Alaskan king crab is one of the most decadent and delicious seafood treats. The sweet tender meat is snowy white when cooked properly and incredibly succulent. However, to enjoy king crab legs at their absolute best, it’s crucial to know exactly how long to steam them. Undercooking leaves the meat gummy and translucent while overcooking makes it rubbery and dry. Follow this guide to learn the ideal steaming times and temperatures for king crab legs.
King crab is found in the frigid waters of the Bering Sea near Alaska. The two main varieties caught are red king crab and blue king crab. Their leg spans can reach a whopping 5-6 feet from tip to tip, making them the longest legs of any crab species. While the bodies contain a small amount of meat, only the legs are eaten since they contain the bulk of the succulent flesh.
The legs are flash frozen immediately after being caught to lock in freshness. They are also pre-cooked slightly by the fishing vessels before freezing to help tenderize the meat. So king crab legs just need reheating and steaming before eating. The delicate, sweet flavor of king crab makes it one of the most prized seafoods. When cooked the snowy white meat is tender and flakes into substantial chunks.
Why Steaming is the Best Cooking Method
Steaming is highly recommended for reheating king crab legs for several key reasons:
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Gently and evenly heats the crab without making the meat tough or dry.
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Keeps the meat incredibly moist and tender while warming it thoroughly.
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Allows the legs to heat evenly, cooking through to the center.
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Preserves the pure, fresh crab flavor without adding other tastes.
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Easy and convenient on the stovetop or in a steamer.
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Leaves no messy cleanup like grilling or broiling.
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Avoids soaking in liquid as with boiling or poaching.
Steaming ensures the crab turns out moist and luscious with the pristine ocean flavors intact.
How to Steam King Crab Legs
Steaming king crab legs is simple. Here are the basic steps:
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Make sure legs are fully thawed if frozen. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
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Set up a steamer pot with 2-3 inches of water in the bottom. Bring to a boil.
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Place legs in a single layer in a steamer basket or on a steamer rack.
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Position basket in pot over the boiling water. Make sure no legs are submerged.
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Cover pot with tight fitting lid to trap the steam.
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Steam legs for 7-9 minutes if shelled, 9-12 minutes for legs in shells.
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Check for doneness at thickest part. Meat should be opaque and hot.
Signs the Legs Are Fully Cooked
It’s important to verify the crab is cooked through completely. Here’s what to look for:
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Meat has turned opaque and is no longer translucent.
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Inner temperature reaches 165°F when tested with thermometer.
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Meat feels hot to the touch when poked with fork or knife tip.
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Leg segments visibly separate at joints for shelled legs.
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Fishy odor and white steam emit during cooking.
When these indicators are present, your king crab is ready to eat!
Serving Suggestions for King Crab Legs
Once steamed to perfection, try serving king crab legs:
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On a platter with melted butter, lemon wedges and fresh parsley.
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Chilled on a bed of ice with cocktail sauce and lemon slices.
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In a salad with avocado, tomato, greens and a vinaigrette dressing.
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Mixed in linguine or spaghetti with white wine, garlic and olive oil.
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On toasted bread as crab open-faced sandwiches.
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In lettuce wraps along with aioli sauce.
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In puff pastry appetizers or tarts.
However you choose to enjoy it, properly steamed Alaskan king crab is a sublime treat.
Common Steaming Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to over or undercook king crab legs if you’re not careful. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:
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Not thawing legs fully – leads to uneven cooking.
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Overcrowded steamer – can hinder circulation.
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Water touches legs – dilutes flavor and makes soggy.
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Peeking under lid – releases steam and heat.
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Leaving unattended – can lead to overcooking.
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No thermometer – hard to confirm doneness.
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Steaming too long – results in rubbery meat.
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Pulling too soon – meat stays gummy in the center.
Handy Time and Temperature Guidelines
For best results, follow these time and temp recommendations when steaming king crab legs:
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1 lb king crab legs – 7-9 minutes in steamer
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1.5-2 lbs king crab legs – 9-11 minutes
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Thicker leg sections may need 1-2 more minutes
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Check temperature – minimum 165°F in thickest part
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Shelled legs take less time than legs in shell
Using an instant read thermometer ensures the legs cook through without overcooking.
Storing Leftover King Crab Legs
Leftover steamed crab can be saved for later. Follow these storage tips:
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Let crab legs cool, then refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.
