Steaming Crab Legs: A Quick, Easy, Delicious Treat

Cooking crab legs is a quick and easy process, and steaming is considered the best way to cook them. Crab legs are usually sold pre-cooked and frozen, so you only need to warm them up at home. The steaming process takes around 3 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the crab legs and whether they are thawed or still frozen. This method helps preserve the crab's tender texture and pure, sweet taste.

Use a large pot with a steamer basket

To cook frozen crab legs using a steamer basket, you'll need a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, a steamer basket, and about an inch or two of water. You can also add a few slices of lemon to the water for additional flavour.

First, place the steamer basket at the bottom of the large pot and pour in the water. Then, put in the crab legs and close the lid tightly. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Maintain the simmer and steam the crab legs for 5 minutes if they're thawed or 10 minutes if they're still frozen. When they're heated through, remove the crab legs from the pot using tongs and set them aside to cool slightly before serving.

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a colander in a pinch. Just make sure that the pot is large enough to accommodate the colander and that the lid still fits securely. If not, you can use aluminium foil to create a tight seal. Be careful when removing the foil and releasing the steam.

It's important to note that crab legs are typically sold pre-cooked and flash-frozen, so you're just reheating them. The goal is to heat them through without overcooking, as this can make the meat rubbery.

Steam for 8-10 minutes

Steaming is the best way to cook crab legs, as it helps preserve the pure, sweet taste and tender texture of the meat. It also reduces the chances of overcooking, which can make the meat rubbery.

To steam crab legs, start by choosing a pot large enough to hold the crab legs and a steamer basket. Fill the pot with an inch or two of water, then place the steamer basket on top. You can season or salt the water if you like, or add ingredients such as bay leaves, lemon wedges, Old Bay seasoning, or a splash of white wine.

Bring the water to a boil, then carefully place the crab legs in the steamer basket. Cover the pot and let the legs steam for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on their size and whether they are frozen or thawed. For thawed crab legs, 5 minutes of steaming should be sufficient, while frozen crab legs may take up to 10 minutes.

You'll know the crab legs are cooked when you can smell them and the meat is hot all the way through. The flesh should appear reddish-pink and juicy. Once cooked, allow the crab legs to cool slightly before serving. They can be enjoyed with lemon wedges, melted butter, or a dipping sauce of your choice.

Pre-cooked crab is being reheated

If you're reheating pre-cooked crab legs, steaming is the best way to do it. This is because steaming is a gentle method that helps preserve the crab's pure, sweet taste and tender texture. It also reduces the chances of overcooking, which can make the meat rubbery, and prevents the loss of juices, which can happen when boiling crab.

To steam pre-cooked crab legs, start by gathering your equipment. You'll need a large pot, a steamer basket, and a lid. You'll also want to prepare any seasonings, such as salt, bay leaves, lemon wedges, Old Bay seasoning, or a splash of white wine. These can be added directly to the water or used after the meat is removed from the shell, as most seasonings won't penetrate the shell.

Next, fill the pot with an inch or two of water and place the steamer basket on top. Bring the water to a boil. If you're using frozen crab legs, it's a good idea to rinse off any thicker areas of ice glaze under cold, running water first. This will ensure even heating.

Once the water is boiling, carefully place the crab legs in the steamer basket. Cover the pot and let the crab legs steam until they're heated through. This should take around 4-5 minutes for thawed crab legs and 8-10 minutes for frozen crab legs. You'll know the crab is ready when it's hot all the way through, and the meat appears reddish-pink and juicy.

Finally, remove the crab legs from the steamer and allow them to cool slightly before serving. Crab legs are often served with lemon wedges and melted butter or a dipping sauce made from garlic butter. Enjoy!

Add lemon slices to water

When steaming crab legs, adding lemon slices to the water is a great way to enhance the flavour of the crab meat. The gentle, moist heat of steaming helps to preserve the sweet taste and tender texture of the meat, and the addition of lemon slices can further enhance its flavour.

To steam crab legs with lemon slices, start by filling a large pot with an inch or two of water. If you are using a steamer basket, place it in the pot and add a few lemon slices to the water. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Once the water is boiling and steaming, carefully add the crab legs to the steamer basket. Cover the pot again and continue to steam the crab legs for 5 minutes if they are thawed or 10 minutes if they are frozen.

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can still steam crab legs with lemon slices. Simply fill a wide pot or pan with about 1/4 inch of water and add a few lemon slices. Cover the pot or pan with a lid and bring the water to a simmer over medium heat. Once the water is steaming, add the crab legs to the pot or pan, making sure they are not submerged in the water. Cover again and continue to steam for 5 minutes for thawed crab legs or 10 minutes for frozen.

Keep in mind that crab legs are usually pre-cooked and flash-frozen, so you are simply warming them up and infusing them with flavour when you steam them. The addition of lemon slices is optional but can add a nice touch of freshness to the dish.

When your crab legs are done steaming, remove them from the pot and let them cool slightly before serving. You can serve them with melted butter, lemon wedges, or a dipping sauce of your choice. Enjoy your delicious and flavourful crab legs!

Serve with melted butter

Crab legs are a delicious treat and can be cooked in a few simple ways. They are often sold pre-cooked and frozen, so when you prepare them at home, you are simply reheating them.

If you are serving crab legs with melted butter, there are a few ways to prepare the butter. You can simply melt butter and serve it as a dipping sauce, or you can add some flavourings to the butter to create a garlic butter sauce. To make garlic butter, melt butter in a skillet, add garlic and cook until it is translucent, then add your seasonings and stir until bubbling. You can also add parsley, pepper, and salt to taste.

If you want to add even more flavour, you can drizzle the garlic butter over the crab legs before serving, or brush the crab legs with butter and bake them in the oven for a few minutes.

For a simple melted butter option, you can melt butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds and serve it as a dipping sauce. This is a quick and easy way to enjoy your crab legs.

Whether you choose to steam, boil, or bake your crab legs, serving them with melted butter is a delicious option. Don't forget to have some lemon wedges on hand to squeeze over the crab meat for added flavour!

Frequently asked questions