Crab cakes are a quintessential seafood appetizer that can be found on menus across the country. Their crispy exterior encasing sweet tender crab meat makes them an absolute delight. However like many foods, enjoying leftover crab cakes often requires properly reheating them. Heating up pre-cooked crab cakes presents some challenges, as you want to avoid ending up with a dried out, rubbery mess.
With the right techniques, you can resurrect leftover crab cakes to be almost as delicious as when you first cooked them In this detailed guide, I will provide the best methods to reheating already cooked crab cakes, as well as tips and tricks for crab cake reheating success.
Why Proper Reheating is Key for Crab Cakes
Crab cakes require careful handling during the reheating process in order to maintain their signature taste and texture. The balance of flavors and textures is delicate. The sweet crab meat provides the star of the show. A crisp outer coating provides a contrasting crunch. And creamy binders hold everything together.
Improper reheating can throw off this ideal balance in several ways:
- Drying out the crab meat into tough, chewy chunks
- Making the crispy coating soggy and soft
- Causing the crab filling to separate from the binding ingredients
- Muting the sweet crab flavor
- Overcooking the already cooked interior while trying to heat through
With the right reheating techniques, you can avoid these pitfalls and bring your leftover crab cakes surprisingly close to fresh-made quality.
Choosing the Best Method for Reheating Crab Cakes
The good news is that you have several effective options when it comes to reheating cooked crab cakes. The method you choose will depend largely on what equipment you have available and how much time you have. Here are some of the best crab cake reheating methods:
Oven
The oven provides a hands-off way to evenly heat crab cakes on all sides without overcooking. The gentler radiant heat warms them through without toughening the crab.
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Place crab cakes on a baking sheet or oven-safe dish.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
- Watch carefully to avoid drying them out.
Skillet
A nonstick skillet adds back some crispy texture to the exterior of the cakes. You can also add moisture to steam them.
Instructions:
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add a small amount of oil.
- Cook crab cakes 2-3 minutes per side until heated through.
- Add 1-2 Tbsp water to skillet and cover to steam if needed.
Air Fryer
The circulating hot air of an air fryer crisps up the exterior of the crab cakes wonderfully.
Instructions:
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- Place crab cakes in single layer in basket.
- Mist tops with oil spray.
- Cook 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway.
Toaster Oven
For smaller batches, a toaster oven provides concentrated heat.
Instructions:
- Preheat toaster oven to 325°F.
- Place crab cakes on rack.
- Cook 7-10 minutes until heated through, flipping halfway.
Microwave
Use the microwave only as a very last resort, as it often leaves crab cakes rubbery.
Instructions:
- Microwave in 30 second bursts at half power, flipping in between.
- Allow to rest 1-2 minutes before serving.
Handy Tips for Crab Cake Reheating Success
Follow these tips for the best results when reheating your leftover crab cakes:
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Let crab cakes come closer to room temperature before reheating for more even heating.
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For frozen crab cakes, defrost first and reheat thoroughly.
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Brush crab cake tops lightly with oil or butter before reheating to prevent drying out.
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Use lower heat settings and cook gently to avoid overcooking interiors.
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Check for doneness early and often to avoid overcooking.
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Work in batches when reheating larger quantities to maintain quality.
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Add moisture to the reheating environment as needed (water bath, steaming) to restore moisture.
Serving Your Reheated Crab Cakes
Once you’ve successfully reheated your crab cakes, you’ll want to serve them in style. Here are some great serving suggestions:
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On brioche rolls for crab cake sandwiches
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On top of mixed greens salads
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Alongside French fries for dipping
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Over lemony pasta
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On cheesesteak rolls with cheese sauce
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On plates with remoulade, cocktail sauce, or tartar sauce for dipping
With the proper TLC, you can enjoy leftover crab cakes that come remarkably close to fresh-made ones. Follow these tried and true reheating methods and helpful tips for the best results. Soon you’ll be serving up crab cakes that taste like you just made them moments ago.
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One of our most frequently asked questions is ‘How do I reheat my cooked blue crabs?’ A fantastic question (keep them coming!) that deserves a clarifying answer. In this article, we’ll address this inquiry as well as provide you with oodles of reheating options!
Do I need to reheat my blue crabs?
The awesome thing about all of Cameron’s Maryland Blue Crabs is that they come fully cooked, ready-to-eat, and already seasoned. The crabs are caught, steamed, cooled, and shipped the very same day, ensuring the freshest (and bestest) quality. Reheating crabs is more of a matter of preference, whether you prefer eating them either hot or chilled.
For those that like their crabs hot and toasty, here are 4 of our preferred ways to reheat.
