How Long Do You Cook Frozen Crab Legs to Perfection?

Cooking frozen crab legs may seem intimidating, but it’s easier than you think with a few handy tips! Crab legs are a delicious and satisfying meal, but knowing how long to cook them is key to achieving crab leg perfection. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to master cooking frozen crab legs at home.

An Overview of Cooking Frozen Crab Legs

Crab legs available at the grocery store are typically pre-cooked and flash frozen for preservation. Therefore, cooking frozen crab legs is simply a matter of thawing and then heating them through. The necessary cooking time will depend on whether they are still fully frozen or have been thawed.

Here’s a quick overview:

• Frozen crab legs: Take 10-15 minutes to steam or bake at 400°F
• Thawed crab legs: Take 5-10 minutes to steam or bake at 400°F

The exact time can vary based on how large the crab legs are and how cold your frozen crab legs were to begin with. When in doubt it’s always better to slightly undercook rather than overcook the crab.

Tips for Choosing Crab Legs

Picking out high-quality crab legs is an important first step Here are a few tips for selecting the best crab legs

• Choose legs that are attached – Legs that are still connected in a cluster tend to have more meat. Legs that have been separated already may dry out more

• Pick heavier clusters – Heavier legs will have a higher meat to shell ratio. Lighter legs tend to be smaller and less meaty.

• Look for solid, intact legs – Avoid cracked or broken shells which could indicate dry or damaged meat. Opt for legs with a smooth, hard shell.

• Inspect the color – The shell should have a natural reddish-pink hue and the meat should be opaque white, not yellow or translucent.

Popular choices like snow crab (affordable), king crab (premium), and Dungeness crab (regional) are all good options.

Thawing Frozen Crab Legs

For the best results, you’ll want to thaw frozen crab legs before cooking. Here are a few thawing methods:

• Refrigerator thawing: Place legs in a bowl to catch drips and thaw in the fridge overnight, or for up to 2 days for larger clusters.

• Cold water thawing: Submerge legs in a bowl or pot of cold tap water, changing water every 30 minutes as it warms up. Thaw time is about 1-2 hours.

• Microwave thawing: Place legs in a microwave-safe bowl, cover, and microwave at 30% power. Check and flip legs every few minutes. Thaw time is about 5-10 minutes.

Thawed crab legs will steam more evenly. But if you’re in a pinch, you can steam frozen legs straight from the freezer. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

How to Cook Frozen Crab Legs

Ready to start cooking? Here are some of the most popular cooking methods for frozen crab legs along with timing guidelines:

Steaming

Steaming is a quick and easy way to cook frozen crab legs to tender perfection.

• Place legs in a single layer in a steaming basket or colander.

• Bring 1-2 inches of water to a boil in a pot fitted with the steamer.

• Steam frozen legs for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Thawed legs take 5-10 minutes.

• Check for doneness by looking for an opaque, pearly white color.

Boiling

For boiling:

• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.

• Gently add crab legs and return to a boil.

• Boil frozen legs 8-12 minutes or thawed legs 5-8 minutes.

• Avoid over-boiling which can make the meat dry.

Baking

Baking crab legs in the oven is simple:

• Place legs on a foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer.

• Bake frozen legs at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, until hot and shell turns bright red.

• For thawed legs, reduce time to 10-15 minutes.

• Brush with melted butter halfway through for extra flavor and moisture.

Grilling

You can also sizzle crab legs on the grill:

• Cut slits down the top side of each shell to prevent splitting.

• Brush legs with oil or butter to prevent sticking.

• Grill frozen legs over medium heat for 8-10 minutes per side.

• Thawed legs will take about 5 minutes per side.

• Turn carefully using tongs and watch closely to avoid overcooking.

Air Fryer

Air fryers provide a quick and mess-free way to cook crab legs:

• Rub oil over legs and place in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

• Cook at 400°F for 10-14 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally. Thawed legs take 6-10 minutes.

• Finish with a brush of butter for extra richness.

Instant Pot

Using an Instant Pot cuts down on cooking time:

• Place a trivet and 1 cup of water in the pot. Arrange legs on top.

• Pressure cook frozen legs on high for 4-6 minutes then quick release.

• For thawed legs, cook for just 2-3 minutes under pressure.

• Use tongs to carefully remove cooked legs.

How to Tell When Crab Legs Are Done

Checking doneness for crab legs is easy. Look for these signs they’re fully cooked:

• Shell has turned bright red/orange.

• Meat is opaque and pearly white.

• Meat pulls cleanly away from the shell.

• Internal temperature reads 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.

When cracked open, crab meat should be hot, plump and moist, not dry or mushy if overcooked. Remember, you can always cook crab legs a bit longer if needed but you can’t reverse overcooking.

Serving Suggestions

Once your crab legs are cooked, it’s time to dig in! Here are some delicious ways to serve them:

• Crack legs open and serve with melted butter for dipping.

• Pair with lemon wedges, garlic butter, or barbecue sauce.

• Sprinkle with fresh parsley, diced chives, paprika, or Old Bay seasoning.

• Serve alongside rice pilaf, roasted potatoes, or a fresh salad.

• For an appetizer, serve chilled crab legs with cocktail sauce and lemon slices.

Crab legs make fantastic main courses or party platters. Be sure to provide small hammers, crackers, and picks for easily cracking open the shells.

Storing Leftover Crab Legs

Leftover crab legs will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. To maximize freshness:

• Store legs in a covered container to prevent drying out.

• Sprinkle some water on the meat before covering to keep it moist.

• Use within 3-4 days for peak quality and flavor. The texture will decline after that.

Reheating is fast—simply steam for 2-3 minutes until heated through. Crab legs also reheat well in the microwave but can become tough.

Now you’re ready to cook frozen crab legs like a pro! Follow these tips on how long to cook legs in various methods. In less than 15 minutes, you’ll be enjoying tender, succulent crab legs boiled, steamed, baked, or grilled to absolute perfection.

It is recommended to thaw frozen crab legs before boiling, though they can be boiled from frozen if necessary. Thawing allows for more even cooking and prevents the crab legs from becoming rubbery.