Crab legs are a delicious seafood treat that many people love to indulge in. However, reheating pre-cooked crab legs properly is key to ensuring they retain their succulent flavor and delicate texture.
When cooking fresh crab legs from scratch, the preparation is pretty straightforward. But reheating pre-cooked crab legs that you’ve bought frozen or chilled requires a bit more finesse. Improper reheating can ruin the tender meat, making it rubbery or dried out.
Luckily by following a few simple tricks, you can easily reheat those leftover crab legs so they taste just as amazing as the day you bought them! In this article I’ll share the best methods for reheating pre-cooked crab legs while maintaining their flavor, texture, and juiciness.
Understanding Pre-Cooked Crab Legs
The vast majority of crab legs sold in supermarkets and served in restaurants are already pre-cooked. This pre-cooking process helps lock in flavor and makes them shelf-stable.
Popular varieties like snow crab, king crab, and Dungeness crab are boiled or steamed before packing. This means they are safe to eat and technically ready to serve straight from the package (though chilling dulls the flavor).
Reheating simply brings the crab legs up to a palatable serving temperature The goal is to gently warm them without overcooking the delicate meat
Why Proper Reheating Is Essential
Improperly reheated crab legs will be disappointing at best. At worst, they’ll be totally inedible. Here’s what happens when you use the wrong reheating method:
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Tough and rubbery texture: Overcooking denatures the proteins in the meat, turning it from tender and flaky to chewy and rubbery.
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Dried out and stringy: Excessive moisture loss due to high heat or lack of steam makes the meat dry and stringy.
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Loss of flavor: Subtle flavors dissipate and the crab meat tastes bland.
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Uneven cooking: Some sections end up undercooked while others are overcooked.
By following the proper reheating techniques, you can avoid all of these pitfalls!
Best Methods for Reheating Crab Legs
Here are the top recommended methods for safely and properly reheating cooked crab legs.
Steaming
Steaming is widely regarded as the best method for reheating cooked crab legs. The moist heat gently warms the meat through without drying it out or overcooking it.
How to steam:
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Fill a large pot with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
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Place a steamer basket or colander inside the pot, making sure it sits above the water line.
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Arrange the crab legs in the steamer basket in a single layer, if possible.
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Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid to trap the steam.
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Steam for 5-8 minutes for thawed crab legs, or 8-10 minutes for frozen.
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Check for doneness – the meat should be hot with no cold spots.
Why it works:
The indirect heat from the steam reheats the crab legs gently and evenly. The moist environment prevents moisture loss, keeping the meat tender and juicy. Steaming also infuses more flavor compared to boiling.
Baking
Baking is an easy, hands-off way to reheat a batch of crab legs, especially if you need to reheat a large quantity.
How to bake:
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Preheat oven to 350°F.
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Place crab legs on a baking sheet or oven-safe dish.
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Tightly seal the legs in aluminum foil with 1-2 tbsp water or broth.
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Bake for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
Why it works:
The tight foil wrapping traps steam to prevent drying. The constant ambient heat of the oven avoids hot spots that can overcook the crab.
Grilling
While grilling crab legs requires attentive monitoring, it adds incredible depth of flavor from the char and smoke.
How to grill:
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Preheat grill to medium heat.
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Lightly brush legs with oil or butter to prevent sticking.
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Grill for 2-4 minutes per side until hot, flipping once.
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Avoid overcooking – the goal is simply to warm them.
Why it works:
The smoky flavor perfectly complements the crab’s natural sweetness. Keep cooking times brief to avoid overcooking.
Boiling
Boiling is quick and straightforward, but it can easily overcook the meat. Use as a last resort.
How to boil:
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Bring a pot of lightly salted water to boil.
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Add crab legs and boil for 3-5 minutes until heated through.
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Remove immediately and drain thoroughly to prevent overcooking.
Why it works:
The boiling water rapidly heats the crab legs. However, the turbulent bubbles and direct heat make it easy to overcook the meat.
Microwaving (Not Recommended)
Microwaving often leads to rubbery, unevenly heated crab. Use this method sparingly, if at all.
How to microwave:
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Place legs in a microwave-safe dish with 1-2 tbsp water.
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Microwave in 1-minute intervals until heated through, checking frequently.
Why it doesn’t work well:
The intense heat of the microwave overcooks the outer meat before the insides are warm. The lack of steam also dries out the meat.
Tips for Reheating Crab Legs Like a Pro
Follow these pro tips when reheating cooked crab legs for perfect results every time:
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Always thaw frozen legs before reheating. Thaw in the fridge overnight or under cold running water. Never microwave thaw.
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Remove the shell prior to reheating for more even heating (especially if microwaving).
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Check for doneness using a meat thermometer (should reach 165°F) or by cutting into the thickest part of the meat.
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Add aromatics like lemon, garlic, or Old Bay to the steaming liquid for extra flavor.
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Serve immediately after reheating for optimal texture and taste.
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Don’t reheat more than once – multiple reheatings cause the meat to toughen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when my crab legs are done reheating?
Check for an internal temperature of 165°F with a meat thermometer. The meat should also separate cleanly from the shell.
Can I reheat cooked crab legs on the grill?
Yes, grilling adds delicious smoky flavor. Grill gently over medium heat for just 2-4 minutes per side to avoid overcooking.
Is it safe to eat cold pre-cooked crab legs?
Yes, they are fully cooked so it is safe to eat them chilled straight from the fridge. However, chilling dulls the flavor so reheating is recommended.
How can I reheat crab legs without drying them out?
Steaming and baking are the best methods – the moist heat from steam keeps the meat tender and juicy.
How long do cooked crab legs last in the fridge?
Cooked crab legs will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge. Store in an airtight container and use within this time for best quality.
Enjoy Perfectly Reheated Crab Legs
Following these simple methods will help you reheat pre-cooked crab legs flawlessly. Steaming and baking are foolproof ways to gently warm them while locking in moisture. Avoid boiling or microwaving to prevent overcooking the delicate meat.
Reheated properly, cooked crab legs taste just as tender, sweet, and delicious as if you cooked them yourself from raw. Now get out there and enjoy this amazing seafood feast!
How to reheat frozen crab legs by steaming?
You can also reheat crab legs by steaming them in a small amount of liquid
This is similar to reheating with an oven, but with less heat. And it takes less than 10 minutes to finish.
- First you need to prepare a large pot and beer.
- Pour water and beer into a pot and bring to a boil.
- Just take a colander into the pot and put the crab legs on it. This lid continues to steam for about 6 minutes then remove.
You can apply to frozen or defrosted crab legs. If frozen, wait about 20 minutes.
How to reheat crab legs on the grill?
If you want to add some smoky flavor for your left over crab legs, you can use the grill with these two different ways below:
- First use aluminum foil to wrap the crab legs and seal.
- Place the wrapped crab legs on the grill and wait for 10 minutes.
- Unwrap them and grill for another 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove crab legs and serve with some melted butter.
The second way is placing them over indirect heat (especially thinner strips!) for 5 to 8 minutes. Be sure to flip them over halfway through grilling! And you crab legs will get nice and warm to be served.
This method can applies to defrosted or even frozen crab legs