Recent (raw): 10–12 minutes
Snow Crab Legs – Snow crab legs are thinner than king crab, so that they warmth sooner.
- Frozen (pre-cooked): 5–7 minutes
- Thawed (pre-cooked): 4–5 minutes
- Recent (raw): 8–10 minutes
Dungeness Crab (legs or halves) – Dungeness crabs are sometimes offered entire or halved, so steaming time is determined by measurement.
- Frozen (pre-cooked): 7–9 minutes
- Thawed (pre-cooked): 5–7 minutes
- Recent (raw): 12–14 minutes
Blue Crab (entire or legs) – Blue crabs are sometimes smaller, so that they steam sooner when entire.
- Frozen (pre-cooked): 5–6 minutes
- Thawed (pre-cooked): 4–5 minutes
- Recent (raw): 10–12 minutes
When steaming crab legs, verify the flesh for colour to make sure it’s heated by means of. It ought to be pearly white and opaque when able to go. Don’t go by the outside colour, because it’s not an correct indication of temperature.
Steamed Crab Legs
As you may see within the above photograph, I’m utilizing the identical budget-friendly steamer basket I typically use for my Immediate Pot recipes—I like getting probably the most out of my kitchen instruments through the use of them in several methods.
For those who don’t have a steamer basket or strainer insert, use a colander that matches inside your giant pot. Ideally, the lid can shut snugly.
If the lid doesn’t seal completely, you should utilize aluminum foil to assist lure the steam. Be cautious when peeling again the foil, because the steam could be extraordinarily sizzling.
Seasoning Choices
There are a couple of simple methods so as to add further taste to steamed crab legs. For those who’re going for a Cajun vibe, think about using Cajun seasoning, akin to Outdated Bay Seasoning, as a traditional alternative. In any other case, a superb shake of salt and pepper does the trick.
And for those who’re serving them with a tasty dipping sauce, you don’t want a lot else—they’ll be stuffed with taste as is.
Crab Leg Sauce
Arms down, there are two juicy crab sauce recipes we choose when making snow crab clusters:
Serving Suggestions
- Use a crab cracker, nutcracker, mallet, and even sharp kitchen shears to open the shells—keep away from utilizing a knife for security.
- Toss leftover crab meat into wealthy dishes like Kani Salad or Lobster Ravioli. Right here’s an inventory of over 20 crab recipes that may additionally make the most of leftover crab meat.
- Serving tip: Plan for about 12 oz. of Alaskan King Crab Legs or 16 oz. of Snow Crab Legs per particular person.
Extra Seafood Recipes
Listed here are a couple of extra widespread seafood recipes to take a look at:
How you can Steam Crab Legs
Servings: 2 individuals
Energy: 381kcal
Price: $20
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Components
Crab Legs
- 1½-2 lbs crab legs (*Observe 1)
- melted butter and lemon slices, for serving
Directions
Add 1–2″ of water to a big pot. Add lemon wedges for further taste, if desired.
Place a steamer basket or colander over the water so the crab legs will not be submerged.
As soon as the water is boiling, place the crab legs within the steamer basket and canopy. If the lid would not shut snuggly, cowl it with foil.
- Steam for 4–5 minutes for smaller pre-cooked crab legs. *Observe 2Steam for 4–6 minutes minutes for bigger pre-cooked crab legs.For frozen or uncooked crab legs, see the chart within the notes part. *Observe 3
Use tongs to take away the crab legs. Serve sizzling or chilly with lemon wedges, butter, and dipping sauces.
Notes
- Frozen (pre-cooked): 6–8 minutes
- Thawed (pre-cooked): 4–6 minutes
- Recent (raw): 10–12 minutes
- Frozen (pre-cooked): 5–7 minutes
- Thawed (pre-cooked): 4–5 minutes
- Recent (raw): 8–10 minutes
- Frozen (pre-cooked): 7–9 minutes
- Recent (raw): 12–14 minutes
- Frozen (pre-cooked): 5–6 minutes
- Recent (raw): 10–12 minutes
Vitamin
Energy: 381kcal | Protein: 83g | Fats: 3g | Saturated Fats: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 0.4g | Ldl cholesterol: 191mg | Sodium: 3792mg | Potassium: 925mg | Vitamin A: 109IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 209mg | Iron: 3mg
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