Steaming is the most common method of reheating blue crabs. As for equipment, you’ll need a large pot outfitted with a steamer tray or basket. Add water to the bottom of the pot, filling to just below the basket, and bring to a boil. Once ample steam is visible, carefully add the crabs to the basket. Only stack the crabs about 2-3 high (depending on the size of your steamer), working in batches if necessary, and leaving ample room for the steam to circulate around the crabs. Be careful not to submerge the crabs in the water as well. If the boiling water is up and over the basket, remove a few ladle-fulls before adding the crabs. Steam for 10 minutes or until hot.
This is a handy method for reheating a few crabs, if you happen to have 2-3 leftover from your original crab feast. Place crabs on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel (this will help maintain moisture). Microwave on high for 1-1 1/2 minutes or until hot.
This is a great way to reheat a large batch of crabs, 12+, as it will ensure the whole batch will be reheated at the same time (as opposed to just 2-3 with microwaving and, possibly, 6+ with steaming). Preheat oven to 350-375°F. Place a wire rack inside a large roasting pan and fill with water to just under the rack (approx. 1-inch). Place crabs on top of the wire rack, shingled or lightly stacked if necessary. Loosely tent the roasting pan with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the crabs are hot.
If you’re camping or feeling cramped in your kitchen, the grilling method is pretty convenient. Aside from the standard grill tools (tongs, especially), you will need a heat-proof metal pan to act as our water-tray. Preheat one side of a gas grill to medium heat. If working with a charcoal grill, prep coals, and, once the coals are hot, push them over to one side of the grill. The side with the coals or the side with the flame will be our ‘direct heat’ side and the side opposite that will be our ‘in-direct heat’. Place a pan, filling half-full with water, on the direct heat side of the grill. Cover the grill and wait for the water to steam. Once steaming, place the crabs (working in batches if necessary) on the in-direct side of the grill. Close the lid once more and cook for 10-15 minutes or until hot. Depending on your grill, you may need to rotate the crabs halfway through the reheat, those that may be closest to the direct heat side might warm faster than those further away.
Reheat Crabs – Tutorial
FAQ
How to reheat already cooked crab cakes?
Place the crab cakes on your kitchen counter for 10 to 15 minutes so that they are at room temperature before placing them in the oven. Without crowding them, place the crab cakes on a single layer of foil in a baking tray. Loosely cover the crab cakes with aluminum foil. Bake for 10 minutes.
How to cook already prepared crab cakes?
For cooked crab cakes, thaw and reheat in a 375 degree F oven for 10-12 minutes. To reheat frozen crab cakes, bake at same temperature for 20-25 minutes until heated through. They shouldn’t fall apart in the oven since they were already pan-seared.
How long do you heat crab cakes in the oven?
1. Preheat convection oven to 350ºF. 2. Place cakes on oiled sheet pan and bake at 350ºF for 7-9 minutes.
How to heat up an already cooked crab?
Start by preheating your oven to 350° F. Place a wire rack inside a roasting pan and add water until it’s about one inch deep. Place the crab legs on the wire rack and cover the roasting pan with aluminum foil. Poke several holes throughout to allow steam to escape.Jan 3, 2024
How do you reheat crab cakes?
The best way to reheat crab cakes is in a skillet. Heat a small amount of butter or oil over medium heat. Pan-fry the crab cakes on one side for 2-3 minutes, then flip them over and repeat on the other side. Don’t go overboard on the oil, or the crab cakes will turn out greasy.
How do you cook crab cakes in a pan?
Pan-frying is a popular cooking method for premade crab cakes. Heat a small amount of oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Carefully place the crab cakes into the pan and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side or until they develop a crispy crust and are heated through. Can crab cakes be microwaved? MICROWAVE.
How do you cook a crab cake in a microwave?
Microwave: Room temperature cakes, brush with butter, microwave for 1 minute on medium. Stovetop: Heat oil in a pan, add cakes, cover with a lid, and steam until warmed. Air Fryer: Spray cakes, set fryer to 370°F, and cook for 6-8 minutes. Can You Eat Crab Cakes Cold? How Do You Heat Up Already Cooked Crab Cakes?
Should you cook crab cakes if they are hot?
When they’re hot and crispy, remove them and serve. Keeping the crab cakes in a single layer allows the air to circulate freely for better crisping. If your crab cakes are big, they may take a while to heat through. Don’t let the boiling hot outside fool you, as they could still be cold in the middle.
Can You reheat crab cakes in a toaster oven?
A toaster oven provides a small-batch option for reheating 4-6 crab cakes at a time. Steps: Preheat toaster oven to 325°F. Place crab cakes on the rack. Avoid overcrowding. Cook for 7-10 minutes until heated through, flipping halfway. Check frequently to avoid drying.
How long does it take a crab cake to warm up?
If you feel like your dish is overdried, you can add a few drops of water in the tray corners so steam can restore the crab cake’s moisture. It will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes for the room temperature crab cakes to warm up fully. It will also depend on their size, so adjust the time as needed.