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Store legs in airtight container to prevent drying out.
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Keeps up to 3 days in the fridge.
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Can be frozen for 2-3 months in air-tight packaging.
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Reheat gently in steamer or microwave before serving again.
With proper handling, cooked legs can be enjoyed more than once!
Steaming King Crab at Home
From preparation to presentation, steaming is clearly the best technique for cooking Alaska king crab legs. Using the right time, temperature, and method results in ultimate tender, juicy meat with sweet ocean flavor. Follow these guidelines to serve this royal seafood at its finest right from your own kitchen. Your taste buds will thank you!
Ingredients Required to make Steamed King Crab Legs
1/2 cup salted butter
1 large clove or 2 small cloves of garlic, minced
2 lbs Jumbo Alaskan King Crab Legs
1 lemon, cut into wedges
How Long Do You Steam King Crab Legs?
Because king crab legs are typically fully cooked already, you just need to steam them before eating. A steamer pot with a couple of inches of water and some beautiful Jumbo Alaskan King Crab Legs from Cameron’s Seafood are all you need. Our jumbo sized king crab legs are the biggest, meatiest king crab legs on the market!
It only takes 6-10 minutes to steam king crab legs and then you have succulent crab legs ready to eat with some lemon or garlic butter. You will know your king crab legs are ready when you can smell the crab and they are hot to the touch.
Most king crab leg recipes are simple because you don’t need much to accompany them when you have great crab. You want to bring out the flavor of the crab and not overwhelm it. We turned to this steamed king crab leg recipe from the website For the Love of Cooking. All you need to prepare this recipe is 15 minutes, a couple of pounds of king crab legs, garlic, butter, and some lemon wedges.
Steaming a Frozen Cooked Alaskan King Crab Legs – Today’s Delight
FAQ
Is it better to steam king crab legs frozen or thawed?
Is it better to cook crab legs frozen or thawed? Yes, make sure your crab has thawed before cooking it.
How to know when king crab legs are done?
King crab legs are already cooked when you buy them, so you’re primarily reheating them. To know when they’re done, they should be hot to the touch, and the meat should be opaque and pearly white, rather than translucent.
How do you know when steam crab is done?
Cover and steam crabs until they turn bright orange and no blue-green color remains, 20 to 30 minutes.
How long do you steam crab legs that are precooked?
You can make impressive, restaurant-quality crab legs — boiled, broiled, or steamed! — in your own kitchen. Because most crab legs are sold already cooked and frozen, all you really have to do is reheat them, and that only takes about five minutes.
Are steamed Alaska king crab legs healthy?
Steamed Alaska King Crab legs is a quick and easy way to make a healthy seafood meal. I can’t help feeling like a gourmet chef every time I steam crab legs for family to eat at home. Red crab legs and yellow lemon slices look so pretty served together on the plate. It’s exactly what you would get at any high end restaurant.
How do you steam king crab legs?
It’s easy to steam King Crab legs in a large lidded pot or steamer. Serve steamed crab legs with lemons and butter for dipping. Rinse ice off of frozen crab legs. Use a sharp knife to split crab legs into smaller pieces that fit into the steaming basket. Fill steamer or large pot with water and bring to a boil. How do you steam Alaskan crab legs?
How long does it take to cook Alaskan king crab legs?
Fresh steamed Alaskan king crab legs are prepped and ready in under 10 minutes.
How do you steam Alaskan crab legs?
Steaming Alaskan crab legs is easy, accessible, and done on a stovetop. Instructions: Stack crab legs on a trivet in a large soup pot with 1 cup of water. Bring water to a boil over high heat on the stove. Cover and steam crab legs until warmed through. Serve warm.
How to cook king crab legs?
Steaming is one of the best methods to prepare king crab legs because it: Preserves the natural flavor of the crab meat. Retains moisture, keeping the meat tender and juicy. Is quick, efficient, and requires minimal equipment. As culinary expert Chef Gordon Ramsay says, “Seafood should always highlight its natural flavors.
How long do you steam crab legs if thawed?
Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid to trap the steam. Steam the crab legs for 5–7 minutes if thawed, or 8–10 minutes if frozen. The crab legs are done when the shells are bright red, and the meat inside is hot and tender. Carefully remove the steamed crab legs with tongs and let them cool slightly.