How Long Does It Take to Cook Crab Legs to Perfection?

Crab legs are a delicious treat that can elevate any meal. Their sweet briny flavor pairs perfectly with melted butter or a creamy dipping sauce. However cooking crab legs properly requires knowing how long they need to cook. Undercook them and you’ll end up with tough, rubbery meat. Cook them too long and the meat becomes dry and stringy. So how long does it take to cook crab legs just right? Read on for a complete guide to cooking various types of crab legs so they turn out tender, juicy and full of flavor every time.

An Overview of Cooking Times for Different Crab Legs

To start, here is a quick overview of approximate cooking times for the most common varieties of crab legs:

• Snow crab legs – 5 to 8 minutes
• King crab legs – 8 to 12 minutes
• Dungeness crab legs – 5 to 8 minutes
• Stone crab claws – Heat through, about 5 minutes

These times can vary a bit based on the size of the crab legs, whether they are frozen vs fresh, and your preferred level of doneness. Continue reading for more details!

Choosing the Best Crab Legs for Cooking

The type of crab legs you select will impact the cooking time Here’s what you need to know about picking the right crab

Snow Crab Legs

Snow crab legs are a popular choice. They have thin, easy-to-crack shells and a delicately sweet flavor. Snow crab legs cook quickly in just 5 to 8 minutes. Opt for crab clusters containing 3-5 legs attached rather than individual legs.

King Crab Legs

Prized for their thick, meaty legs, king crab has a slightly richer flavor. King crab legs can be quite large, so they may need 8-12 minutes of cooking time. The legs are often sold individually.

Dungeness Crab Legs

Dungeness is a Pacific coast favorite. The smaller, thinner legs cook up in 5-8 minutes. Dungeness crab legs are typically sold in clusters.

Stone Crab Claws

Unlike other types of crab, only the meaty claws of stone crabs are eaten. Stone crab claws are already cooked, so they just need to be heated through for about 5 minutes.

No matter what type of crab legs you cook, inspect them carefully and look for legs that are filled out and not shriveled. Avoid legs with broken shells or an unpleasant odor.

Preparing Crab Legs for Cooking

Proper prep is key to achieving tender, flaky crab meat:

• Thaw frozen crab legs – Let them thaw gradually in the fridge overnight or submerge in cold water for 30 minutes before cooking. Do not thaw at room temperature.

• Clean the shells – Rinse legs under cold water and scrub away any debris with a vegetable brush. Pat dry.

• Split the shells – Use kitchen shears to cut slits along the bottom side of each shell. This allows heat to penetrate better.

• Bend the joints – Gently crack the legs at each joint so they lay flat. This helps them cook evenly.

Now the crab legs are ready for cooking using your method of choice!

Boiling Crab Legs

Boiling is a quick and simple way to cook crab legs that yields moist, juicy meat:

• Fill a large pot 3/4 full with salted water and bring to a boil. Use 1 tablespoon salt per quart of water.

• Gently lower the crab legs into the pot. Make sure they are fully submerged.

• Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 5-8 minutes for smaller legs, or 8-12 for large king crab legs.

• Test doneness by pulling meat from a leg. It should be opaque throughout.

• Drain crab legs and serve immediately with melted butter, lemon wedges, etc.

Tips for perfect boiled crab legs:

• Add aromatics like lemon, garlic, or spices to the poaching liquid.

• Use big crab leg clusters instead of individual legs which can overcook.

• Take care not to overcrowd the pot, as that leads to uneven cooking.

Steaming Crab Legs

Steaming is another easy method that yields tender crab legs:

• Fill a large pot with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil.

• Place a steaming basket or colander in the pot. Add crab legs in a single layer.

• Cover pot with a tight fitting lid and steam for 8-10 minutes until meat is opaque.

• Check water level midway through and replenish if needed with boiling water.

• Serve crab legs immediately with dipping sauce.

Benefits of steaming:

• Legs cook more gently and evenly with steam heat.

• No need to add salt or seasoning since legs do not simmer in water.

• Meat stays exceptionally moist and tender.

Baking Crab Legs

Baking crab legs is hands-off and infuses them with delicious flavor:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

• Arrange crab legs in a single layer and lightly brush with oil or melted butter.

• Bake 15-25 minutes, depending on size. Check for doneness after 15 minutes.

• For added flavor, sprinkle with Old Bay, paprika, lemon juice, etc.

• Serve hot with lemon wedges, garlic aioli, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Why bake your crab legs?

• Baking gives crab legs an amazing roasted flavor.

• The high dry heat crisps up the shells nicely.

• Easy clean up since crab bakes on a foil-lined pan.

• You can season the crab legs before baking by brushing with a flavored butter.

Grilling Crab Legs

Grilling imparts delicious smoky notes into the crab:

• Preheat grill to medium-high. Oil grates well.

• Grill crab legs over direct heat just until lightly charred, about 2-3 minutes per side.

• Move to indirect heat, close lid, and finish cooking 5-8 minutes until done.

• Baste frequently with melted butter or olive oil to prevent drying out.

• Remove from grill and serve immediately.

Tips for fabulous grilled crab legs:

• Choose legs similar in size so they cook evenly.

• Watch them carefully to avoid overcooking over direct heat.

• Consider using cedar planks which add nice smoky flavor.

• Brush with herb-infused butter or citrus for extra flavor.

Microwaving Crab Legs

In a pinch, you can microwave crab legs:

• Place crab legs in a microwave-safe dish in a single layer.

• Add a couple tablespoons of water. Tent with a damp paper towel.

• Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes per leg, flipping halfway through. Check often.

• Allow to rest 2 minutes before eating. Legs will be very hot!

Is microwaving crab legs recommended?

• Microwaving is super fast and convenient. However, the texture of crab meat may become less tender.

• It can be tricky to avoid overcooking. Microwave in short intervals and check frequently.

• Flavor won’t be as nice as other cooking methods. Brush with butter and seasoning after microwaving.

• Best for quickly reheating leftover crab legs versus cooking raw legs.

How to Tell When Crab Legs Are Done Cooking

With so many cooking methods, how do you know when they’re done? Here are some signs crab legs are fully cooked and ready to eat:

• The meat inside turns opaque white or red depending on the type of crab.

• Shells start to turn bright red.

• Meat pulls cleanly away from the shell.

• Meat feels firm yet still moist and juicy.

• Meat becomes flaky when poked with a fork.

The most reliable test is to simply open up a leg and peek at the meat—there should be no translucent areas left. Undercooked crab will be chewy, while overcooked meat seems dry and stringy.

Serving Up Your Cooked Crab Legs

Once your crab legs are cooked to tender perfection, it’s time to serve them up in style:

• Provide small hammers, crackers and picks for easy shell removal.

• Set out melted butter, lemon wedges, aioli or other dipping sauces.

• Garnish plates with fresh parsley, lemon slices, etc.

• Pair with crusty bread to soak up all the delicious juices.

• Serve with roasted veggies, rice pilaf or a bright, tangy coleslaw.

• For easy prep, save leftover meat for crab salads, dips and sandwiches.

Now that you know precisely how long to cook different types of crab legs, you can serve up this tasty seafood at home with confidence. Just be sure to adjust cooking times based on size and whether legs are frozen. In no time, you’ll be cracking open tender, succulent crab legs that are cooked to absolute perfection.

To boil crab legs, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, then add the crab legs and boil for 5 to 8 minutes, or until they are heated through. You can also steam them for 6 to 8 minutes.

Yes, it is possible to overcook crab legs by boiling them for too long. Overcooking can lead to tough, rubbery, and dry meat.