Steaming Cooked Dungeness Crab: How Long Should You Wait?

Dungeness crab is a West Coast favourite for its sweet, delicate flavour. The best way to prepare this crab is to steam it, which only takes a few minutes. The crab can be steamed whole or in clusters, and the steaming time depends on the size of the crab and whether it is thawed or frozen. A 2-pound crab will take around 12 minutes to steam, whereas a smaller crab or crab clusters will take around 4 minutes to steam from thawed and 6 to 8 minutes from frozen.

How to prepare cooked Dungeness crab for steaming

Preparing cooked Dungeness crab for steaming is a simple process, but there are a few key steps to follow to ensure the best results. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients and Tools

You will need a large pot, preferably a stock pot, and a steamer basket or colander. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a colander that fits inside your pot or simply cover the bottom of the pot with a small amount of water. You will also need crab/nut crackers and dipping sauces of your choice for serving.

Step 2: Prepare the Crab

If you have purchased a whole cooked Dungeness crab, ask your fishmonger to clean it for you before you buy it. This involves removing the guts and carapace (the back shell). If you are using frozen crab, be sure to thaw it before steaming. Place it in the fridge and let it thaw for at least eight hours or overnight.

Step 3: Prepare the Steamer

Fill the large pot with a few inches of water. Season the water with salt, if desired. Place the steamer basket or colander in the pot. Bring the water to a boil.

Step 4: Steam the Crab

Place the crab in the steamer basket or colander. If you have a large crab, you may need to break it into clusters or legs to fit in the steamer. Cover the pot with a lid or aluminium foil. Steam for 4-6 minutes if the crab is thawed, and 6-10 minutes if it is frozen. The crab is ready when it is heated through and the meat is tender.

Step 5: Serve

Remove the crab from the steamer using tongs and place it on a serving plate. Serve immediately with crab/nut crackers and your chosen dipping sauces. Enjoy the delicious, tender crab meat straight from the shells!

Steaming is an excellent way to prepare cooked Dungeness crab, as it preserves the moist texture and flavour of the meat. It is a quick and easy method that will allow you to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal in the comfort of your own home.

How long to steam cooked Dungeness crab

Steaming is a great way to prepare Dungeness crab, as it preserves the tender, moist texture and flavourful juices of the meat. The length of time it takes to steam a cooked Dungeness crab depends on the size of the crab and whether it is thawed or frozen.

If you are steaming a whole crab, it will take around 12 minutes. If you are steaming crab legs, it will take between 4 and 10 minutes, depending on their size and whether they are thawed or frozen.

For a whole crab, you will need a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, a steamer rack, and tongs. Bring an inch of water to a boil in the pot, then use the tongs to place the crab back-side up in the steamer rack. Cover and return the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-high and steam for around 12 minutes.

For crab legs, you can use a steamer basket or a wide pot with a small amount of water in the bottom. Bring the water to a boil and add the crab legs to the basket or pot. Cover and steam for 4 minutes if thawed, and 6 to 10 minutes if frozen, depending on the size of the legs.

It is important to note that Dungeness crab should be cooked and eaten on the same day, as it can only be stored in the refrigerator for a few hours once taken out of its holding tank.

How to steam cooked Dungeness crab without a steamer

Steaming is a great way to heat up pre-cooked Dungeness crab without drying it out. The moist heat helps the crab retain its flavour and texture.

If you don't have a steamer, you can still steam crab legs or crab clusters by following these steps:

• Cover the bottom of a wide pot with water. The water should be no more than a quarter of an inch deep. The pot should be large enough to accommodate the crab legs or clusters.
• The amount of water is crucial. It should be shallow enough so that the crab is steamed rather than boiled, but there should be enough water so that it doesn't burn off before the crab is warmed through.
• Bring the water to a boil.
• Add the crab to the pot.
• Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid or aluminium foil.
• Steam for 4 minutes if the crab is thawed, and 6 to 8 minutes if it's frozen. If you're steaming a whole crab, this will take a little longer, around 10 minutes.
• Remove the crab from the pot with tongs and serve immediately.

You can also add some extra flavour to the crab by including lemon slices, herbs, or a couple of slices of white wine in the water.

How to steam frozen cooked Dungeness crab

Dungeness crab is a delicacy that can add spectacle and romance to any event. Here is a detailed guide on how to steam frozen cooked Dungeness crab:

Firstly, ensure your crab is pre-cooked. Dungeness crabs purchased from a grocery store or fish market are often pre-cooked, but it is important to check. The crab can be steamed from frozen, but for even cooking and to preserve texture, it is best to thaw the crab in your fridge for 24 hours before steaming. Rinse off any ice glaze under cold, running water.

To steam the crab, use a steamer basket and fill the bottom inch of a pot with water. You can use plain water or add some white wine, herbs, or a couple of lemon slices for extra flavour. Bring the water to a boil, add the crab clusters, and seal the pot with a lid.

Steam the crab for about 4 minutes if thawed and at least 6 minutes if cooking from frozen. The crab is ready when it is giving off its own steam. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can cover the bottom of a pot with no more than a quarter-inch of water. Ensure the water doesn't burn off before the crab is cooked through.

Once steamed, transfer the crab to a warm serving plate and serve immediately. You can serve the crab with freshly sliced lemon wedges, melted butter, and fresh flat-leaf parsley for a classic presentation. Enjoy the sweet and delicate flavour of your perfectly steamed Dungeness crab!

How to serve cooked Dungeness crab

Dungeness crab is a West Coast favourite for its sweet, delicate flavour. It can be served in a variety of ways, from salads to dips, crab cakes, and even pasta. Here are some detailed instructions on how to serve cooked Dungeness crab:

Prepare the Crab

If you've purchased a whole, pre-cooked crab, ask your fishmonger to clean it for you before buying. This involves removing the guts and gills, which are not eaten. If you've bought frozen crab, be sure to defrost it before steaming. It's best to thaw it slowly in the fridge for a day or two, or at least overnight.

Steam the Crab

Steaming is a great way to heat your Dungeness crab while preserving its moist, tender texture and flavour. Fill a large pot with about an inch of water and place a steamer basket or colander inside. Bring the water to a boil, then add the crab and cover the pot. Steam for 4-6 minutes if the crab is thawed, or 6-10 minutes if it's frozen. You can also add lemon slices, white wine, or herbs to the water for extra flavour.

Crack and Serve

Once the crab is steamed, remove it from the pot and place it on a serving plate. Provide crab/nut crackers and dipping sauces on the side. Some popular dipping sauces include cocktail sauce, Cajun butter sauce, lemon dill butter, garlic aioli, and melted butter. You can also serve the crab with a squeeze of lemon juice or with sourdough bread.

Don't Forget the Leftovers!

If you have any leftover crab meat, it can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days or frozen for 2-3 months. Leftovers can be added to salads, dips, or other dishes, but be sure to handle them properly to avoid food spoilage.

Frequently asked questions